KILLING KITTENS ORGY ORGANISER WHIPS HER BUSINESS UP A NOTCH July 26, 2010 THOSE Londoners with a persistent naughty streak have probably heard of Emma Sayle, the founder of sex party organising firm Killing Kittens. Up until now, Killing Kittens has specialised in what Sayle likes to describe as “eyes wide shut orgies”, with club members – vetted for attractiveness – gathering in private townhouses to get to [...]
Banks lead the way as resurgent FTSE gives bulls a glimpse of higher plains July 26, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index hit its highest close in 10 weeks yesterday, led by banks after European stress tests passed without major incident, and as strong economic data from the US boosted investor confidence. The FTSE 100 index ended up 0.7 per cent, or 38.50 points, at 5,351.12, its highest closing level since 13 May. [...]
European bank stress tests were too soft, analysts say July 25, 2010 LONDON’S stockmarket will give its verdict on the European Union’s bank stress tests today after analysts warned they were not tough enough to give investors real confidence. Only seven of the 91 institutions investigated failed to meet the capital requirements demanded by the Committee of European Banking Supervisors under three “economic shock” scenarios. Five Spanish [...]
Private client sales to soar at St James’s July 25, 2010 ST JAMES’S PLACE (SJP), the upmarket wealth manager, will try to dispel bad publicity around former partner Peter Carron when it announces soaring first half sales on Wednesday. The FTSE 250 firm is expected to say new business was up 31 per cent in the six months to June to £266m. Operating profits will increase [...]
Brit Insurance turns up heat on Apollo with £48m profit July 25, 2010 BRIT INSURANCE, the Lloyd’s of London reinsurer, will turn up the heat on US private equity suitor Apollo on Wednesday when it says it bounced back into first-half profit. Brit, which sponsors the England cricket team, is expected to say it generated a pre-tax profit of £48m in the six months to June compared with [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING July 22, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES TARGETFOLLOW SEEKS MPS’ HELP The owner of a large property portfolio that includes the Centre Point tower in London has enlisted the help of his local MPs to stave off administration after loans of more than £200m provided by Lloyds expired on Thursday. Targetfollow, the Norwich-based property developer managed by Ardeshir Naghshineh, has [...]
Bank and industry stocks up as FTSE 100 breaks 5,300 July 22, 2010 The FTSE 100 index jumped 1.9 per cent yesterday, boosted by strong banks ahead of today’s European stress test results, and by firmer miners and oils as US stocks rallied on earnings and data. Britain’s top share index closed up 99.17 points at 5,313.81, ending above 5,300 for the first time since 18 May, the [...]
BoA veteran Jim O’Neil set for UKFI role July 19, 2010 UKFI, the body set up to manage the taxpayer’s stakes in the banks, has welcomed Bank of America Merrill Lynch veteran Jim O’Neil as the latest in a long line of senior executives to parade through its revolving door. O’Neil, who last year advised Lloyds Banking Group on its £22.5bn recapitalisation, will be doing the [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING July 15, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES CREST ADVISERS SHUN £350M HORIZON BID A £350m offer for Crest Nicholson was in jeopardy on Thursday night after advisers to the debt-burdened housebuilder told its lender-owners to reject the bid as too low. A steering committee representing Crest’s creditors, which took control of the housebuilder following a £630m debt-for equity swap last [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS July 15, 2010 DFS The sofa retailer, which was recently sold by founder Lord Kirkham to private equity group Advent International for £500m, has ended its search for a new chief executive. Ian Filby has thirty years of retail experience, including a recent stint working as interim chief executive at Nectar. He was also previously retail brand development [...]