Surge in banking shares helps FTSE to maintain its near 6-month high September 19, 2012 STRENGTH in banks and energy stocks hauled Britain’s leading share index higher yesterday as fresh central bank stimulus moves, this time from the Bank of Japan, whetted investors’ appetite for riskier-perceived assets. The BoJ joined in recent action from the US and Europe with bond purchases designed to kick-start its economy as central banks aim [...]
FTSE 100 rebounds on Japan’s stimulus September 19, 2012 The blue chip index opened up this morning, as investors were encouraged by the Bank of Japan’s decision to extend its asset purchase programme by 10 trillion yen. Miners led the index up in early trading, as investors were also buoyed by the end of the strike at Lonmin’s Marikana mine. Ferrexpo added 4.74 per [...]
City Views | Would you buy shares in Direct Line? September 18, 2012 RICHARD MCARTHUR | LLOYDS BANKING GROUP I would have no interest in buying stock shares with Direct Line. The company itself is strong but with the uncertainty in the stock market at the moment, I would not risk it. PAUL HANCOCK | PRUDENTIAL UK I would consider buying shares in Direct Line because it already [...]
Double broker downgrade hits shares in Aviva September 18, 2012 SHARES in insurance giant Aviva slumped four per cent yesterday after two leading analysts reduced their recommendations on the firm. Bank of America Merill Lynch (BAML) and Deutsche Bank both cut their forecasts after concluding that the company’s stock has risen too much since executive chairman John McFarlane announced a radical restructuring plan in July. [...]
BT opens wallet to sign Beeb’s Jake Humphrey September 18, 2012 A FTER a breakthrough 2012 that saw him shine as one of the lead anchors of the BBC’s Olympic coverage, the Beeb’s Formula 1 frontman Jake Humphrey has been snapped up by BT to present its Premier League offering from next season. Humphrey’s signing is the latest big money move from BT, after it shelled [...]
Panda-monium in Washington as investor fuels bearish boom September 18, 2012 BILLIONAIRE private equity investor David Rubenstein, co-founder of Carlyle Group, has added another string to his bow – as panda godparent. On Monday, Rubenstein got the latest return on his investment in the form of a new giant panda cub called Mei Xiang, which was born thanks to techniques developed at a facility in Washington [...]
FTSE feels pain from Spain as the Eurozone waits for a bailout plea September 18, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index eased for a second day yesterday, retreating further off recent six-month highs on uncertainty over whether steps taken by the US and Europe will be enough to kick-start the global economy. In UK’s top trading partner the Eurozone, a big hurdle is Spain. Madrid’s reluctance to make a formal request for [...]
London Welsh break Premiership duck in second half fightback September 16, 2012 LONDON Welsh picked up their first ever Aviva Premiership victory against Exeter Chiefs yesterday and head coach Lyn Jones admits they have come a long way since their opening day loss to Leicester Tigers. A last-gasp try from Ed Jackson and Seb Jewell’s subsequent conversion added to the drama at the Kassam Stadium as the [...]
Sarries can win plaudits as well as trophies, says flanker Fraser September 13, 2012 SARACENS flanker Will Fraser insists they will prove their critics wrong this season, delighting and dominating in equal measure as they bid to reclaim the Aviva Premiership crown. Sarries, who face Leicester Tigers at Wembley tomorrow, reached the play-offs last season but came in for criticism for failing to excite – an accusation Flanker believes [...]
BT adds rugby to its TV offering September 12, 2012 BT has secured a £152m deal for the rights to show Premiership rugby union matches on its TV service, in the latest aggressive move from the company after its shock grab of Premier League football rights. The four-year contract, which allows BT to show 69 live games a year from the start of the 2013-14 [...]