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Small Talk: Public sector failings holding back SMEs' recovery drive

Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Is the public sector hindering the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to drive Britain's rebound from recession? The question is worth asking, because for all the rhetoric we hear from this Government – and its predecessors – on the importance of entrepreneurialism, the organisations over which it presides have an irritating habit of getting in the way.

The Week Ahead: Spotlight on turnaround attempts at Thomas Cook

Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: Loose lips at Tullow lift shares with good news

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Just as dealers yesterday were preparing to head off to the pub, up popped an announcement from Tullow Oil. If there was any annoyance on trading desks at the lateness of the statement, then they could console themselves with the fact that the blue-chip explorer's day wasn't exactly going to plan.

Market Report: Arm legs it up the Footsie after impressing analysts

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

While one British tech success story found itself under attack, another was being given a standing ovation yesterday. After US giant Hewlett-Packard admitted that revenues from its £7bn acquisition Autonomy had been "very disappointing", Arm Holdings powered up after impressing scribblers in the Square Mile.

Market Report: Glencore marks unhappy anniversary with new low

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

A much-hyped listing swiftly followed by the share price plummeting – sound familiar? As the fall-out from the Facebook IPO continues to rumble on, today marks the one-year anniversary of another debut that has not exactly lived up to expectations. After a massive float worth £37bn, official trading of shares in Glencore International began exactly 12 months ago. However, you could forgive those investors who got in at the start for not blowing out the candles on the cake with too much enthusiasm.

Market Report: Hammerson back in the takeover bid spotlight

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

There has been no shortage of takeover chatter around Hammerson lately. The possibility of the developer – whose portfolio includes the Brent Cross and Bullring shopping centres in north London and Birmingham – being snapped up has caused much excitement, and the bid spotlight was switched back on yesterday.

Investment View: Hold your fire on Telecity despite non-exec's deal

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Telecity: OUR VIEW: buy on weakness; SHARE PRICE: 761p (+4.5p)

Market Report: Rio Tinto gains in flight from eurozone stocks

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

As the eurozone-inspired sell-off finally paused for breath yesterday, there was a rare chance for the Footsie to regain some ground. Yet while the benchmark index attempted a recovery of sorts after having lost more than 300 points last week – which was its worst for nine months – the thoughts of many in the Square Mile remained on what further stormclouds lie ahead.

Small talk: Now is the time for Britain's small businesses to be brave

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Britain's small and medium-sized enterprises have much to worry about as the European sovereign debt crisis spirals out of control once more. When the banks shut up shop again in a full-blown repeat of the first credit crunch – as they surely will if Greece walks – you can bet it will be SMEs that are starved of debt first, whatever financiers say in public.

The Week Ahead: Rebellious shareholders to question HSBC chiefs

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: Sun shines in California but it's gloomy in London

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Where, oh where, is Britain's answer to Facebook? The social networking website's mega-float on New York's Nasdaq was the only excitement at the end of a week to forget for the Footsie, which fell every day. But anyone looking to find decent internet companies listed on the London stock market would struggle.

Market Report: Low volumes suggest the old adage has taken effect

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The "sell in May and go away" crowd have increasing reason to feel smug. Anyone who shorted the FTSE 100 at the start of the month, following the old City cliche, is quids in. The market is going nowhere good any time soon, by most accounts. Big buy orders are even less fashionable than French Connection (off 9.5p to 30p yesterday after another profits warning).

Market Report: Barclays back on the rise after losing fifth of value

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Barclays offered a surprise glimmer of hope in a mostly overcast market yesterday, as the banking giant defied its financial competitors to register a 1.6 per cent jump in its share price. With investors shying away from high-risk options, such as banks, Barclays shares increased by 2.95p to 189.1p after UBS raised its rating on the stock from "neutral" to "buy".

