Editor's Picks
Cadbury vows to fight off Kraft bid
Sunday 13 Dec 2009
Dairy Milk and Crème Egg maker Cadbury today recommended shareholders reject the bid from Kraft Food, saying the American food giant is trying to buy it ‘on the cheap’. The UK confectionary giant said Kraft's offer fails to recognise the value of the group's performance to date and the benefits of completing its ‘Vision into Action’ plan set out in June 2007.
Retailers tipped as online sales surge
Friday 11 Dec 2009
Britons are happier than ever to buy goods online and will be tapping their keyboards furiously over the next few days to make sure their Christmas presents are delivered on time.
The Fundamentalist: Playing Footsie for income
Friday 11 Dec 2009
With UK interest rates predicted to remain low for the foreseeable future and inflation tipped to climb above 3% in early 2010, savers could be forgiven for seeking a better return on their money.
Screening for canny director deals
Friday 11 Dec 2009
Directors’ dealings in the shares of their own companies, because their knowledge of the company’s inner workings should, in theory at least, give them a valuable insight into its prospects.
Credit downgrades: Europe's weakest links
Friday 11 Dec 2009
Greek prime minister George Papandreou might insist the country is "not about to default on its debts", but markets and debt ratings agencies suggest otherwise. Greece has debts of €300bn ($442bn; £272bn), the highest level in its modern history. "We recognise that the problems are serious, that the challenge is huge," said Mr Papandreou,
Premium broker tips: HMV, M&S, Anglo American
Friday 11 Dec 2009
Ambrian has started coverage of HMV with a 'sell' stance and a price target of 93p.
Weak Waterstone's troubles HMV
Friday 11 Dec 2009
HMV hopes that brisk trade over Christmas at its video games, music and DVD stores will help offset weakness at book chain Waterstone's as a drop in like for like sales accelerated during the half-year. Pre-tax losses narrowed to £24.9m in the 26 weeks ended 24 October from £27.5m a year ago, but like for like sales fell 2.1%. They’d fallen 1.8% during the first 18 weeks
Decision deadline for Lloyds shareholders
Thursday 10 Dec 2009
Lloyds Banking Group shareholders need to be quick if they want to take up their rights as part of the bank’s £13.5bn cash call. It’s D-Day on Friday and the new shares will begin trading at the start of next week.
Sports Direct sees value in licensing
Thursday 10 Dec 2009
To achieve its new earnings targets for the full year, Sports Direct will be pinning its hopes on the World Cup effect to drum up custom at its 371 sports shops in the UK ahead of next summer.
Premium broker tips: TUI, Stagecoach, EasyJet, BA
Thursday 10 Dec 2009
UBS has raised its price target on TUI Travel to 265p from 250p following the travel group’s full-year results last week.
Darling delays spending cuts - and credit downgrade
Thursday 10 Dec 2009
Alistair Darling risked the wrath of the unions and uproar among the middles classes as he delivered his pre-Budget report (PBR) yesterday, but he may just have saved Britain from an embarrassing credit rating downgrade. The Chancellor decided to cap public sector pay increases at 1% for two years from 2011, but higher inflation effectively means a pay cut for teachers, nurses and policeman
UU CFO to leave for C&W
Thursday 10 Dec 2009
Tim Weller, chief financial officer (CFO) of United Utilities, is to jump ship to take over the CFO role at the Cable & Wireless division, Cable & Wireless Worldwide.
Sports Direct sales jump 10%
Thursday 10 Dec 2009
Sports Direct has lifted its full year earnings expectations after higher sales from its shops helped the sports retailer shrug of a decline in its wholesale business to post a rise in sales and underlying pre-tax profits. In the half year to October 25, revenues climbed to £756.9m from £687.7m over the same period the previous year.
ING to return €5.61bn to Dutch govt
Wednesday 09 Dec 2009
Dutch financial service firm ING Group will repay around €5.61bn of state aid it has received during the financial crisis.
Imagination bullish as chip sales sizzle
Wednesday 09 Dec 2009
The economic crisis has altered many lifestyle trends, but the growing popularity of hi-tech gadgets such as smart phones and satellite navigation for cars continues apace. Imagination Technologies is one of the companies that is tuned into this.
Premium broker tips: DSG, Kesa, Game...
Wednesday 09 Dec 2009
Nomura has taken a more positive stance on a number of UK retailers, upping its price targets and forecasts for DSG International, Home Retail and Kesa Electricals.
Chancellor's 'super tax' targets City bonuses
Wednesday 09 Dec 2009
Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget speech confirmed fears in the City that bankers’ bonuses would be hit with a ‘super tax’, although he has promised to halve the budget deficit by 2013-14. The Chancellor said there’d be a one-off levy of 50% on any bank bonus of more than £25,000 to be paid by the bank and not the individual. That should bring in £500m
Carluccio's hungry for expansion
Tuesday 08 Dec 2009
Profits were down at Carluccio’s in the year to 27 September, but the Italian restaurant chain has proved resilient in the downturn and thinks it is in a strong position to benefit from the recovery when it comes.
British consumers maintain confidence
Tuesday 08 Dec 2009
Consumer confidence remained “stable” at pre-recession levels in Britain for the second consecutive month in November following a slump to record lows at the beginning of the year.
Darling has tough balancing act
Tuesday 08 Dec 2009
Alistair Darling will have to give the pre-Budget speech of his life tomorrow if he is to balance the needs of his party for a pre-election boost against concern the UK’s finances are spiralling rapidly out of control.
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