Public sector must do more with less December 7, 2010 AN intriguing book has just dropped onto my desk (and no, I’m not referring to Gordon Brown’s massive self-justificatory opus, which I shall ignore for as long as possible). Called More with Less, it summarises the findings of one of the largest independent studies into public sector performance in the UK to date, conducted by [...]
Retailers and commodities push FTSE to three-week high December 7, 2010 Britain’s top shares closed at their highest level in over three weeks yesterday, lifted by commodity makers and retailers as equities remained the preferred asset class among investors despite macro concerns. The FTSE 100 ended up 38.17 points, or 0.7 per cent, at 5,808.45, having closed 0.4 per cent higher on Monday and 7.3 per [...]
More insider trade talk hits markets December 7, 2010 US stocks eked out a small gain yesterday as investors’ enthusiasm over a tax cut extension deal was short-circuited by rising bond yields and reports regulators were stepping up an insider-trading probe. The S&P 500 hit a two-year intraday high after US President Barack Obama cut a deal with Republicans to renew Bush-era tax cuts. [...]
Obama’s tax deal could boost US economy December 7, 2010 A TAX deal struck between the Obama administration and Republican lawmakers could lift 2011 growth by as much as a full percentage point by leaving more money in consumers’ pockets. Economists say the plan should help breath new life into the sluggish recovery, though it will only add to the already bloated budget deficit. The [...]
US is about to shoot itself in the foot December 6, 2010 IT is not just Britain and Europe that are shooting themselves in the foot with stupid, job and wealth-destroying policies. The same is true of America, where investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders face the threat of a wave of new taxes. This ought to matter to everybody who works in London, because the health of [...]
THE TIPSTER December 6, 2010 THERE will be no shortage of idle speculation as to why a French company wants to buy a British bank-note printer but overtures have certainly been made to De La Rue by a smaller Gallic rival. After stumbling earlier in the year over production problems, the shares predictably surged on this news yesterday, but with [...]
Prudential plans to double sales in Asia December 1, 2010 PRUDENTIAL boss Tidjane Thiam unveiled his strategy for expanding the company in Asia in the wake of the firm’s botched bid for AIA, sending shares up 5.6 per cent to 600p yesterday. Thiam, who came under intense shareholder pressure to stand down following his £22.7bn bid for the Asian life insurer, told investors he aims [...]
Wall St tumbles as Eurozone fears hit November 30, 2010 US stocks fell in a choppy session yesterday but showed resilience in the face of Europe’s debt crisis, recovering some of their losses on more encouraging signs from the US economy. The Eurozone’s troubles showed no signs of abating as news that Portugal could be downgraded reignited selling in a high-volume flurry at the close. [...]
Savvy traders can also benefit from dividends November 29, 2010 IN A world of high inflation, low growth and stock markets trading sideways, the investor is perpetually in search of ever-elusive income. Dividend income is understandably more appealing to the buy-and-hold investor community but the speculative trader should not ignore it either. Dividends can still play a part in the contracts for difference (CFD) trader’s [...]
Intermediate Capital on the hunt for banking sector assets November 23, 2010 BUYOUT lender Intermediate Capital Group said it would stay on the lookout for investment opportunities as banks, weakened by the debt crisis, look to shed assets. In August, Intermediate Capital bought a €1.4bn (£1.2bn) portfolio of European loans from Royal Bank of Scotland, and the company said yesterday that the sector would throw up further [...]