BEST OF THE BROKERS June 28, 2011 DOMINO’S PIZZA Numis rates the pizza maker a “buy” with a 600p target price as it says the market expects the firm to report negative like-for-like sales for the second quarter after hot weather in April and May. The broker instead believes new product launches and growing lunch and late night sales should fuel 12 [...]
Diageo leads raft of China trade deals June 27, 2011 DIAGEO is to become the first spirits firm to take control of a Chinese-listed rival, after a £13m deal was approved yesterday. The deal, which was announced during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Britain, was given the green light by regulators in a sign that the emerging superpower is becoming more open to foreign [...]
Unilever announces shake-up to drive growth June 24, 2011 Consumer goods group Unilever is to focus on product categories rather than geographic regions in a management shakeup the Anglo-Dutch group says is aimed at driving growth especially in emerging markets. The maker of Dove soap and Knorr soups is to scrap its three-region structure and single-product category heads, with new Chief operating officer Harish [...]
Coca-Cola considers a listing in Shanghai June 1, 2011 COCA-COLA, the world’s largest soft-drink company, said yesterday it is holding talks with the Chinese government over a possible listing in Shanghai, joining other global firms in testing the waters for a listing in China. Coca-Cola has said it will commit $2bn (£1.22bn) of investment into China and last October opened three new plants in [...]
Coca-Cola considers Shanghai listing June 1, 2011 Coca-Cola Co, the world’s largest soft-drink company, said it may explore a possible listing in Shanghai, joining other global firms in testing the waters for a China listing, along with its increasing presence there. Coke has said it will commit $2bn (£1bn) in investment into China and last October opened three new plants in Inner [...]
Trading and profits rise at Shanks May 26, 2011 BRITISH waste management company Shanks yesterday posted a better-than-expected six per cent rise in underlying pre-tax profit, and said it had seen an improvement in the market for its services in recent months. The company, which makes around half its sales in the Netherlands and recently won a contract with Unilever to recycle its waste [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING May 22, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES BAIN PULLS OUT OF RAC AUCTION Bain Capital has pulled out of the bidding for RAC, the roadside rescue business of UK insurer Aviva. The US private equity group last week dropped out of the auction after bidding less than its rivals, people close to the situation said. That leaves Carlyle, Clayton Dubilier [...]
African MBAs – beating Bono at his own game May 18, 2011 GOVERNMENTS, NGOs, rock-stars and politicians of all stripes have tried to help African development. Now a wave of business schools is trying to do its bit. Henley, Edinburgh, Duke, Spain’s IESE and even Shanghai-based CEIBS have all gone into the continent with varying amounts of fanfare. In theory, they should be able to do a [...]
FTSE 100 sinks below 6,000 as banks and miners tumble May 11, 2011 COMMODITY and banking stocks dragged the FTSE 100 back below the 6,000 level yesterday, with these sectors pressured by Greece’s debt problems and uncertainty over global economic growth. London’s blue chip index closed down 42.89 points, or 0.7 per cent, at 5,976.00, having hit a one-week closing high on Tuesday. Atif Latif, director of trading [...]
HSBC drags FTSE back as investors eye inflation forecasts May 11, 2011 Banking giant HSBC sapped some of the confidence from the blue chip index today as it announced that it was aiming to slash costs by £2.1bn. The news followed a bruising start to the week for banks who have already earmarked billions for potential payouts over dubious insurance protection sales. HSBC fell 1.3 per cent [...]