Market Report: Diageo rises on talk of deal with tequila maker

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It's been a while since City traders have had an excuse to crack open the tequila. But yesterday that all changed. Well, almost. Not because there's a reason to be cheerful about the markets – far from it, it was a particularly nervy day after Monday's falls, with a sudden sell-off after lunch requiring some fancy footwork by the Square Mile's practitioners. No, it was about Diageo, which was said to be close to knocking back a stake in Jose Cuervo, a $3bn (£1.9bn) business which, as any hellraiser will tell you, is the world's biggest tequila brand.

Investment View: Sunny days for Tui but Thomas Cook still shivers

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

TUI travel; SHARE PRICE: 177.8p BUY

Market Report: Return of drachma could be good news for De La Rue

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

While markets were panicking over the future of the euro yesterday, not everyone appeared so worried. Trading screens may have been swamped in red, but De La Rue managed to climb amid suggestions that the banknote printer could be in the money if the eurozone breaks up.

Small talk: Growth fund creates happy mediums

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

That Britain is not an entrepreneurial nation has become a received wisdom – the theme underlies much of the current drive to encourage more people to start their own businesses, as policymakers look to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to drive the recovery. But the truth is that Britons are pretty good at starting businesses – last year around 460,000 people did so, around the same number as in Germany per capita.

The Week Ahead: Analysts await Travis Perkins investment plan

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: Reed Elsevier may be next to feel shareholders' fury

Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Will Reed Elsevier be the next to be swept up in the "shareholder spring"? With investors increasingly flexing their muscles, City scribblers were wondering yesterday whether the publishing and exhibitions giant may be forced into action.

Market Report: Westfield may patch it up and grab Hammerson

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

They may be at each other's throats, but could Hammerson and Westfield end up together? The two developers are battling it out to see who gets to redevelop the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon. However, some believe the Aussie giant Westfield may want to put their differences aside and make an approach for its Footsie-listed rival.

Market Report: Bowleven back in the takeover spotlight

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The rumour mill has been rather quiet around Bowleven as of late. It was a different story near the start of the year when punters were getting excited over the possibility of an approach. However, after Dubai's Dragon Oil decided in February that, having had a think, it was not going to make a bid, the West Africa-focused explorer has lost more than 40 per cent.

Market Report: Rentokil edges up despite concerns over City Link

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The Square Mile's patience with Rentokil Initial is running out. The multi-tasking firm – whose services range from rat catching to cleaning bathrooms – has long been dogged by the performance of its City Link business. Yet although boss Alan Brown is now claiming the troubled courier unit is about to see an improvement, that has not been enough for him to escape harsh words from those who think it is time to let it go.

The Week Ahead: Tui losses set to rise after French shun North Africa

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: Peppa Pig owner's shares fatten on movie deal talk

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Lights, camera ... action? With Entertainment One, the co-owner of kids' favourite cartoon porcine Peppa Pig, on the search for acquisitions, The King's Speech-backer Alliance Films has long been rumoured to be in its sights. Yesterday, with the sale process of the Canadian firm looking set to be completed in a matter of weeks, City scribblers were claiming that – win or lose – punters would be switching onto the media firm.

Market Report: Betfair on a winner with German licence award

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Jackpot. Betfair was celebrating a big win yesterday after the betting firm was awarded one of the first licences for online gambling in Germany. With Europe increasingly regulating internet gambling, fears that it may struggle to win licences have weighed on the stock and, as a result, the sense of relief was palpable as Betfair jumped 45p to 839.5p.

Market Report: Takeover worries give CWW investors the jitters

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Long-suffering punters in Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW) are getting the jitters. Last week their spirits were sky-high after it was revealed that – having already had the put-up-or-shut-up deadline extended three times – Vodafone had decided to make a bid for the telecoms firm.

Market Report: Weather threatens to rain on Kingfisher's update

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It is always easy to blame the weather. While most stocks on the Footsie were heating up yesterday, Kingfisher ended up looking rather soggy amid warnings that the recent downpours may result in the retailer's trading update at the end of the month turning out to be a bit of a damp squib.

Investment View: Admiral has been all at sea, so steer another course to a safer harbour

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The motor insurance company Admiral once had the look of the sort of sleek, purring supercar its underwriters might think twice about insuring unless driven by someone with a completely clean licence aged at least 35 and preferably female.

