Dividends hit £15bn as FTSE ups payouts April 17, 2011 UK dividends soared by an underlying 7.9 per cent to £15bn in the first quarter of 2011, according to a survey published today. The rise represents a £1.4bn lift compared with the same period last year and the largest quarterly growth for three years. The strong first quarter means dividend experts Capita Registrars, who carried [...]
Russia looks to alter web laws April 17, 2011 Russia is looking to the experience of other countries, including China, to “regulate” internet use, though Moscow has no plans to broaden web censorship, a government spokesman said. Weeks after hacker attacks temporarily closed down the country’s most popular blog site, a state tender calling for research into “foreign experience in regulating” the internet has [...]
Protests mar BP’s meeting April 14, 2011 BP management faced angry protests from shareholders yesterday, as investors concerned about Russian deals, tar sands projects and the Gulf of Mexico disaster gave the company a bloody nose in the annual vote. BP said yesterday that prospective Russian partner Rosneft has given the firm more time to clear the path for its £10bn share [...]
SHAREHOLDER VIEWS: WERE YOU HAPPY WITH BP’S AGM? April 14, 2011 “It was a very good BP shareholder meeting, and I’ve been to a few. I think the board were very forthright and got their points across. I had some questions about the Gulf and the chief executive answered them in his speech.” JAMIE JOHN | BRIDGEND “I was mostly interested in how my shares were [...]
Danone benefits from price hikes April 14, 2011 FRENCH food group Danone stuck to its full-year goals yesterday despite rising commodity costs and tough economic conditions, after price hikes fuelled stronger-than-expected first-quarter sales. The world’s largest yoghurt maker with brands like Actimel and Activia said business picked up in all divisions, with water and baby food particularly strong and it benefited from its [...]
Omega Pharma forecasts profits will equal last year April 14, 2011 BELGIAN health products distributor Omega Pharma yesterday forecast improvements in Russia and southern Europe in the second-half of 2011 and a profit margin this year at least as high as in 2010. The company, which sells non-prescription products such as wart treatment or sun tan lotion to pharmacists, said yesterday it reiterated its outlook, but [...]
FTSE falls with investors still cautious ahead of US results April 14, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index fell yesterday, led by Reckitt Benckiser after the company said its chief executive was retiring, and with banks weaker on renewed worries about sovereign debt levels. The FTSE 100 fell 46.64 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 5,963.80, its lowest close since 31 March. The index is up 1.1 per cent [...]
FTSE at two-week low as banks and Reckitt fall April 14, 2011 The FTSE returned to a downward path today to close at a two-week low after household goods giant Reckitt Benckiser broke the news that its chief executive had unexpectedly stepped down. The FTSE 100 lost 46.6 points or 0.8 per cent to close at 5,963.80 as banks and miners also suffered, with fears over Asian [...]
Renault could name Pelata’s successor from internal list April 13, 2011 THE chief executive of French carmaker Renault has said that the company has several possible internal candidates to replace chief operating officer Patrick Pelata, who resigned this week over an industrial espionage fiasco. Renault, 15-per cent owned by the French state, fired three executives in January, saying its high-profile electric vehicle project had been targeted [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS April 13, 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers Amit Aggarwal has been appointed to lead the retail M&A team at PwC’s corporate finance business. Aggarwal brings more than 15 years’ experience in M&A and private equity to the role, having previously held senior positions at JP Morgan and Baugur. Aggarwal moves from the position of partner at Retail Partners, the retail-focused advisory [...]