What the other papers say this morning – 27 May 2014 May 27, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Apple readies “smart home” platform Apple is readying a new software platform that would turn the iPhone into a remote control for lights, security systems and other household appliances, as part of a move into the “internet of things”. Apple plans to take on rivals Google and Samsung and make a “big play” [...]
Game wins market share ahead of IPO May 27, 2014 Game Digital has scored ahead of its planned £400m float after new figures out yesterday showed that the video games retailer has grabbed a greater share of the entertainment market. According to Kantar Worldpanel, Game accounted for 6.3 per cent of the market in the 12 weeks to 13 April, despite not selling music or [...]
Seven habits of the most effective digital enterprises May 23, 2014 In an age where most developed economies are experiencing lacklustre growth, digital continues to expand at an ever more rapid pace. E-commerce is booming at double-digit rates in the US, as well as the majority of European countries, and is rising across Asia. However, many companies are struggling to move beyond the experimentation stage of [...]
What you need to know before the open May 23, 2014 A mixed open for European markets this morning, with sentiment constrained amid EU and Ukrainian elections. Ukrainian authorities have said over a dozen servicemen were killed yesterday while clashing with pro-Russian separatists. First quarter growth in Germany’s come in as expected, at 0.8 per cent. Year-on-year, that puts the GDP figure at 2.5 per cent [...]
Dash to market as firms follow Saga to list in London May 22, 2014 LONDON’S stock market stampede hit full speed yesterday as a clutch of Britain’s best known companies announced their intention to float, despite concerns over saturation in the new issues market. Property website Zoopla and high street store B&M Retail both unveiled blockbuster floats, while over-50s insurance and holiday provider Saga priced its initial public offering [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 23 May 2014 May 22, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Corrupt companies face higher fines British companies that bribe foreign officials to win contracts, commit fraud, or launder money, face fines of up to 400 per cent of their illicit profits, under new penalty guidelines. In the most serious cases companies will pay fines comparable with those meted out in the US, where [...]
Shares jump at Mothercare but baby shop’s revenue still poorly May 22, 2014 MOTHERCARE shares jumped almost 17 per cent yesterday after the struggling baby products retailer posted slightly better than expected full-year profits. The company reported underlying profits before tax of £9.5m in the year to 29 March compared with £5.9m the previous year. However, this is still dramatically lower than the £17m that was previously forecast [...]
Halford biking sales deliver Tour de Force May 22, 2014 HALFORDS said yesterday that a stronger than expected surge in bicycle sales had propelled the retailer a year ahead of where it expected to be in its three-year plan. Shares in the bike-to-car parts retailer jumped 10.6 per cent yesterday as it reported an eight per cent rise in sales to £939.7m in the year [...]
What you need to know before the US open May 22, 2014 Investors will be taking time to digest the latest job numbers today, with stocks futures flat ahead of the weaker-than-expected numbers. Initial jobless claims for last week rose more than expected – to 326,000 from 298,000 the week before. Analysts had been expecting 310,000 people to sign on for the first time. Focus will shift [...]
Mothercare share price jumps as profits beat expectations May 22, 2014 Shares in baby goods retailer Mothercare have surged by 15 per cent after the company reported earnings above expectations. Mothercare's lenders, HSBC and Barclays, also agreed to enlarge the company's debt facility to £100m – an increase of £10m. Profit before tax jumped 61 per cent to £9.5m for the year ended 29 March. 35 [...]