Market Report: Invensys on the up as bid rumours refuse to die

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It is the takeover tale that refuses to go away. Rumours that Invensys could be in line for an approach have seemingly been around for ever, but that did not stand in the way of the City's enthusiasm for the story yesterday as the engineer jumped as much as 10 per cent amid continuing bid speculation.

Small Talk: Green energy clash is casting a shadow over small firms

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

No one said coalition government would be easy, but the tensions between the Conservatives and their Liberal Democrat partners over green energy policy are mounting by the day.

The Week Ahead: City looks to Aberdeen to maintain its momentum

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: London tech stocks bathe in Samsung's Korean sun

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Ring ring... It was all about mobile phones in the Square Mile yesterday as Samsung reported its stellar sales numbers. Investors prised open their Galaxy handhelds to see which London-listed suppliers might be inside.

Market Report: Hopes the tough times are over see Weir on the rise

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Is there light at the end of the tunnel for Weir Group? Events across the Atlantic have been knocking the pump manufacturer recently, prompting the stock to drop by around 25 per cent in just two months. Yesterday, however, the firm was attempting a rally amid claims the run of bad news is drawing to a close.

Market Report: Kesa feels pressure to pull plug on Italian division

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Could it be time for Kesa Electricals to bid arrivederci to Italy? Having recently managed to exit the UK by selling its struggling Comet chain for the nominal price of £2, yesterday the retailer was under pressure to get out of another European country.

Market Report: Analyst calls on the Bible to back hopes for Barclays

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The Square Mile tends to be more concerned with Mammon than spiritual matters. Yet yesterday the Bible was helping Barclays in the run-up to the release of its first-quarter results tomorrow, as Investec's banking guru Ian Gordon turned to the Old Testament for inspiration.

Investment View: Time to cash in those BT shares as competition gets sharper

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

BT is still "the major provider of telecommunications networks and services in the UK", as it is very keen to point out.

Market Report: Bumi battered by fears over shareholders' debts

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

With yesterday a horror show for stocks across the Square Mile, Bumi was one of the worst hit amid renewed fears over the debts of the Bakrie family. The Indonesia miner, which was co-founded by financier Nat Rothschild, slumped 46.1p to 497.4p following reports claiming the family needs to resolve a covenant breach on a loan worth $437m (£271.1m) by the end of the week.

Small Talk: SMEs could pay the price if banking reform hits lending

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Is banking reform set to stymie the supply of credit to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? It's easy enough to make that case: as banks are required to hold more capital relative to the scale of their liabilities, they will have less money to lend to customers. And with greater reliance on risk weightings in capital ratios – and SMEs are judged more risky than larger businesses – smaller businesses may be particularly hard hit.

The Week Ahead: Greene King hopes to give cheer to investors

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: Man's fall towards Footsie relegation is halted

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Fans of Man Group have been rather conspicuous by their absence recently. The hedge fund giant has suffered a dramatic fall from grace, with the stock losing a third of its value in a month, meaning its share price is now three-quarters lower than in 2009.

Market Report: Investors' hopes for Home Retail bid take a knock

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

While rival Dixons was being toasted after hosting a drinks reception for City scribes, Home Retail powered down as investors in the Argos-owner hoping for a takeover approach were told to think again.

Market Report: Hopes of Borders oil find lifts Falklands explorers

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

As foreign secretary William Hague condemned Argentina's dramatic seizure of oil assets that were located in its land but controlled by Spain's Repsol, British hydrocarbon companies operating in the waters around the disputed territory of the Falkland Islands enjoyed a splendid day.

Market Report: City backs ITV to benefit from penny-pinching Beeb

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

While Auntie penny pinches, ITV will feel the benefit. That was the theory pushing the Britain's Got Talent broadcaster higher yesterday as – with the BBC on a mission to save money – City scribblers argued its bitter rival will be in a prime position to take advantage.

