WPP outlines China expansion with new chief executive role December 13, 2012 SIR MARTIN Sorrell’s advertising company, WPP, yesterday signalled further expansion into the East, in appointing WPP veteran Bessie Lee to the new role of chief executive for its Chinese operations. The move follows an acquisition spree in the country, which is now WPP’s third-largest market after the UK and US. Sir Martin expects China to [...]
Bolton backs Chinese economic upswing December 11, 2012 ONE of the UK’s most successful money managers has forecast a reversal of fortunes for the Chinese economy next year. Anthony Bolton, the star fund manager of the £510m Fidelity China Special Situations, said increased political certainty in China following the appointment of new leaders and an upswing in investor sentiment will open the door [...]
Jaguar signs deal to build a Saudi plant December 11, 2012 JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) has signed a preliminary deal to build a plant in Saudi Arabia, extending its expansion in fast-growing markets having already started work on a plant in China. The British luxury marque, owned by India’s Tata Motors, signed the deal to look at the possibility of making 50,000 Land Rovers a year [...]
AIG to sell lease firm to Chinese group at a loss December 10, 2012 AMERICAN International Group will sell nearly all of aircraft leasing business ILFC to a Chinese consortium for up to $4.8bn (£2.9bn), in a deal that gives the fastest growing aviation market easier and cheaper access to planes. But the sale is at a far cheaper price than AIG sought and will lead to a substantial [...]
FTSE looks set to drop as global trends accelerate December 10, 2012 IT’S pretty much the same routine every December. The Christmas decorations go up, office parties are in full swing and market analysts are asked to pontificate on where they think the FTSE will finish at the end of next year. The problem is that the FTSE 100 is such a broad-based index that it can [...]
Chinese firm to list in the UK December 9, 2012 CAMKIDS Group, a Chinese outdoor clothing retailer for kids, is set to list on London’s Alternative Investment Market with a market value of around £65m. The Jinjinag-based group, which makes everything from waterproof trousers to backpacks and hiking boots, announced today it has raised around £6m to invest in its expansion in its home market [...]
Apple hit by Chinese iPhone sales worries December 6, 2012 APPLE’S market capitalisation fell below $500bn yesterday following news that the iPhone maker had fallen behind competitors in the crucial Chinese market. Although the stock recovered to finish slightly up yesterday, Apple has still lost more than eight per cent of its value this week, and is far below September’s $659bn value. Researchers IDC said [...]
Every little helps as Tesco boosts FTSE December 5, 2012 Tesco proved that every little helps by assisting the FTSE to a healthy rise in early trading. The supermarket group admitted last night that it is considering giving up on its struggling US venture, exciting investors who have grown exasperated with the company’s inability to transfer its success to the other side of the Atlantic. [...]
US watchdog charges audit China affiliates December 3, 2012 THE US markets watchdog yesterday hit the Chinese arms of five accounting firms with charges, after the affiliates failed to hand over audit documents the US body wants. PwC, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte – the so-called big four – as well as BDO, have been charged with securities violations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), [...]
Nestle turns to China in bid for herbal remedy November 28, 2012 THE HEALTH unit of Nestle yesterday launched a tie-up with a company that specialises in traditional Chinese medicine in a bid to develop novel medicines derived from plants. Nestle Health Science is expected to plough at least £100m into the joint venture with London-listed Chi-Med, which creates a new company called Nutrition Science Partners (NSP). [...]