Banks lead the way as resurgent FTSE gives bulls a glimpse of higher plains July 26, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index hit its highest close in 10 weeks yesterday, led by banks after European stress tests passed without major incident, and as strong economic data from the US boosted investor confidence. The FTSE 100 index ended up 0.7 per cent, or 38.50 points, at 5,351.12, its highest closing level since 13 May. [...]
European bank stress tests were too soft, analysts say July 25, 2010 LONDON’S stockmarket will give its verdict on the European Union’s bank stress tests today after analysts warned they were not tough enough to give investors real confidence. Only seven of the 91 institutions investigated failed to meet the capital requirements demanded by the Committee of European Banking Supervisors under three “economic shock” scenarios. Five Spanish [...]
Business chiefs join PM in trade mission to India July 25, 2010 DAVID Cameron will this week lead this country’s strongest ever trade mission to India, in a drive to boost cooperation between the UK and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Over 50 of the UK’s top business leaders will join the Prime Minister, chancellor George Osborne, foreign secretary William Hague, business secretary Vince [...]
ECONOMIST VIEWS: WAS SECOND QUARTER GDP AS GOOD AS IT WILL GET? July 25, 2010 HETAL MEHTA | E&Y ITEM CLUB “The second quarter is likely to represent the high point as fiscal tightening and a renewed slowdown in global activity constrains a more robust recovery. This preliminary estimate does not radically change the basic picture of a patchy recovery that will only pick up speed gradually.” SIMON HAYES | [...]
THE TIPSTER July 25, 2010 ARM Holdings had a cracking start to the year with the company’s share price racing ahead. Signs of a global economic recovery and an increase in corporate spending on technology is helping the sector. But with the share price trading at the top end of analyst estimates, Tuesday’s interims could be the trigger for profit [...]
High Street cheers after World Cup fillip July 22, 2010 WARM weather and the World Cup encouraged Britons back to the high street last month, boosting retail sales volumes by 0.7 per cent in June, official data showed yesterday. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revised up the May increase to 0.8 per cent. Consequently, retail sales volumes rose 1.7 per cent in the [...]
Bank and industry stocks up as FTSE 100 breaks 5,300 July 22, 2010 The FTSE 100 index jumped 1.9 per cent yesterday, boosted by strong banks ahead of today’s European stress test results, and by firmer miners and oils as US stocks rallied on earnings and data. Britain’s top share index closed up 99.17 points at 5,313.81, ending above 5,300 for the first time since 18 May, the [...]
SABMiller beer volumes fall July 22, 2010 Brewer SABMiller reported a decline in first-quarter beer volumes yesterday despite a World Cup boost, after floods, national mourning and a tax hike hit drinking in key markets. The brewer of Miller Lite, Peroni and Pilsner Urquell said that underlying beer and soft drink volumes were one per cent down year-on-year. Analysts were on balance [...]
Development Securities eyes £100m rights issue July 22, 2010 BRITISH property firm Development Securities yesterday said it planned to raise about £100m through a share placing and rights issue to fund future projects. The company, which specialises in office and retail development projects, said it would place about 4.1m shares at 250p a piece, a discount of 8.8 per cent to their closing price [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS July 22, 2010 DLA PIPER The law firm has poached Stephen Hoyle from Ernst & Young to join its London office as a partner and head of UK tax. Hoyle, a specialist in corporate tax and structured transactions, was a partner at E&Y’s international tax services group. Prior to that, he worked as a managing director in Deutsche [...]