Investment View: Vodafone and GSK – my twin choices for an equitable return

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Can equity markets remain at their current levels or is there another nasty squall bubbling on the horizon?

Zimbabwe troubles see investors dump Aquarius

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It would be fair to say that the City is not exactly comfortable with Aquarius Platinum's operations in Zimbabwe. Yesterday, for the second time in less than two months, investors were abandoning the mid-tier digger after being spooked by political involvement in the country's mining industry.

Small talk: New bank scandal threatens over SME interest-rate swaps

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Are interest-rate swaps going to be the next major banking scandal? All the high street banks, already battling claims that their refusal to lend to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is jeopardising the country's economic recovery, stand accused of mis-selling complex derivative products to firms worried about their borrowing costs.

The Week Ahead: City gets set to check out Tesco's plans for revival

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: 'Glenstrata' partners slip amid tie-up uncertainties

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The merger may have hit a mini speed bump, but many in the City are still enthusiastic over "Glenstrata". Yet, while investors were being told yesterday that they will have to wait an extra month before getting documents relating to theproposed tie-up between Glencore and Xstrata, speculation was doing therounds suggesting that the former may have to alter its approach in order to seal the deal.

Market Report: Shareholder unrest puts bid focus on AstraZeneca

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The takeover spotlight was on the pharmaceuticals sector again yesterday, but for once it was not Shire in the glare. Whereas the drugs maker tends to be the usual subject of bid speculation, it was its larger peer, AstraZeneca which was having its takeover potential bigged up.

Market Report: Dividend let down sees BT miss out on bounce back

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Investors in BT have been licking their lips recently at the prospect of a dividend hike. Ever since the telecoms giant announced new plans last month to tackle its massive pension deficit, hopes have been rising that a large increase to shareholder payouts would be the next step for the company.

Market Report: The All-share hits 50 – but it's in no mood to party

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

If the FTSE All-share looked down in the dumps yesterday, slumping to its lowest level since January as traders digested the latest worries over Europe, you can blame it on a mid-life crisis. For Britain's broader index celebrated its 50th birthday yesterday. The All-share index launched on 10 April 1962, was enhanced with the addition of the blue chip FTSE 100 in 1984 and boosted by the addition of the FTSE 250 in October 1992.

Great start for our top share tips

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

With trading suspended for the Easter break it seems like an opportune time to check up on the performance of this year's 10 shares to follow. The 10 are selected by myself at the end of the year with the help of The Independent's team of business writers. It is a rather artificial construct – professionals would probably run a mile at the prospect of being told to pick just 10 shares that they would then have to stick with for a year. All the same, the aim is still very much to try to beat the market, which we have managed to do with some degree of consistency.

The Week Ahead: Flybe investors hope for an end to turbulence

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Small Talk: Seed scheme wins high praise – but there's still a downside

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Doug Richard, the serial entrepreneur and former Dragons' Den panellist, describes the new Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme as potentially "one of the most extraordinary incentives ever created". High praise indeed, but does the scheme, which was launched on Friday, the first day of the 2012-13 tax year, really deserve to be lauded so highly?

Market Report: Sky heads to earth after news of email hacking

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It has been a rocky week for BSkyB. On Tuesday the satellite broadcaster announced the resignation of James Murdoch as chairman, and yesterday its share price was knocked back to a seven-month low after admitting two counts of email hacking, heightening fears over the likelihood of Rupert Murdoch making another takeover attempt.

Market Report: Logica shares punctured by firm's Benelux 'thorn'

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Tin hats were very much in demand yesterday. With red covering trading screens across the Square Mile, one of the worst-hit on the mid-tier index was Logica after the resignation of one of the IT outsourcer's top brass revived fears over its troublesome Benelux operations.

Market Report: City plays cupid by urging merger of Rio and BHP

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Even the world's biggest miners may be in need of matchmaking. With both Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton deciding over the last few months to put their diamond businesses in the shop window, some in the Square Mile were suggesting that instead of searching for buyers, the two might gain more of a sparkle by teaming up together.

