Original thought February 23, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Adam & Eve’s Jon Forsyth about the importance of agility COMMUNICATIONS agency Adam & Eve shook assumptions about the demise of traditional media when it created the 2011 John Lewis Christmas advert (one of five it has now done for the store). The agency was launched in 2008 and merged with [...]
Retail sales fall more than expected in January February 21, 2014 UK retail sales weren’t as good as expected in January. Month-on-month, they fell 1.5 per cent, after December’s particularly strong 2.5 per cent rise on the back of bumper Christmas shopping. Analysts had expected a fall of one per cent in January. The decline's the biggest since April 2012. But the underlying trend in retail [...]
Analyst Views: What did you make of Centrica’s full-year results? February 20, 2014 PETER ATHERTON | LIBERUM CAPITALThe results weren’t a surprise as Centrica had guided the market before Christmas, but they were disappointing nonetheless. The US energy business is struggling with tighter margins than expected. But the political risk in the UK is the biggest thing that has driven their share price over the past five months. MARTIN BROUGH [...]
Expect rate hikes in spring 2015, says Bank’s Weale February 20, 2014 Households should prepare themselves for an increase in interest rates "next spring", the Bank of England's Martin Weale has told Sky News. Weale, an external member of the Bank's monetary policy committee, said: "I think it is very helpful if we try and explain that the most likely path for interest rates is that the [...]
Morrisons shares leap as banks step up to finance buyout February 19, 2014 SHARES in Morrisons surged almost five per cent yesterday amid rumours that banks are working on a £5bn financing deal to support a private equity buyout of the struggling grocery chain. The Morrison family, which owns a 9.5 per cent stake, has approached several private equity firms including Carlyle Group and CVC Capital with the [...]
Profits at Sports Direct in shape February 19, 2014 SPORTS Direct posted a strong rise in profits over the Christmas quarter yesterday but stayed silent on talks with Debenhams after buying an option in the retailer last month that could see it eventually own a 6.6 per cent stake. The sports chain controlled by billionaire Mike Ashley said it had “no further comment” on [...]
London Report: FTSE pauses for breath as sharp rally peters out February 19, 2014 THE UK’S top shares steadied yesterday as analysts bet the strong rally that followed a slump in emerging markets has run out of steam, though Sports Direct gained on robust profits. The FTSE 100 closed up 0.28 points – flat in percentage terms – at 6,796.71 points. It hit 6,810.48, its highest since late January, [...]
Mullins: a man on a mission February 19, 2014 LAST year’s visit to Ballydoyle remains one of the highlights of my journalistic career, but yesterday’s return to the Emerald Isle may just have shaded it when it comes to my racing bucket list. Since a young age I’ve wanted to visit the corner of County Carlow that Willie Mullins calls home – and a [...]
Morrisons shares soar on sale reports February 19, 2014 Shares in Morrisons are spiking higher on news that of a potential sale of the supermarket. Reuters reports that bankers are working on a debt financing packages in the order of £5bn. The company is 9.5 per cent owned by its founding family, which is reported to have contacted buyout firms to gauge interest after [...]
Insurers working flat out to help flood victims, says industry body February 17, 2014 THE INSURANCE industry body has spoken up for insurers after ministers appeared to suggest they have not been doing enough to help communities affected by flooding. Director general of the Association of British Insurers Otto Thoresen said insurers have been working around the clock to help victims of the floods since before Christmas. “Flooding is [...]