Pirc raises concerns over Sky October 15, 2009 BSKYB investors were yesterday urged to oppose the re-election of five of its board members and to vote against the firm’s remuneration report at its annual meeting next week. Investor body Pirc issued an alert expressing its concerns over a lack of independent representation on BSKB’s board, because a number of non-executive directors have links [...]
Banks take FTSE 100 lower after US figures disappoint October 15, 2009 THE FTSE 100 closed lower on yesterday as banks fell after US banking earnings failed to meet some expectations, while miners tracked metal prices down. The index ended down 0.6 per cent, or 33.15 points at 5,222.95, retreating from a 56-week closing high set on Wednesday. Although third-quarter earnings from Goldman Sachs and Citigroup came [...]
Leahy slams education policy October 13, 2009 Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has launched an attack on the “woefully low” standards of the nation’s schools. Speaking at a grocery conference, Labour’s education adviser accused the government of interfering in schools and distracting teachers from their priority of passing knowledge to children. Tesco hires more school-leavers than any other UK business.
Tesco starts to close gap on faster growing rivals October 13, 2009 TESCO, the UK’s largest retailer, is closing the gap on faster-growing competitors, market researcher TNS WorldPanel said yesterday. TNS, which tracks sales growth in the grocery sector, said sales at Tesco, which has been growing less quickly than rivals in recent months, rose 4.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to 4 October. This was [...]
Banks drag down the FTSE as miners and energy drop October 13, 2009 BRITAIN’S top shares closed 1.1 per cent lower yesterday, as weakness in banks outweighed strength in defensive issues, while sentiment was dampened by falls on Wall Street after disappointing corporate earnings. The benchmark FTSE 100 closed 56.02 points lower at 5,154.15, slipping below the 5,200 level which it hit for the first time in more [...]
Co-operative enjoys mutual benefits October 12, 2009 THE CO-OPERATIVE Group, Britain’s biggest mutually owned retailer, yesterday reported a 17 per cent rise in profits, boosted by strong food sales and acquisitions. The Co-op, which bought rival food retailer Somerfield and the Britannia Building Society earlier in the year, said pre-tax profits had jumped to £229m in the six months to 25 July. [...]
J Sainsbury set to ramp up banking arm by luring customers in with points October 11, 2009 J Sainsbury, Britain’s third biggest supermarket, is ramping up its banking arm, by launching a new scheme that will see shoppers rewarded for buying its financial services products. Sainsbury’s Finance will allow customers to earn double Nectar points for taking out home insurance, or opening an account, but it will also give Sainsbury’s account holders [...]
Banks and oil lead the markets lower October 7, 2009 EUROPEAN shares closed lower yesterday with banking and oil stocks leading the fallers, as investors booked profits ahead of the US third-quarter corporate results season. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares was down 0.4 per cent at 988.76 points. The benchmark index is up 19 per cent this year and has surged 53 [...]
J Sainsbury sales growth slows down October 7, 2009 J SAINSBURY, hot on the heels of supermarket archrival Tesco, yesterday revealed that its second quarter sales growth had slowed as food inflation eased in the autumn. Sainsbury’s said like-for-like sales growth, excluding fuel, slowed to 4.6 per cent rise for the 16 weeks to 3 October down from seven per cent in the previous [...]
Insurers fail to lift the FTSE as investors await US results October 7, 2009 BRITAIN’S leading shares closed lower yesterday as falls in oil majors and food retailers offset gains in insurers as investors waited for the start of the earnings seasons in the US to give a fresh direction. The FTSE 100 closed down 29.08 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 5,108.90, after ending 2.3 per cent higher [...]