James Moore: Keep faith with Rolls-Royce – it's one of the best of British

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

There's at least one blue-chip British company that makes things, bashes metal about and generally provides a positive return for investors: Rolls-Royce. Although there is some queasiness about its defence operations, many still see Rolls as an example of what Britain should be doing more of as it attempts to diversify away from the fickle, risky and bonus-driven environs of financial services.

Market Report: FirstGroup stuck in reverse with margins set to nosedive

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The shares of the bus company go down, down, down. FirstGroup remained stuck in reverse gear yesterday, as those at the wheel of the transport firm came under fire following last week's admission that margins at its UK bus unit would drop by more than a third this year.

Small Talk: Why this blockage in the lending pipe?

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It has become the defining issue of the economic slowdown: are small and medium-sized enterprises, which almost everyone seems to believe are the key to dragging us to a recovery, getting the finance they need to grow? So why, given what an eminently sensible question this is to ask, do we not seem to be getting any nearer to answering it?

The Week Ahead: Pollster YouGov hopes to win backing of the City

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: Second dose of bad news makes Shire feel unwell

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0100

For the second time in a matter of weeks, disappointing news on one of its drugs left Shire feeling rather poorly. Having withdrawn its US regulatory application for its Fabry disease drug Replagal earlier in the month, the pharmaceutical giant closed at the foot of the benchmark index after admitting its bowel medicine Lialda had failed a clinical study.

Market Report: French bid interest adds va-va-voom to International Power

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It was one of the worst-kept secrets in the City. For weeks rumours have been doing the rounds that GDF Suez was not happy with just 70 per cent of International Power, and yesterday the talk was shown to be on the money after it was revealed that the French firm has made an approach worth 390p a pop.

Market Report: Decision day dawns for bids by CWW's suitors

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today's the day for Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW). More than six weeks after Vodafone first revealed it could make an offer for the telecoms group, the mobile phone giant and its rival, Tata Communications, have until 5pm this evening to decide whether to make a bid.

Market Report: North Sea platform's gas leak hits energy giants

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0100

It is no surprise that a leaking rig in the middle of the sea prompts minds in the Square Mile back towards the Gulf of Mexico tragedy. As Total's Elgin platform continued to pump out gas, investors were pulling out of the blue-chip energy giants with BG – which holds a 14.1 per cent interest in the North Sea project – the worst hit.

James Moore: I'm tipping bright lights, cannabis treatments and bets on mobiles

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0100

In a couple of weeks' time virtually the entire nation will have its annual punt on the Grand National. With that in mind, here are a few gambles on the stock market that I think could prove to be winners. The companies I'm highlighting here are not for the risk averse. If they make money, it isn't much and don't even think about a dividend. But they're all businesses I've come across in my travels that get my nose twitching in the same way that Finian's Rainbow got my nose twitching half an hour before he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Market Report: Energy explorers boosted by discoveries in Africa

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0100

For the energy explorers, Africa was the place to be yesterday. Oil and gas discoveries, promises of tax breaks and even talk of possible takeover activity gave a boost to companies operating in the continent, including Afren, which closed on the mid-tier index's leaderboard.

Small Talk: Mentoring is vital to new wave of start-ups

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Will George Osborne's Youth Investment Fund encourage a new generation of young entrepreneurs to start their own businesses? It just might, say those who work with young business leaders – but not if money is the only thing on offer.

The Week Ahead: Irn Bru still fizzing with sales and profits increase

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Today

Market Report: HSBC slides after Investec scribe sticks boot in again

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

It is fair to say that Ian Gordon probably is not the most popular person in HSBC's Canary Wharf headquarters. The Investec scribe has been known to be rather scathing about the bank, and yesterday he was at it again. With HSBC bosses set to update the City in May on its attempts to reposition the group, Mr Gordon conceded that they will have "a lot of worthy achievements" to announce.

Market report: Patent woes likely to raise Astra's appetite for deals

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:32 +0000

Will AstraZeneca be forced to go shopping? Amid talk that the pharmaceutical giant's troubles mean it is increasingly liable to do a deal, the news of a further blow to one of its major drugs only strengthened the idea it will buy in growth from elsewhere.

