Copper will remain strong in 2010 despite Chinese policy tightening February 3, 2010 CASTING an eye back over 2009, copper was clearly one of the standout performers. Its price has risen 126 per cent over the past year, fueled by rising expectations about the global economy, China regaining its voracious appetite for industrial metals and a weakening US dollar increasing copper’s attractiveness (it is priced in dollars). After [...]
Credit Suisse: February 2, 2010 AS might be expected for the largest retail float since Debenhams in 2006, a raft of investment banks have been brought in to guide New Look. Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Cazenove are joint sponsors and bookrunners. Lazard is in on the bookrunning action, while Barclays, Lloyds TSB and RBS Hoare Govett are co-lead [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS February 2, 2010 Jupiter The asset manager has appointed John Chatfeild-Roberts as chief investment officer. Chatfeild-Roberts joined the firm in 2001 as head of the Jupiter Merlin fund of funds team, a role in which he will continue. Since 2000, Edward Bonham Carter has combined the chief investment officer role with his position as chief executive of Jupiter. [...]
Whether QE stays or goes, sterling is weak February 2, 2010 THE big event this week for sterling is tomorrow’s decision from the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Up until last week, it had been widely expected that the Bank’s £200bn quantitative easing programme would be paused in February, but dismal fourth quarter GDP growth data raised the possibility that the MPC might extend [...]
This year, look out for the rise of the rupee February 2, 2010 WHO would want to be an emerging market central banker at the moment? Having stormed ahead of their Western rivals during the financial crisis, economies in Asia and Latin America are now facing the prospect of rising prices. The authorities face an unenviable task – they need to strangle inflation without derailing growth. In these [...]
BP’s fall takes fuel out of oil stocks but FTSE rises higher February 2, 2010 Britain’s top shares closed higher for the third straight session yesterday as miners and banks extended the previous day’s gains but BP dragged energy stocks lower with fourth-quarter results that missed expectations. The FTSE 100 was up 35.90 points, or 0.7 per cent at 5,283.31, after closing 1.1 per cent higher on Monday. Miners added [...]
RUGBY UNION | In Brief February 2, 2010 Paterson gets nod for Les Bleus SCOTLAND’S record points scorer Chris Paterson has been recalled as one of six changes for his side’s Six Nations clash with France on Sunday. Paterson will win his 99th cap as a full-back replacement for the injured Rory Lamont, joining Glasgow centres Max Evans and Graeme Morrison in a [...]
Pitman: Virgin Money to buy state assets February 1, 2010 VIRGIN Money could pick up assets on the cheap from the UK’s government-supported banks, chairman Sir Brian Pitman suggested yesterday. Setting out the ambitious target of growing revenues and customer numbers by 15 per cent annually, the 78-year-old said Virgin Money would pursue a combination of organic and bolt-on expansion. Pitman, a former chief executive [...]
Travelport to get £2bn tag via flotation February 1, 2010 TRAVEL service company Travelport will be worth up to $3.45bn (£2.17bn) when it lists on the London Stock Exchange, the firm said yesterday. The group, whose travel distribution, travel intermediary and IT services include airline and hotel booking operation Galileo, announced a price range for its $1.78bn London listing valuing the company’s total equity at [...]
Happy Monday for financials as US data lift big cap shares February 1, 2010 Britain’s top share index closed 1.1 per cent higher yesterday, helped by upbeat US manufacturing data, with banks and commodity stocks topping the list of gainers. The FTSE 100 closed up 58.89 points at 5,247.41, having dipped to 5,163.57 earlier in the session. The index ended 0.8 per cent higher on Friday. Experts said the [...]