Editor's Picks
AG Barr sales still sparkling
Monday 23 May 2011
Scottish soft drinks maker AG Barr toasted a strong start to the year despite increased levels of competition and promotion and is confident of continued progress.
Fare hikes help Ryanair shrug off oil costs
Monday 23 May 2011
Higher ticket prices and an increase in traffic helped Irish budget airline Ryanair post an increase in profits in the year to 31 March despite rising oil prices.
MITIE posts mighty profits rise
Monday 23 May 2011
Outsourced service provider MITIE said it is benefitting from both private companies and government looking to drive down costs in the current tough climate as it posted a sharp rise in profits for the year to 31 March.
Diversification to accelerate at Stobart
Monday 23 May 2011
Stobart Group's revenue topped the half billion pounds mark but underlying profits at the logistics firm eased a tad in a year characterised by a tough operating environment. Revenue from continuing operations in the year to 28 February rose to £500.4m from £447.7m the year before. Market consensus had been for revenue of £489.3m.
Sunday tips round-up: SSE, Afren, Diploma, Chi-Med
Sunday 22 May 2011
Utilities are traditionally favourite choices of cautious investors looking for income, and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is no exception.
Micro Focus confirms approaches, shares soar
Friday 20 May 2011
Shares in Micro Focus were up by more than 8% after the software company confirmed that it has received approaches from investment groups Advent Capital and Bain Capital “which it has chosen to explore.” The announcement came after speculation of an approach from Advent had pushed up Micro Focus’s share price and the stock climbed higher still after the statement was released.
eBook sales outstrip paperbacks 2-to-1
Friday 20 May 2011
With sales of online digital books – or eBooks – soaring and eclipsing the demand for printed copies, many are hailing this as the beginning of the end for the hardback.
Food overtakes drink at Mitchells & Butlers
Friday 20 May 2011
Pub chain operator Mitchells & Butlers made more money from food than drink for the first time in the half year to 9 April, a strategy that has helped it cope with tough conditions in the pub sector.
Future hit by circulation and ad declines
Friday 20 May 2011
Hobby magazine publisher Future saw a decline in revenues in the half year to 31 March as the economic climate forced many enthusiasts to reduce their spending.
HMV to sell Waterstones for £53m
Friday 20 May 2011
CD, DVD and book retailer HMV has reached agreement on the sale of its bookshop chain Waterstones to the Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut.
SSE trumpets its dividend growth
Friday 20 May 2011
The legion of income investors holding Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) shares were kept happy as the utility company bumped up the dividend a bit more than anticipated on the back of better than expected results.
Mitsui to pay $1bn to BP Macondo fund
Friday 20 May 2011
MOEX Offshore 2007, which holds a 10% interest in the Macondo oil well at the centre of last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster, has made peace with BP over the Deepwater Horizon oil rig accident. MOEX has agreed to pay BP $1,065m, all of which will immediately be funnelled into the $20bn reparations trust fund BP set up.
Future hit by circulation and ad declines
Friday 20 May 2011
Hobby magazine publisher Future saw a decline in revenues in the half year to 31 March as the economic climate forced many enthusiasts to reduce their spending.
Food overtakes drink at Mitchells & Butlers
Friday 20 May 2011
Pub chain operator Mitchells & Butlers made more money from food than drink for the first time in the half year to 9 April, a strategy that has helped it cope with tough conditions in the pub sector.
John Menzies trading in line
Friday 20 May 2011
Newspaper distributor John Menzies said it has made a good start to the year and is trading in line with company expectations.
SSE trumpets its dividend growth
Friday 20 May 2011
The legion of income investors holding SSE shares were kept happy as the utility company bumped up the dividend a bit more than expected. The full year dividend has been hiked 7.1% to 75p from 70p last year, a shade above market expectations of a 74.8p pay-out. Adjusted profit before tax in the year to March 31st rose 1.6% to £1,310m from £1,290m the year before.
US close: Stocks rise despite mixed economic data
Thursday 19 May 2011
US markets hardened for the second day in succession, buoyed by better than expected US unemployment figures.
New UK identity product lifts CPP hopes
Thursday 19 May 2011
CPP, the identity theft and credit card insurer that is under investigation by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for certain issues surrounding the sale of its products in the UK, has launched a new product.
Banking drives Close Brothers growth
Thursday 19 May 2011
Close Brothers is on course to meet full year expectations after a strong start to 2011 by its banking and securities divisions.
Investec jumps after profit rise
Thursday 19 May 2011
Shares in Investec rose sharply after the asset manager posted a rise in profits in the year to 31 March. The company, which operates in South Africa, the UK, Australia and other markets, said operating profit before tax £434.4m from £432.3m the previous year. The shares were the best performer among blue-chips in the morning trading session.
You are here: news > editors picks
10 Lower Thames St,
London EC3R 6EN