Budget airline Wizz aims for London lift off May 22, 2014 HUNGARIAN budget airline Wizz Air is preparing to list on the London Stock Exchange as it looks to raise €200m (£162m) and grow its business in central and eastern Europe. The no-frills airline, which provides travel to destinations across Europe, expects to launch its initial public offering next month and will be in direct competition [...]
Ryanair raises hopes after its profits decline May 19, 2014 RELIEVED Ryanair investors yesterday took the budget airline’s shares 10.6 per cent higher after the firm’s first fall in profits for five years was less steep than expected. The Irish airline said net profits fell eight per cent in the year to the end of March to €523m (£426m), slightly above its own prediction of [...]
London Report: Astrazeneca’s refusal of Pfizer bid lowers FTSE May 19, 2014 BRITAIN’S top shares fell yesterday, dented by a sharp drop in pharmaceutical firm Astrazeneca after it rejected rival Pfizer’s higher takeover bid. Astrazeneca dived 11.1 per cent after turning down Pfizer’s 55 pounds/share take-it-or-leave-it offer. That steep decline was the biggest drag on the FTSE 100 by some margin, with the index closing down 11.26 [...]
What you need to know before the open May 19, 2014 A mixed open is expected for European markets this morning, following the choppy trading seen globally last week. All eyes will be on Deutsche Bank, following its announcement that it plans to raise €8bn in new capital, and AstraZeneca’s latest announcement that it’s rejected Pfizer’s latest takeover bid. Deutsche Bank’s move could impact what the [...]
Slashed fares hit Ryanair profits May 19, 2014 Ryanair’s reported net income of €523m (£426m) for the year ending in March. That’s a eight per cent drop from the €569m it made a year earlier. Fares fell four per cent, as the budget airline reacted to a tougher environment of a weaker pound and higher fuel costs. As a result, it saw its [...]
Brand Index: Ryanair takes to the airwaves to boost friendly image April 15, 2014 AS PART of Ryanair’s quest to revamp its image, the low-cost airline has launched its first TV campaign in 25 years. The improvement in consumers’ view of the brand since it announced its customer service overhaul, last autumn, has cooled, but there has been a modest increase in the number of people who say they [...]
What do Liberum Capital, George Best and the Highlands have in common? April 14, 2014 Liberum Capital has recently had quite the honour bestowed upon it. The stockbroker, based usually in the heart of the City at Ropemaker Place, is taking to the skies – kind of. Flybe has named one of its planes after it. It’s called The Spirit of Liberum. Troubled airline Flybe has just gone [...]
Smart Josses Hill can go one better in today’s opener April 3, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE ACTION AT AINTREE TODAY AND TOMORROW TIME will probably tell that JOSSES HILL bumped into an absolute monster in Vautour at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Willie Mullins’ powerhouse smashed the track record, held by none other than the mighty three-time Champion Hurdle hero Istabraq, that day and [...]
Trust spring horse Lieutenant to come alive at Aintree again April 2, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS TODAY’S ACTION AT AINTREE THE Crabbie’s Grand National Festival has grown in stature over the past decade and with huge pots on offer you find that some trainers are willing to sacrifice a win at Cheltenham for a success at Aintree. For others a crack at both meetings is irresistible, but with [...]
Mick the miner raises $3.75bn for new deals March 31, 2014 THE FORMER boss of mining giant Xstrata is back on the acquisition trial after raising up to $3.75bn (£2.25bn) from five institutional investors. Mick Davis, dubbed Mick the Miner for his successful mining exploits, has raised the money through his X2 Resources company vehicle, which will use the money to invest in various metal and [...]