Editor's Picks
UK unemployment falls
Wednesday 17 Feb 2010
Unemployment in the UK fell by 3,000 to 2.46m in the three months to December, figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show. The decline in youth unemployment was particularly marked, with the number of 16 to 24-year olds out of work falling to 923,000 from 936,000. The news will be seized on by the government as evidence that its strategy for coping with the economic downturn
Predator VT becomes prey
Tuesday 16 Feb 2010
Babcock International’s audacious takeover proposal for VT Group puts the latter in an awkward position.
Shell rejigs bonus structure after revolt
Tuesday 16 Feb 2010
Royal Dutch Shell has unveiled a major overhaul of its management bonus structure and targets following last year's embarrassment when 60% of shareholders voted against the executive pay scheme at its AGM.
Premium broker tips: Barclays results impress
Tuesday 16 Feb 2010
Companies covered today include: Barclays, Vodafone, ITV, Anglo American, Rightmove
Inflation surges to 14-month high
Tuesday 16 Feb 2010
Inflation smashed through 3% last month to a 14-month high following the January 1 VAT hike back to 17.5% and steady rise in petrol prices. Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) was up 3.5% year-on-year in January, matching forecasts, although it fell 0.2% month-on-month versus predictions of a small gain. It was just 1.9% in November and economists think it could go even higher in the coming months
FirstGroup pips rivals in Olympic bus contest
Monday 15 Feb 2010
London mayor Boris Johnson would probably describe the £20m FirstGroup will receive for bussing spectators to and from the city’s 2012 Olympic Games as ‘chicken feed’, but the prestige value of the contract could be a lot higher.
Premier Foods posts profit as brands prosper
Monday 15 Feb 2010
Premier Foods moved into profit in 2009 as higher sales of branded products helped the company behind Hovis bread, Branston pickle and Sharwood's sauces lift margins.
Barclays pair make sacrifices as profits soar
Monday 15 Feb 2010
John Varley, the chief executive of Barclays and Bob Diamond, head of the group’s investment banking division, have chosen to forgo bonuses for the second year in succession as the bank declared a ‘strong’ set of results for 2009. Profit before tax exceeded market expectations at £11.64bn, up from £6.08bn in 2008, helped by a £6.33bn profit on the disposal of Barclays Global Investors.
Premium broker tips: Multiple worries for BAE
Monday 15 Feb 2010
The following broker tips are included in this item: BAE Systems, Imperial Tobacco, GlaxoSmithKline, Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Public sector jobs under threat
Monday 15 Feb 2010
A third of public sector employers are planning redundancies in the first quarter of 2010, according to a new report.
British Airways gets US approval for tie-up
Sunday 14 Feb 2010
Struggling airline British Airways has been given the green light by US regulators for its tie-up with American Airways and Iberia. The plan would see the airlines share costs, but they also have to give up four transatlantic take-off and landing slots. The US Department of Transportation’s tentative approval comes after rival operators complained that the deal would be anti-competitive.
Google still searching
Friday 12 Feb 2010
The rise of Google has been rapid and largely unchecked, but the company faces challenges from Apple and Microsoft as it seeks to extend its hegemony to the mobile computing arena.
New Look makes it a trio of pulled floats
Friday 12 Feb 2010
Fashion retailer New Look has postponed its plans to float in London, the third private equity-backed company in the past 48 hours to scrap an IPO.
Debt crisis exposes eurozone’s flaws
Friday 12 Feb 2010
Greece's mounting fiscal woes have become the toughest test for the single euro currency since it was introduced more than 10 years ago.
Nimble retailers can shrug off gloom
Friday 12 Feb 2010
The subdued performance of retailers, which have underperformed the broader market by 7% since the start of the year, was perhaps predictable. Most companies in the sector predicted that 2010 would be tough as they updated on Christmas trading.
Debt crisis exposes eurozone’s flaws
Friday 12 Feb 2010
Greece's mounting fiscal woes have become the toughest test for the single euro currency since it was introduced more than 10 years ago.
Cheap homes helped by stamp duty rush
Friday 12 Feb 2010
Homebuyers rushed to beat January’s increase in the stamp duty threshold, causing a surge in mortgages at the end of 2009.
China ups reserve requirements by 0.5%
Friday 12 Feb 2010
Chinese authorities announced they are lifting the reserve requirements for banks by half a percentage point in order to cool down the Chinese economy. It is the second time this year the central bank raised banks' reserve requirements following a half-point increase in January. The news came after the market close in Shanghai and ahead of the week-long Chinese New Year holiday
Travelport and Merlin pull billion pound IPOs
Thursday 11 Feb 2010
Online travel company Travelport and Alton Towers owner Merlin Entertainments have shelved plans to list in London.
Global markets await Greek debt deal
Thursday 11 Feb 2010
Global markets have eased back after initial gains on news a deal has been agreed to help debt-stricken Greece. European Union President Herman Van Rompuy told reporters that a deal has been agreed, but details still remain sketchy. ‘Euro-area member states will take determined and coordinated action if needed to safeguard financial stability in the euro area as a whole,’ Van Rompuy said
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