UK still a drag on Hays
1st Sep 2011 07:41
International recruitment firm Hays saw strong growth in profits last year, driven by its overseas interests. Net fees in the year to 30 June rose 21%, or 18% on a like-for-like (LFL) basis, to £672.1m from £557.7m the year before. Fees from temporary placements rose 10% on a LFL basis to £365.4m w
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 stable after calm start
15th Aug 2011 12:21
Shares are holding onto their gains today amid much calmer trading than the volatility seen last week. In company news, international recruitment firm Michael Page is sharply lower. It made a flying start to 2011 but said profit growth in the banking sector has tailed off in the second half of the
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 gives up gains, Michael Page slumps
15th Aug 2011 08:28
It could be another volatile day as stocks have already given up most of their gains. Miners are posting good gains but recruiter Michael Page slumps after its half year results. Kazakh copper miner Kazakhmys is the top riser in the FTSE 100. Prices for the red metal have been rising on the London
Read moreBroker tips: BBA Aviation, Hays, Grainger
11th Aug 2011 12:29
Charles Stanley has highlighted some short-term turbulence at BBA Aviation following the recent share price decline, but has kept its buy rating on the aviation support and aftermarkets services provider expecting long-term structural growth. "Given the downgrade to US [gross domestic product] grow
Read moreBroker snap: UBS impressed with Hays's international presence
11th Aug 2011 10:37
UBS has upgraded FTSE 250 recruitment firm Hays from neutral to buy, saying that while short- and medium-term macro concerns are rising, the group still has good growth prospects in the long-term. The Swiss broker notes that while data points across the sector have been robust in the second quarter
Read moreOverseas demand helps Robert Walters
4th Aug 2011 11:49
Robert Walters reported strong half yearly results and hiked its interim dividend as the white-collar recruitment group's stellar performance in UK, France and Australia offset slight weakness in New York. For the six months ended 30 June, net fee income rose 23% to £89.1m, up from £72.3m in the
Read moreIrish market still challenging, CPL Resources says
8th Jul 2011 12:38
Irish recruitment group CPL Resources expects its profits for the year ended 30 June to be broadly in line with market estimates despite continuing pressure on margins. The company said the demand for its services remains challenging particularly in Ireland but it saw signs of improvement in its va
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Dunelm shines in struggling market
7th Jul 2011 16:42
The FTSE 250 regained its momentum with financial services sector advancing higher after the Bank of England maintained record low interest rates for the 28th consecutive month. Meanwhile, on the earnings front, out-of-town home furninshing retailer Dunelm posted like-for-like sales growth despite o
Read moreHays hammered at home, doing well abroad
7th Jul 2011 08:57
Hays, the FTSE 250 recruitment firm, has announced 11% growth in fees year on year, with an especially strong performance from its international division. New offices have been opened in in Brazil, Ireland, Japan and Poland and New Zealand and Australia saw impressive performances. The picture in
Read moreLondon close: ENRC leads FTSE 100 slide
10th Jun 2011 16:26
The top share index slid below the 5,800 point mark heading into the weekend. ENRC, the Kazakh resources giant, was nursing heavy losses by the close of play. The company is set to lose a third independent board director according to reports in the Financial Times. The loss of Mehmet Dalman would
Read moreAdecco bid talk boosts Hays
10th Jun 2011 13:43
Shares in recruitment group Hays jumped amid rumours that the recruitment firm is in the sights of larger rival Adecco. The Daily Mail's Market Report said that traders were speculating that Switzerland's Adecco could be lining up a £2.2bn or 160p-a-share bid. Responding to the report, a spokesman
Read moreInternational growth boosts Michael Page
11th Apr 2011 07:04
Soaring international revenues helped recruitment group Michael Page post a sharp rise in profits in the first quarter, though growth was more subdued in the UK amid continuing difficult economic conditions. Total gross profit was up by 30% from the same period the previous year at £127.3m. Gross
Read moreLondon close: Shares in late dive
7th Apr 2011 16:43
Shares were little changed for much of the day as central banks in London and Frankfurt acted as expected, but another earthquake in Japan sent jitters through markets ahead of the close. The Bank of England kept its key lending rate unchanged. The European Central Bank, however, stuck to its scrip
Read moreLondon afternoon: FTSE 250 stocks take a bashing
7th Apr 2011 15:12
The blue-chip index moved into positive territory over the lunch time trading session as the Bank of England removed all doubt about its current focus on the health of the economy, rather than the inflation risk, and kept its key lending rate unchanged. The European Central Bank, however, stuck to
Read moreLondon pre-open: More woe for retailers
7th Apr 2011 07:36
The market looks set to crawl higher at the outset with City traders predicting the top share index will open six or seven points higher despite further evidence from results this morning of hard times on the high street. In the first quarter of 2011 international recruitment firm Hays saw like-for
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