LONDON REPORT May 13, 2012 THIS week will see a string of stormy annual meetings, which will be closely watched for signs that the “shareholder spring” is taking hold. The market is also due to digest some key earnings reports on Thursday and Facebook’s long-awaited US float on Friday. However, today looks set to be relatively quiet on the corporate [...]
FTSE in modest rise as investors eye Fed April 24, 2012 The FTSE 100 saw a modest rally this morning led by banking and commodity stocks as investors looked for signs that the Federal Reserve will inject more liquidity into markets. London’s blue chip index was dented yesterday by uncertainty over who will be the next president of France, the collapse of the Dutch government and [...]
The Mitie boss who says board quotas are not the answer March 25, 2012 HOW many FTSE 250 bosses are on Twitter? Before I met Ruby McGregor-Smith, the chief executive of outsourcer Mitie, I would have confidently said the number was zero. But then @RubyMS, as she is known to those who follow her tweets, is not your average chief executive. Asian, female and under 50 years old, she [...]
G4S and Serco sign asylum deal March 21, 2012 G4S and Serco signed contracts with the UK Border Agency yesterday to deliver services such as accommodation and transport to asylum seekers. The five-year deal with G4S, the world’s largest security firm, is worth £203m in centres in the Midlands and across the north. Meanwhile Serco will provide services in the north west, Scotland, and [...]
FTSE buoyed by retailers as investors eye Budget March 21, 2012 THE FTSE 100 headed up in early trading as retailers regained some momentum while investors were turning their attention to the Chancellor’s budget speech. George Osborne is expected to rejig taxes while seeking to keep his austerity plan on track. However figures showing that that public sector net borrowing hit a record for February cast [...]
SMEs are now winning 14pc of all government contracts March 8, 2012 THE VALUE of government work going to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) is set to double to £6bn in this financial year, the cabinet office will announce today. SMEs now undertake 13.7 per cent of all government contracts by value, up from 6.5 per cent just over a year ago, the figures show. Cabinet [...]
FTSE resilient despite Greek deal fears March 7, 2012 The FTSE 100 proved resilient this morning as strong corporate results shored up the index despite falls on other markets across the globe. European shares overall steadied after two straight days of losses as investors braced for news on whether Greece would succeed in restructuring its huge debt pile. The Greek bond swap deal must [...]
FTSE slides as miners hit by China’s cut in growth targets March 5, 2012 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 fell yesterday, as weakness in miners and engineers outstripped strength in defensive stocks after China cut its growth forecasts, while mixed economic data in Europe and the United States dimmed the outlook for global growth. London’s blue chip index shed 36.31 points or 0.6 per cent to 5,874.82, although it held within [...]
Serco profits rise as Asia drives growth February 28, 2012 OUTSOURCING firm Serco will target further expansion in fast-growing markets in Australasia and the Middle East in 2012, after the regions helped it ride out tougher times in its core UK and US markets. FTSE 100-listed Serco, which runs services from the Docklands Light Railway to prisons and air traffic control centres around the world, [...]
FTSE gains fuelled by miners February 28, 2012 The FTSE 100 tracked overnight gains in Asia fuelled by lower oil prices and rising metal prices. Brent crude futures slipped to below $124 a barrel after a surge which had been triggered by fears over supply from the Middle East. A shortage would threaten to derail global growth and investors have been eyeing oil [...]