Wednesday preview: Compass, Cineworld, BoE minutes
17th May 2011 17:59
Contract caterer Compass hopes to be turning up the heat with its interim results on Wednesday. Broker Charles Stanley forecasts pre-tax profits of £510m, up from £462m last year, and EPS of 20p, up from 18p at the interim stage in 2010. The broker has pencilled in 6p for the interim dividend, up
Read moreWeek Ahead: Vodafone, Compass, BoE minutes
13th May 2011 11:49
Vodafone has edged ahead of BP as Britain's third largest company by market value, after a good run over the last year, driven by the company's programme of selling off minority stakes in non-core businesses. On Tuesday, the telecoms giant brings out full year results, with the market expecting pro
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Intecontinental's profits impress
10th May 2011 15:14
Holiday Inn owner Intercontinental Hotels Group is a high riser after first quarter pre-tax profits before exceptional items climbed to $96m, from $68m, on revenues that were up to $396m, from $362m. Not too far behind is Imperial Tobacco after earnings grew ahead of expectations in the first half
Read morePublic sector bouncing back, says Capita
10th May 2011 08:27
Activity in the outsourcing market is picking up after a couple of quiet years, Capita said. The business process outsourcing specialist said its businesses "performed solidly" in the first four months of 2011, with the group enjoying a busy sales period leading to a record bid pipeline. There i
Read moreLondon midday: Shares seek direction as early strength evaporates
3rd May 2011 12:01
The strong performance as trading restarted following the extended weekend has fizzled out and shares are currently seeking direction. Hedge fund manager Man Group is setting the pace after it announced the launch of an AHL open-ended fund in Japan, Nomura Global Trend, which has raised $1.5 billio
Read moreLondon open: Strong start for FTSE 100
3rd May 2011 08:32
Shares have hit the ground running following the long weekend. Hedge fund manager Man Group is setting the pace after it announced the launch of an AHL open-ended fund in Japan, Nomura Global Trend, which has raised $1.5 billion. The fund began trading at the end of April 2011. Catering giant Co
Read moreLondon pre-open: London to resume on firm note
3rd May 2011 07:40
After the long week-end London is set to open modestly firmer with City sources suggesting the blue-chip index may open around 16 points up from Thursday's close of 6,070. Catering giant Compass has added to its overseas operations with the acquisition of a food service business in Sweden. It will
Read moreCompass acquires Swedish food service group
3rd May 2011 07:11
Catering giant Compass has added to its overseas operations with the acquisition of a food service business in Sweden. It will pay 16m (£1.6m) SEK for BGP Resurs, which is based in northern Sweden and serves business, industry and leisure sectors. BGP posted revenues of 26.5m SEK in 2010. "The acq
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish despite banks' advance
11th Apr 2011 16:54
The top share index was seeking direction all day Monday even as banks advanced following the publication of changes proposed for the sector by the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB). While Lloyds Banking had a grumble about the ICB's recommendation that it should have to sell more than 600 br
Read moreLondon afternoon: Burberry eases after third quake
11th Apr 2011 14:15
The Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) has issued its interim report on changes proposed for the sector, and while Lloyds Banking has had a grumble about the ICB's recommendation that it should have to sell more than 600 branches, the market's reaction is that the report looks favourable for th
Read moreCompass gobbles up Indian catering outfits
11th Apr 2011 07:43
Catering titan Compass has added to its Indian operations with the acquisition of two catering outfits in the fast growing Asian economy. It has bought Delhi-based Vipul Facility Management (VPM), which has gross assets of 342.2m Indian rupees (£5.2m) and Hyderabad-based Ultimate Hospitality Servic
Read moreCompass beefs up support services capability
6th Apr 2011 08:02
Contract caterer Compass Group has acquired UK support services company PPP-Infrastructure Management. The company is being acquired from Semperian PPP Investment Partners Group for an undisclosed fee. The annual revenue of PPP-Infrastructure Management totalled £19.7m last year, and gross assets
Read moreSunday tips round-up: Compass, CPP, Firestone Diamonds
3rd Apr 2011 13:09
The Mail on Sundays says it could be time for cautious investors to get out of CPP, the identity theft and credit card insurer that saw its share price fall by two-fifths last week after the Financial Services Authority (FSA) said it was investigating the company. The FSA is looking into the way CPP
Read moreFriday tips round-up: 888, Petropavlovsk, Compass
1st Apr 2011 06:29
The best that can be said about the full-year results from 888 Holdings is that profits did not collapse quite as badly as feared. The online bookie reported a 56% slide in pre-tax profits to $15.1 million (£9.4m) from revenues up 6.2 per cent at $262.1m. Sell, says the Times. Russian gold miner Pe
Read moreLondon close: Shares in late dive
31st Mar 2011 17:19
A late dive sent London's top share index firmly into the red ahead of the close having been flat all day ahead of Ireland's banking stress test. Ireland's central bank said the ailing economy's banks need €24bn (£21bn) to stay afloat. Gold miner Randgold Resources was the star performer in the m
Read more