Premier Oil makes Falkland Islands discovery at “most material well” of drilling campaign May 28, 2015 Analysts heralded yesterday’s announcement from London-listed Premier Oil, revealing that it has made an oil discovery at its Falkland Islands Isobel prospect, as “encouraging news” for the group. Andrew Lodge, exploration director at the FTSE 250 company, said the find was “an important play opening discovery” in a previously unexplored area of the North Falkland [...]
Lloyds and Aldermore lead SME loan rise May 28, 2015 Banklending to small businesses picked up at last in the first quarter, Bank of England figures showed yesterday. Net lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rose by £615m in the first quarter of 2015. It marks a sharp reversal after years of decline – in the final quarter of 2014, net lending [...]
Dubai and Netherlands moves set IG Group on track for targets May 28, 2015 Online trading company IG Group said yesterday that it remains on track to meet full-year financial expectations. In a trading update for the fourth quarter, IG said it made good strategic progress over the period, extending its stockbroking offering into the Netherlands and receiving approval in-principle of its regulatory licence in Dubai towards the end [...]
RBS could be ordered to beef up new lender Williams and Glyn May 28, 2015 George Osborne yesterday asked the competition authorities to look into the RBS spin-off Williams and Glyn to make sure it is big enough to challenge other banks in the market. Bailed-out giant RBS has to carve the unit out of its existing branch and customer network, under terms imposed by the European Commission at the [...]
Irish MPs give Aer Lingus sale to International Consolidated Airlines final go-ahead May 28, 2015 The Irish parliament today gave British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines' (IAG) bid for Aer Lingus the final go-ahead. Irish MPs voted by a majority of 23 according to local media reports, ending two days of tense negotiations. The vote comes after the Irish government agreed to sell its 25 per cent in Aer Lingus to IAG [...]
Banks have finally started lending to small and medium sized businesses May 28, 2015 Banks are finally starting to lend to Britain's small and medium sized businesses new data has shown, suggesting the widely criticised Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) could be beginning to work. Net lending to small and medium sized businesses in the first three months of this year rose by £635m, according to the Bank of England. [...]
Kingfisher profits knocked by foreign exchange volatility, but share price is up nonetheless May 28, 2015 Currency volatility did Kingfisher no favours in the first quarter of 2015, but investors have not been put off. The figures Sales for the company, which owns B&Q, rose slightly by 0.8 per cent to £2.6m during the first three months of the year. Retail profit was also up by 1.4 per cent at £150m [...]
Tate & Lyle share price falls as company warns of another difficult year as profit, earnings and sales all fall May 28, 2015 The figures Tate & Lyle's share price slumped four per cent in early trading after a depressing set of full-year results signalled little turnaround in profits. The FTSE 250-listed group is predicting profits will stay flat next year. admitting that it had endured "very challenging" last 12 months as it continues to restructure its business. In the [...]
Tesco share price edges down as shareholder group ramps up legal battle for “substantial” compensation May 28, 2015 A group of Tesco shareholders seeking compensation from the supermarket claim the troubled supermarket "committed serious violations" by overstating its profits. Tesco Shareholder Claims Limited (TSC), which launched proceedings in March this year, argues there is a “strong case” and that the ultimate claim will be “substantial”. Back in September, the supermarket's incoming boss Dave Lewis [...]
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct share price rises after raising profit outlook May 28, 2015 Sports Direct's share price shot up more than four per cent ahead after upping its profit forecast for its most recent financial year, ahead of its AGM today. The sportswear retailer's employees and major third party suppliers will gather to hear updates on the group's current and future performance, raised its profit and earnings outlook for [...]