Market Report: Savills suffers from tax crackdown on top homes

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Punters in Savills were cursing George Osborne yesterday. The estate agent, which focuses on the high end section of the market, was one of the stocks worst-hit by the Budget after the Chancellor announced he was upping the amount of tax on homes being sold for more than £2m.

Market report: Unilever falls out of favour for first time in 17 years

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:47:24 +0000

Seventeen years is rather a long time. 1995 saw the release of Braveheart, the collapse of Barings Bank and the departure of Robbie Williams from Take That. Perhaps less notably, it was also the last time Investec did not believe Unilever shares were worth snapping up – until now.

Investment View: Tate & Lyle's sugar rush has waned so it's time to scoop some profits

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Tate & Lyle: Our view: Hold
SHARE PRICE: 709P (-1P)

Market Report: Henderson is 'the special one' after bid rumours

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Having recently snapped up Real Madrid manager José Mourinho to front its advertising campaign, Henderson has shown it is capable of making big signings. However, the fund manager was itself the "special one" for many punters yesterday amid the return of speculation it could become a takeover target.

Market report: Henderson is 'the special one' after bid rumours

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Small talk: Powers that be must help small firms fight energy bills rip-off

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Cash-strapped households aren't alone in facing excessive energy bills – but while regulators such as Ofgem are now taking action on behalf of consumers paying too much for gas and electricity, small businesses have had much more limited support.

The Week Ahead: Berkeley is tipped to keep building its sales strength

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Today

Market Report: Royal Bank of Scotland sent higher by bullish talk

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

George Osborne may want to hold off taking Stephen Hester's advice any time soon. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) boss was piling the pressure on the Government earlier in the week to start selling down its stake in the bank, but yesterday the group closed near the top of the Footsie on claims the next year or two will see its share price soar.

Investment View: Rio or BHP could be the best betsfor a long-haul punt on mining

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

There are no two ways about it: the big four FTSE 100-listed diversified mining groups had a cracking start to the year. In the first two months of 2012, Rio Tinto and Xstrata's shares both jumped by nearly a third, while BHP Billiton and Anglo American turned in a relatively poor performance, up by a mere fifth.

Market Report: Odds against Bwin.Party in Europe make it a loser

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

The Cheltenham Festival may be coming to a climax, but punters were deciding that Bwin.Party was too much of a long shot yesterday. The online gambling group was left near the back of the pack thanks to fears over the cost of a tough battle ahead with its rivals in Europe.

Market Report: AZ spells more takeover excitement for gossips

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

It has been a busy week for the revival of takeover talk, and yesterday was no exception. Analysts and gossips alike were talking up the bid potential of various companies, with AZ Electronic Materials – whose chemicals are used by Apple in both the iPad and the iPhone – one of the stocks in the spotlight.

Market Report: Exillon on the rise after rumour of Russian suitors

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

It has been on its knees recently, but Exillon Energy spurted up yesterday after becoming the latest oil group to get a boost from takeover talk. The Russia-focused explorer – which has seen its share price more than halve over the past year – jumped nearly 8 per cent as speculation was reheated that it could become a target.

Investment View: Dunelm Mill is worth backing despite family share sell-off

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Businesses which retain a strong family connection have a mixed reputation on the stock market. Sometimes external shareholders have good reason for complaint: when businesses run by a family (or even a strong-minded entrepreneur) raise money from them, it can sometimes seem they are treated like second-class citizens. That the message is something like: "Yes, yes, please give us your money. And then go away quickly."

Market Report: Takeover rumours put 3i back in the spotlight

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

It may be more used to doing deals of its own, but 3i was back in the takeover spotlight yesterday. The private equity firm – whose rather diverse portfolio includes luxury lingerie seller Agent Provocateur as well as camping retailer Go Outdoors – was on the rise amid the return of vague speculation it could be in line for an approach.

