US unveils fresh sanctions wave on Moscow elite April 28, 2014 A FRESH round of sanctions on figures close to the Russian regime was announced by the American government yesterday. The list of people sanctioned included Igor Sechin, president and chairman of the board of Rosneft, an oil firm in which the Russian government is a majority shareholder and BP holds a 20 per cent stake. [...]
Devro issues profit warning April 28, 2014 Shares in sausage skin maker Devro slid 11 per cent yesterday after the company warned that it expected profits to be around £8m lower than expected due to lower volumes and costs related to investments in low-cost manufacturing technology. The group behind edible collagen casings for bratwurst, salami and chorizo, said sales are also expected [...]
London Report: AstraZeneca has a healing effect on the FTSE 100 April 28, 2014 ASTRAZENECA shares surged to boost Britain’s top share index yesterday, after US rival Pfizer said it wanted to buy the drugmaker. The FTSE 100 closed just off a seven-week closing high after a volatile afternoon session as investors digested new sanctions on Russia from the US. AstraZeneca jumped 14.4 per cent after Pfizer confirmed yesterday [...]
Gold ETFs in tug of war between Ukraine fears and US growth April 28, 2014 There has been mixed research on gold today. According to Saxo Bank, gold saw a sixth consecutive week of outflows in exchange traded products last week. Investors traditionally buy gold as a safe-haven asset at times of uncertainty, but ongoing fears about the political crisis in Ukraine have been offset by confidence in the US [...]
What you need to know before the open April 28, 2014 European markets are expected lower this morning, hit by further sanctions being set out by G7 nations against Russia. Officials have accused Russia of deliberately exacerbating the current situation in Ukraine. Further travel restrictions and asset freezes on a further 15 individuals are expected to be imposed by the EU today. The lift markets got [...]
Asian markets tumble as Russia sanctions loom April 28, 2014 Asian markets are in retreat after a lacklustre performance on Wall Street and western nations prepare to impose further on sanctions on Russia in wake of heightened tensions in Ukraine. Representatives from all 28 EU member states will meet today to impose travel restrictions and asset freezes on a further 15 influential Russians, according to [...]
British retailers lure overseas online browsers April 28, 2014 THE NUMBER of overseas shoppers browsing the web for British clothing and footwear retailers has surged in the past year, with department stores grabbing a greater share of the attention, new figures released today show. Retailers have been pushing ahead with international expansion plans to offset slowing growth and weak consumer spending at home, using [...]
Ukraine to get Slovakia’s gas April 28, 2014 UKRAINE is set to sign a gas deal with Slovakia today, as it looks to secure alternative supplies amid ongoing tensions with Russia. Russia’s Gazprom provides Ukraine with gas, but it has almost doubled its prices after Moscow claimed sovereignty over Crimea last month. Slovak gas company Eustream said that a reverse-flow agreement to ship [...]
Letters to the Editor – 28/04 – Build up and out, Best of Twitter April 27, 2014 Build up and out [Re: How a terraced street revolution could fix London’s housebuilding crunch, Friday] I remain to be convinced that terraced housing is higher density than high rise. If New York and Hong Kong wanted to make more housing available, would they knock down their high rises and build two storey terraces instead? [...]
What you need to know before the open April 25, 2014 Fears that the crisis in Ukraine will escalate are expected to see European markets open lower today. Signs of growing corporate takeover activity strengthened confidence yesterday, offsetting the persistent worries for a time. US secretary of state John Kerry has called on Moscow to either work towards diffuse the situation in Ukraine, or face more [...]