Polymetal may raise outlook July 31, 2012 PRECIOUS metals miner Polymetal may raise its 2012 production target to reflect the stronger-than-planned performance of its Russian mines, it said yesterday. Polymetal, which joined London’s FTSE 100 index last year, said it was firmly on track to deliver on its 2012 production guidance of more than 1m troy ounces of gold equivalent. Updated guidance [...]
Disheartening words from Europe send FTSE 100 deeper into the red July 31, 2012 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 fell yesterday, extending earlier losses, weighed by worries the European Central Bank may not deliver enough stimulus this week to tackle a global economic slowdown, as comments by German policymakers further dented expectations. At the close, the FTSE 100 was down 45.97 points, or 0.8 per cent, at 5,647.66, also weighed by [...]
A champagne prize for the worst Treasury team in modern British history July 31, 2012 AN ENJOYABLE way of spending a few relaxing holiday hours on the beach is to think about the best team that ever played a particular sport. It can be the team as a whole – for example, is the 2012 British Olympic gymnastic team better than its Russian equivalent in 1980? Or you can construct [...]
BP results show strain of Russia, US spill July 31, 2012 BP delivered the worst of a poor set of quarterly results among top oil companies today, slashing $5bn (£3.18bn) off the value of US assets and undershooting expectations with its operating result. The British oil company is struggling under the weight of litigation over the 2010 US Gulf oil spill and a row with its [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING July 30, 2012 FIANANCIAL TIMES Blackout in India hits millions A protracted blackout disrupted the lives of an estimated 300m people across northern India yesterday, as the aspiring superpower’s fragile infrastructure added to the woes of a government already struggling to manage a slowing economy, persistent inflation and the failure of monsoon rains. Punk band denies Putin charges [...]
AAR takes a swing at BP with a divi freeze July 30, 2012 BP’S oligarch co-owners in TNK-BP blocked a $1bn (£634m) dividend from the Russian oil business yesterday, signalling a new low for a troubled relationship that is heading for divorce. The decision by the AAR consortium, grouping tycoons Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, Viktor Vekselberg and Len Blavatnik, comes after the British oil firm put its 50 [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS July 30, 2012 Canary Wharf Group Eric Van Der Kleij has been appointed as a specialist adviser to the property group. As current chief executive of the Tech City Investment Organisation, he will advise on linking Canary Wharf with opportunities in digital technology. Janus Capital Matthew Nagele has been appointed as head of UK for the investment firm’s [...]
Russian co-owners vote against TNK-BP $1bn payout July 30, 2012 The directors of a consortium of billionaires who co-own TNK-BP have voted against a proposal for the company to pay $1bn (£637 m) in 2012 dividends, putting pressure on BP to resolve conflict and ownership issues at the Anglo-Russian oil venture. British oil major BP and its oligarch partners jointly own the TNK-BP venture but [...]
Next bucks the gloom and sets sights on China July 30, 2012 NEXT is to launch its website in Chinese this autumn as Britain’s second largest clothes retailer steps up its expansion overseas. The company will update the market on its online growth plans alongside its half-year results on Wednesday, with its catalogue and online Directory business again expected to have offset a fall in sales at [...]
LONDON WEEK AHEAD July 29, 2012 RESULTS season continues with a slew of banks, energy and leisure firms due to update this week, while the Bank of England’s monthly decision on interest rates is due on Thursday. Today’s biggest news comes in the form of interims from under-fire banking giant HSBC and household goods behemoth Reckitt Benckiser. The Bank is set [...]