Bottom Line: Time to take stock after an incredible year January 14, 2014 LAST year was huge for Asos. As the online retailer launched both Russian and Chinese language sites and increased sales by 40 per cent from 2012, shares rocketed – climbing 140 per cent in just 12 months and giving the firm a market capitalisation of close to £6bn. That’s huge. If chief executive Nick Robertson chose [...]
Brand Index: Ford making inroads into the huge Chinese car market January 14, 2014 THE MOTOR industry is making a roaring transatlantic comeback, enjoying some of its strongest sales in years in both Britain and America. Ford is leading the charge in sales – it was the top-selling car in both the US and UK in 2013 – but its brand could use some work outside of America, and [...]
The funds that could see big gains this year January 14, 2014 But if you want your investments to do well, avoid 2013’s winners WITH the FTSE 100 nearing an all-time high and the S&P 500 rising by 29.6 per cent, 2013 was a bumper year for equity investors. Those who had backed a fund manager investing in small British companies or Japan – last year’s big [...]
Chinese holidaymakers lead the charge over Christmas period January 13, 2014 WEALTHY foreign visitors helped keep Britain’s tills ringing over Christmas with spending up a record 40 per cent on the previous year. Chinese tourists led the charge, with spending up 52 per cent to around £741 per transaction in December, according to figures out yesterday by tax-free shopping specialist Global Blue. China accounted for the [...]
Overseas investment in London property to hit pre-crisis levels January 13, 2014 OVERSEAS investment in London’s property market could top pre-recession levels by the end of this year, boosted by an influx of spending from Asian buyers. According to figures released today by law firm Mayer Brown, Asian investors doubled their investment in the central London market to £5.8bn last year, up from £2.91bn the previous year. [...]
Chinese holidaymakers lead the charge over Christmas January 13, 2014 Wealthy foreign visitors helped keep Britain’s tills ringing over Christmas with spending up a record 40 per cent on the previous year. Chinese tourists led the charge, with spending up 52 per cent to around £741 per transaction in December, according to figures out today by tax-free shopping specialist Global Blue. While China accounted for [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 13 January 2014 January 12, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Treasury debt pledge on Scotland The UK Treasury will today assume full responsibility for Britain’s £1.2 trillion debt stock in the event of Scottish independence, in an attempt to head off market jitters ahead of September’s referendum. Danny Alexander, Treasury chief secretary, fears gilt investors could start demanding a risk premium in the [...]
London skyline gets a £1.2bn Chinese fortune January 11, 2014 CHINESE state-owned Greenland Group has made its first foray into the UK market with a £1.2bn swoop on two major London developments – which could see it build the tallest skyscraper in Canary Wharf. The property giant yesterday signed a deal to buy developer Minerva’s Ram Brewery, a historic seven acre site in Wandsworth claimed [...]
China’s economic slowdown sees markets cautious January 10, 2014 Some disappointing numbers for China overnight, as it missed its official target on foreign trade for the second year in the row, confirming a loss of momentum at the end of 2013. But despite its export growth slowing by more than expected in December, the country has now overtaken the US as the world's largest [...]
Porsche and Audi break records as demand for luxury cars rises January 9, 2014 PORSCHE and Audi have both posted annual sales jumps, benefiting from the global surge in demand for luxury cars and giving a boost to parent firm Volkswagen. More than 162,000 Porsches were delivered last year, up 15 per cent on 2012 and a company record. In the US, the marque’s biggest market, sales were up [...]