Home Retail Group October 20, 2010 Home Retail Group attempted to put a shine on some fairly grim – if expected – figures yesterday by claiming its Argos iPhone app had been a storming success. However, the truth is that sales at its cut price chain dropped by six per cent. This is made all the more worrying by the fact [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS October 20, 2010 RBC Capital Markets The investment bank, part of the Royal Bank of Canada group, has hired Jonathan Guy and Tim Huff as directors in its equity research team, with a focus on mining. Huff, pictured, joins RBC with over 17 years of experience, most recently gained at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Prior to that, [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF BURBERRY’S UPDATE? October 13, 2010 MANOJ LADWA | ETX CAPITAL Burberry reported a sparkling set of second quarter figures as demand for its goods continues to buck the general trend. Its decision to take control of its franchised stores in China could stand it in good stead going forward, as it seeks to capitalise in this area. KATHARINE WYNNE | [...]
Looming currency war threatens world trade October 12, 2010 AFTER the crash in 1929, nations retreated inside protectionist walls. In 2009, they managed to refrain from the same action – but they may yet succumb to another ’30s blight on world trade: currency wars. A currency war consists of states pursuing competitive devaluations in an attempt to increase the attractiveness of one’s exports. But [...]
Jobless count set to rise as austerity hits October 10, 2010 UNEMPLOYMENT data published on Wednesday is expected to confirm the gloomy outlook for the UK jobs market and to show that more Britons joined the dole queue last month, intensifying fears of an austerity-induced second wave of job losses. A consensus of City economists predicts that 2,700 additional people will have been claiming Job Seeker’s [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: SHOULD PREMIER INVESTORS BE CELEBRATING October 4, 2010 MARTIN DEBOO | INVESTEC With the valuation at rock bottom, the share price is on a hair-trigger. We think today’s bounce is directionally appropriate – the disposal of Quorn on decent terms would be a good deal for shareholders. GRAHAM JONES | PANMURE GORDON The rise in share price shows that any deleveraging is good [...]
Premier Foods in talks to sell Quorn brand October 3, 2010 PREMIER Foods confirmed yesterday that it had received an approach for its meat-free brand Quorn. The UK’s largest food producer, whose brands include Hovis bread, Branston Pickle and Bisto gravy, promised in August to reduce its £1.4bn debt pile by £100m each year. The FTSE 250-listed group refused to name the suitor or asking price [...]
DO YOU THINK THE BANK OF ENGLAND WILL RESTART QE? October 3, 2010 PETER DIXON | COMMERZBANK “Desperate times may call for desperate measures, but until such times as the economic recovery goes into reverse, doing nothing may be the best strategy. And if the Fed does begin its QE2 programme, the UK can afford to keep its powder dry by free-riding on the Fed’s coat-tails.” PHILIP SHAW [...]
Top 100 list shows women at senior level September 26, 2010 MORE than a fifth of Europe’s 100 most influential women sit at the top of some of the largest companies within the financial services sector, according to new findings. According to the fourth annual list of the 100 most influential women compiled by Financial News, more than 20 per cent of the listed women in [...]
Simplicity is often a virtue September 23, 2010 WITH markets still directionless and a second-half slowdown looming, those with savings are increasingly looking into more exotic ways to preserve their nest-egg. The desire for safety combined with sinking government bond yields has fed demand for a series of structured products for private investors – that is, investment vehicles that promise a defined return [...]