Small talk: Here is a sensible reform that wouldn't cost a penny in lost tax

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Just nine days to go the Budget and it still isn't clear whether George Osborne has persuaded the banks to buy into the credit easing scheme he once thought promised so much. Well, here's a suggestion for the Chancellor: rather than worrying about an initiative whose benefits now look, at best, marginal, why not use this Budget to offer small businesses something they all want: tax reform.

The Week Ahead: Insurance giants set toreveal mixed fortunes

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Today

Market Report: Takeover scenario helps BSkyB recover from fall

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

What could the future hold for BSkyB if News Corp is forced to sell down its stake? That was the poser being mulled over in the Square Mile yesterday following a step-up in pressure on the Murdochs' control of the satellite broadcaster.

Market Report: Hammerson flies high as French fancy delights City

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Ooh la la. News of a tasty deal across the Channel left Hammerson at the summit of the top-tier index last night. The property developer reached its highest level for more than four months following the decision by Simon Property to fork out a major premium to buy nearly 29 per cent of Hammerson's Paris-based peer Klepierre.

Market Report: Burberry luxuriates on hopes China will ease tax

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Planning on buying your next handbag in Beijing? Well you may want to hold on a bit. As talk spread yesterday that the Chinese government could be about to slash its taxes on luxury goods, the prospect of consumer demand in the country rising even faster left Burberry as one of the Footsie's must-have stocks.

Market Report: Centamin at three-year low as it digs up more trouble

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

After sit-ins, political unrest and missed output targets made 2011 a year to forget for Centamin, the gold digger's problems returned yesterday. With disgruntled workers at its Sukari mine in Egypt once again downing tools, the mid-tier miner touched its lowest share price for almost three years after calling a halt to production at its flagship asset.

James Moore: If you want to oil your finances, Shell is a safer bet than troubled BP

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Shell. Our view: buy. Share price: 2306.5p (-21.5p)

Market Report: Stocks linked to Iraqi oil stuck in the political mire

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Oil production may be booming in Iraq, but punters were being told yesterday not to get their hopes up. While its government announced that its daily output had moved above 3m barrels for the first time since the 1970s, City scribes were warning that the risks of operating in the country were not being taken seriously enough.

David Prosser: The new way to borrow that's proving a big boon for small fry

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Most small and medium-sized enterprises that applied for finance during the final quarter of last year were successful. That's the conclusion of the SME Finance Monitor, a quarterly survey which investigates the availability of finance for SMEs. Its latest research, out today, reveals that 79 per cent of SME applications for overdrafts were approved in the final quarter while 63 per cent of loan requests were granted.

The Week Ahead: Glencore bid for Xstrata: sweetener doubts raised

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Today

Market Report: Aegis back in spotlight over possible Dentsu link-up

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

There's just no escaping the takeover spotlight for Aegis. The Square Mile was once again talking up the bid potential of the advertising group yesterday as it continued its storming run amid hopes that the recent break-up of two of its rivals means it could find itself an admirer.

Market Report: Capita loses its bounce after worries over margins

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

Punters may have been flocking back to Capita recently, but last night the brakes were put on the outsourcing giant's rally. The group – which had managed to add nearly 19 per cent over the previous six sessions – was left in the red after City scribblers warned there were still causes for concern.

Market Report: Arm dives as boss cashes in £2m worth of stock

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:01 +0000

It is hardly a vote of confidence when your boss decides it is time to sell some shares, as Arm Holdings found to its cost yesterday. The chip designer closed deep in the red last night, despite its major customer Apple reaching new heights, after it announced that chief executive Warren East had cashed in more than £2m -worth of stock.

Market Report: Scottish independence hopes fire Babcock higher

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:01 +0000

When Scotland goes to the polls, don't be surprised to see Babcock International cheering on Alex Salmond. If the leader of the Scottish National Party gets his way and breaks up the union, then – according to City scribblers – the defence group could be one of the beneficiaries.

Investment View: The LSE isn't for the faint-hearted but it's certainly a risk worth taking

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:01 +0000

London Stock Exchange