UK banks received one third of US bail-out funds
2nd Dec 2010 12:16
UK banks borrowed a third of the $3.3trn lent by the US Federal Reserve to keep the banking system afloat during the credit crunch, with Barclays alone borrowing over $860bn. News of the loans were revealed by disclosures under the newly introduced Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act. The Fed detaile
Read moreBarCap to axe hundreds of jobs
2nd Dec 2010 11:54
Barclays is getting rid of several hundred wealthy investment bankers following a big drop in revenues at its "casino" arm. A 90-day consultation process has been kicked off at Barclays Capital (BarCap), run by Bob Diamond who takes over as chief executive next March. Third-quarter profit fell 14
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Spain, Ireland, BP
2nd Dec 2010 06:07
Spain and Ireland are set to launch large-scale privatisation programmes as they fight to preserve market faith in their turnaround plans. The Spanish government is looking at auctioning stakes in its national lottery operator and airports, while Ireland will look at privatisations in its electricit
Read moreLondon close: Triple digit gains for FTSE 100
1st Dec 2010 16:56
Footsie was posting triple-digit gains at trading's close as markets across the globe roared in approval at talk that the European Central Bank may take more measures to deal with the debt crisis. Shares here got an extra boost from news that activity in the manufacturing sector hit levels not seen
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie jumps 120 points
1st Dec 2010 14:17
After a strong morning session leading shares kicked on some more over the lunch time period, as worries over the eurozone debt situation subside. Talk that the European Central Bank may take more measures to deal with the debt crisis has buoyed European markets, with banks bouncing back more than
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Jitters for financials
30th Nov 2010 14:42
Financials continue to be weak on eurozone debt worries. Banks, such as Barclays and RBS, are vulnerable to further problems in the eurozone but other financials, such as Standard Life, are also lower. Vedanta Resources has decided to put off the flotation of Konkola Resources until 2011. Brit
Read moreLondon close: Shares slump as eurozone saga continues
29th Nov 2010 16:45
The leading share index closed with triple-digit losses Monday as jitters over the eurozone debt situation continued to plague the markets. Financial markets are still betting either Portugal, Spain, or both, will need a rescue deal similar to the €85bn Irish bail-out, rubber-stamped over the weeke
Read moreLondon afternoon: Euro-zone fears resurface
29th Nov 2010 14:18
Thoughts that the euro-zone boil had been lanced by the agreement of a bail-out package for Ireland have proved premature, with rising Spanish bond yields suggesting that the prospect of Spain being the recipient of an EU/IMF aid package cannot be ruled out. An underwhelming response to the latest
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie deep in the red after reversal
29th Nov 2010 12:30
The leading share index is now firmly in the red after giving up the strong gains it was posting this morning. Markets remain jittery over the eurozone debt crisis. The euro hit new lows against a basket of currencies this morning, despite claims by European politicians that the €85bn Irish bail-o
Read moreLondon open: Banks lead market higher
29th Nov 2010 08:54
UK shares have made a bright start to the week led by the banks after Ireland signed up to the EU/IMF bail-out at the weekend. Royal Bank of Scotland is the best performer. It has the largest exposure of the UK banks to Ireland. Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC are all going well. Bank of Ireland, meanwh
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Euro crisis, Barclays, Punch Taverns...
28th Nov 2010 10:52
Europe's finance ministers meet in Brussels today to agree the final terms of an €85 billion bailout for Ireland and debate emergency measures to stop the spread of the eurozone debt crisis. George Osborne, who has pledged a £7bn loan to help Ireland, will join the euro group ministers, who fear th
Read moreLondon close: Rally falters as eurozone worries continue
26th Nov 2010 16:53
A sharp rally following earlier heavy losses nearly lifted Footsie into positive territory in the afternoon but the rally fizzled out and the leading share index closed lower, with European debt concerns still looming large. Portugal is currently going down the path trodden by Ireland and denying i
Read moreLondon afternoon: Losses pared
26th Nov 2010 14:39
After briefly dipping below 5600 this morning Footsie more or less halved its losses over the lunchtime session, though heavy falls are still being sustained by miners and banks. Portugal is currently going down the path trodden by Ireland and denying it is in need of a bail-out and, as with Irelan
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Euro crisis, Standard Chartered, Retail sales...
26th Nov 2010 06:36
The eurozone's emergency bailout fund may have to be boosted further if it fails to reassure financial markets, a member of the European Central Bank's governing council has said. Axel Weber, who is President of the Bundesbank, said that EU governments' €750bn (£640bn) facility ought to be adequate
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: British banks, Irish banks, PIGS
25th Nov 2010 06:02
Britain's biggest banks are working on a joint plan to cut bonus payouts and boost lending to small business. As political pressure grows ahead of January's bonus round, The Times has learnt that senior executives from Barclays, HSBC, Standard Chartered and Royal Bank of Scotland held discussions l
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