Emerson wins Chloride fight as ABB retires July 1, 2010 Chloride is to start talks with Emerson Electric after rival suitor ABB pulled out in the face of an improved £997m offer from the US group. Emerson Electric raised its cash offer on Tuesday by more than a third to 375p a share, seeking to tempt the British maker of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) away [...]
Keep it real in the Caribbean, just the place for sun, sand and security July 1, 2010 THE appeal of white sand, turquoise sea and a developed infrastructure all in one is too strong to be destroyed by an economic downturn, even this one. While prices sank by 20-25 per cent in two of the British Caribbean’s hottest spots, Barbados and St Lucia, the market has far from stalled. In fact, buyers [...]
Cotswolds classics are always in demand July 1, 2010 PICTURE the idyllic country home and the chances are you’ll conjure up some quaint, mullioned stone cottage in the Cotswolds. Far beyond a fad, the Cotswolds are home to what many consider England’s most appealing rural villages. They ooze a well-heeled ambiance but provide countryside and an equestrian community that is second to none, all [...]
It’s bargain time for Square Mile renters July 1, 2010 WITH prices still slightly down from their 2008 heights, now is the time to get into the London rental market if you or your company are looking for non-permanent living space in the capital. Traditionally, demand grows as the summer wears on and with the property market picking up, prices are only going to go [...]
Funds to be hit by bonus rules June 30, 2010 Cash bonuses to be capped at 30 per cent Hedgies and investment firms fall into EU’s net Politicians say clamp down will end risk-taking HEDGE funds and asset managers will be caught in the tough crackdown on bankers’ bonuses put forward by European Union politicians and member states last night. In the harshest measures yet [...]
Browne joins government as super-boss June 30, 2010 FORMER BP chief executive Lord Browne was confirmed as the coalition government’s “super-director” yesterday in a controversial move that puts him at the heart of Whitehall. The peer accepted the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives’ invitation to take the unpaid post of “lead non-executive director” in the Cabinet Office. He will be tasked with injecting private [...]
US stocks fall at end of worst quarter since 2008 US stocks fall at end of worst quarter since 2008 June 30, 2010 US stocks staggered to the end of a dismal second quarter yesterday in another low volume session as investors found little reason to take on risk after conflicting economic data. The day ended like many during the quarter, with a late-day sell-off as buying interest waned and investors sold underperforming stocks in the worst quarter [...]
Knight Vinke builds up a stake in Kesa June 28, 2010 Activist investor Knight Vinke has bought a three per cent stake in electrical retailer Kesa. The move sent shares up nearly two per cent, amid speculation the investor may push for the group to be broken up. Knight Vinke is known for its activist tendencies, having demanded changes at firms including HSBC, Royal Dutch Shell, [...]
Alchemy sells Pierce stake June 27, 2010 ALCHEMY Partners will sell its stake in broker Seymour Pierce as it attempts to scale down its investments in the wake of the departure of founder Jon Moulton. Alchemy acquired 29.9 per cent of the City’s biggest small-cap brokerage after throwing its weight behind a management buyout in 2003. The Seymour Pierce employee benefit trust [...]
Let the travelling by boat take the stress out of commuting June 24, 2010 IN warm weather those living near the river in London have a big advantage. It’s not just the views or access to riverside beer gardens – it’s the fact that they don’t have to jam themselves into sweat-drenched Tube carriages and buses when they can drift merrily to work by boat instead. When commuting comes [...]