Editor's Picks
Restaurant Group hungry for expansion
Monday 04 Jan 2010
While Restaurant Group’s reasonably-priced menus have helped insulate it from the economic downturn, the owner of the Frankie and Bennie’s and Chiquito chains is not immune to the broader fortunes of the overall economy.
UK manufacturing growth fastest in two years
Monday 04 Jan 2010
UK manufacturing activity was a lot healthier than expected in December, with the 'largely encouraging' CIPS/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index hitting a 25-month high of 54.1. That represented a sharp improvement on November’s level of 51.8, and confounded economists’ expectations of a decline to around 51.5.
Novartis plans full Alcon takeover
Monday 04 Jan 2010
Novartis plans to pay over $39bn for full ownership of Alcon by exercising an option to buy a 77% majority stake in the eye care specialist and subsequently entering into an all-share direct merger with the group.
Finance bosses upbeat about 2010
Monday 04 Jan 2010
Finance directors at some of Britain’s biggest companies are more positive than they have been for over two years, a new report has found.
Mortgage approvals rise strongly
Monday 04 Jan 2010
Continued signs of life in the UK housing market were confirmed by the number of UK mortgage approvals in November, which rose for their fifth month in succession to their highest level since March 2008, according to figures from the Bank of England.
Premium broker tips: Home Retail, Misys, Sports Direct
Monday 04 Jan 2010
Societe Generale reckons continued signs of improvement in the UK housing market are enough to warrant an upgrade in its rating of Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group.
Finance bosses upbeat about 2010
Monday 04 Jan 2010
Finance directors at some of Britain’s biggest companies are more positive than they have been for over two years, a new report has found. In its quarterly CFO survey of 128 finance chiefs, accountancy firm Deloitte said number crunchers were as willing to take financial risks as they were in early 2008, just before the full seriousness of the financial crash became clear
December house prices up 0.4%
Wednesday 30 Dec 2009
House prices rose by 0.4% in December, taking the total rise for the year to 5.9%, figures from the building society Nationwide show.
Global markets enjoy bumper year
Wednesday 30 Dec 2009
More gains for FTSE 100 on the last day of 2009 capped a year of strong recovery from the ravages of the economic crisis. The leading share index posted a 22% rise – its best yearly performance since 1997 –as shares recovered from the sharp declines that began as the financial crisis intensified towards the end of 2008.
UK outlook 2010: Brokers' view
Thursday 24 Dec 2009
Schroders
Debt, oil and politics: Three themes for 2010
Thursday 24 Dec 2009
After a momentous couple of years for financial markets, it is a brave pundit who tries to predict outcomes for 2010 with any degree of certainty.
Shoppers continue post-Christmas spending
Thursday 24 Dec 2009
Millions of shoppers hit the High Street yesterday as the bumper start to the sales season continued. Sales are expected to soar in the post-Christmas rush as shoppers take advantage of deep discounts ahead of the VAT rate increase on January 1. John Lewis said its online Christmas sales, which started on 6pm Christmas Eve, saw a record first three days
Glencore bond sale prices possible IPO at $35bn
Wednesday 23 Dec 2009
Secretive Swiss commodities trader Glencore appeared to move nearer an IPO today after a $2.2bn bond sale priced the firm at $35bn (£22bn).
MAMA acquisition just the ticket for HMV
Wednesday 23 Dec 2009
The rise of digital music has been a big challenge for HMV, so news today that it has agreed terms for the purchase of live music group MAMA is a nice early Christmas present for the CD and DVD retailer.
Winners and losers in 2009
Wednesday 23 Dec 2009
Retailers and miners look set to feature prominently among the best performers in the end of year review of the stock market’s leaders and laggards.
BoE unanimously in favour of QE pause
Wednesday 23 Dec 2009
Bank of England policymakers voted unanimously to keep interest rates at 0.5% and their programme of quantitative easing (QE) at £200bn when they met earlier this month. Minutes from the Monetary Policy Committee meeting on 9-10 December revealed its nine members felt the medium-term outlook had changed little since they voted for a £25bn extension to QE in November
Hot Tuna sheds swimwear
Tuesday 22 Dec 2009
The Australian model Elle MacPherson used to sit on the board of Hot Tuna, but the withdrawal from the Australian market of the clothes she was often photographed in – women’s swimwear – has helped the company move towards profitability.
Fresnillo tops Goldcorp bid for Canplats
Tuesday 22 Dec 2009
Minera Penmont, the joint venture 56% owned by silver miner Fresnillo, has made a bid to snatch Canadian mining company Canplats Resources from bullion producer Goldcorp.
Rio accepts Alcan Packaging offer
Tuesday 22 Dec 2009
Mining giant Rio Tinto has accepted a $2.025bn offer for its Alcan Packaging pharmaceutical, tobacco and food divisions from the packaging group Amcor as it continues its programme of asset sales to ease its debt pile. The proposed transaction, which Rio received in August, has been cleared by the European Commission. Rio now awaits clearance from the US Department of Justice.
Footsie regains Lehman watermark
Tuesday 22 Dec 2009
London’s blue chip index closed at a new 15-month high having regained all of the ground lost after the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
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