FTSE shrugs off bank levy tax as it surges to 32-month high February 8, 2011 BRITAIN’S leading share index jumped higher yesterday, ending at levels not seen since May 2008, supported by rallies from banks and miners, and by gains in energy issues following results from BG Group. At the close, the FTSE 100 index was up 40.30 points, or 0.7 per cent at 6,091.33, its fifth gain in the [...]
FTSE dips as banks come under pressure February 8, 2011 The FTSE 100 dipped this morning despite strong results from Xstrata and BG Group. The index has gained in four out of the last five trading sessions – regularly surpassing the 6,000 barrier, but banking stocks were among the poorest performers today. Commodities dipped as the price of copper came down after a record high [...]
M&S poaches Tesco’s online guru Wade-Gery February 7, 2011 Upmarket retailer Marks & Spencer has poached Laura Wade-Gery from supermarket group Tesco to head its internet business, underscoring new boss Marc Bolland’s commitment to online sales growth. M&S, the UK’s biggest clothing retailer, said Wade-Gery is to join as executive director of multi-channel and e-commerce at a time and on terms to be confirmed. [...]
The City’s top headhunter on why firms still need to recruit the best February 6, 2011 PERHAPS not surprisingly, Odgers Berndtson’s boss was in an upbeat mood when City A.M. visited him recently in his large office overlooking Hanover Square in the West End. Last year’s preliminary revenues had just come in: they are an improvement on the year before, always welcome news in the present environment. Richard Boggis-Rolfe, the privately-held [...]
What the other papers say this morning January 31, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES WARNING AS BRIBERY LAW DELAYED British companies have been warned that they could be put on an export “blacklist” by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development if the government continues to delay tough new anti-corruption laws. The warning came after Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, signalled on Monday that the implementation of [...]
Shock GDP contraction pulls FTSE and sterling downward January 25, 2011 RETAILERS were hit as Britain’s top share index fell yesterday after a shock 0.5-per cent contraction in UK GDP in the last three months of 2010. The FTSE 100 closed was down 26.14 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,917.71, having risen 0.8 per cent on Monday. Figures from the Office of National Statistics showed [...]
The ex-butcher who knows how to cut it fine January 24, 2011 HAVING started his career in a butcher’s shop in Wolverhampton, Ranjit Singh Boparan has a lifetime of experience in food firms – and knows how to cut things fine. Boparan’s £342m bid for Northern came two hours after the Takeover Panel’s original deadline of 5pm on Friday, after he negotiated a last-minute extension with the [...]
Rose in new role at Woolworths January 20, 2011 Sir Stuart Rose has been given a new role with South African retailer Woolworths. The former Marks & Spencer boss will becomes a non-executive director of the food and clothing chain. He stepped down as M&S chairman earlier this month, and was replaced by Robert Swannell, having handed over the reins as chief executive to [...]
M&S sales rise but year ahead set to be harsh January 11, 2011 MARKS & SPENCER saw sales rise in the key Christmas period but the retailer warned that 2011 would be tough, with austerity measures and the spectre of inflation rises to take their toll. Same-store sales rose 2.8 per cent in the UK in the 13 weeks to 1 January despite the impact of the snow. [...]
Banks support FTSE amid broad-based gains January 11, 2011 LONDON’S FTSE made strong gains today as bank shares surged and sovereign debt fears receded. Athough stocks gave back some of the day’s earlier gains by the market close, the leading index closed closed up 57.73 points or one per cent at 6,014.03. It ended a three-day losing streak and stayed ahead of the 6,000 [...]