Simon Murray stands down as boss of Gulf Keystone Petroleum March 31, 2015 Oil firm Gulf Keystone Petroleum revealed yesterday that its colourful chairman Simon Murray is to retire. Ex-Glencore chairman Murray has had a varied past, which includes a stint in the French Foreign Legion. He previously led Li Ka-Shing’s Hutchison Whampoa for 10 years, and is famously known for having once been chased by a leopard. [...]
FTSE at a record high as miners lifted by metals – London Report March 23, 2015 BRITAIN’S blue-chip share index set a record high yesterday as mining stocks rallied with firmer metals prices, outpacing weakness in shares such as Weir Group. The UK mining index gained 2.2 per cent as copper hit a two-month high, driven by a weaker dollar on expectations the US Federal Reserve will stay accommodative for the [...]
Income jumps at Glencore as revenue slides March 18, 2015 GLENCORE’S 2014 revenue dipped despite huge net income gains, the company reported yesterday. The natural resources company brought in $221bn (£151bn) this year, marking a nearly five per cent drop from 2013. However, net income in 2014 leapt to $4.25bn after 2013’s reported losses of more than $7bn. A Glencore spokesman explained the losses to [...]
Glencore in debt for equity swap with Russneft March 11, 2015 Mining firm Glencore is finalising a purchase of a 49 per cent stake in Russian oil refinery firm Russneft. The companies are preparing a deal to convert $900m (£604m) of debt into equity, which will see Glencore take on a 49 per cent holding in the producing side of the Russian firm. Glencore, which is [...]
Property shares weigh on FTSE due to bond rise – London Report March 9, 2015 Britain’s top share index yesterday extended its retreat from record highs, pulled down by property shares as a rise in gilt yields eroded the appeal of interest rate-sensitive stocks. The blue chip FTSE 100 index closed down 0.5 per cent at 6,876.47 points, extending Friday’s decline and pushing the FTSE further away from a record [...]
FTSE climbs in late rally as BA owner IAG soars – London Report March 4, 2015 BRITAIN’S top share index rebounded late yesterday, helped by a surge in British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG) due to strong traffic figures and by rallies in broadcaster ITV and bank Standard Chartered. The FTSE 100 snapped a three-day losing streak to end 0.4 per cent higher at 6,919.24 points after trading as low [...]
Trading division helps Glencore weather prices March 3, 2015 COMMODITIES powerhouse Glencore yesterday revealed that a 15 per cent jump in earnings for its trading division had partially shouldered the financial hit sustained from falling commodity prices. The offset allowed the Anglo-Swiss multinational to finish the year two per cent down in core profit. The company posted 2014 adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation [...]
FTSE dragged by Smith & Nephew – London Report March 3, 2015 BRITAIN’S blue chip share index gave up early gains for a third straight session yesterday and dropped back from record highs as prospects for a takeover of Smith & Nephew dimmed and its shares slumped. The FTSE 100 index was down 51.51 points, or 0.7 per cent, at 6,889.13 points at the close, not far [...]
Housing data shows lending and price rises – London Report March 1, 2015 HOUSING data due this week is likely to show increases in both prices and the number of mortgages being taken out. Bank of England mortgage approval figures, out today, are forecast to show that the number of housing loans rose modestly for a second month running in January after falling for five successive months to [...]
Glencore scales back exports February 26, 2015 GLENCORE said today it planned to cut coal exports from its Australian mines by about 15 per cent in 2015 to ensure the mines remain profitable as coal prices languish near five-and-a-half-year lows. The world’s biggest exporter of coal for power stations said it would cut exports by 15m tonnes. It will carry out the [...]