British Gas owner Centrica feels cold blast from critics
11th May 2012 15:28
Although the City pages of Saturday's papers may focus on Centrica's trading patterns, outlined in a statement issued on Friday, the front page news is likely to be the energy provider's thinly veiled warning that fuel bills are set to go up later this year. Centrica, which provides energy under th
Read moreShareholder spring slays Pendragon
11th May 2012 09:16
Inspired by the courageous revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East, British investors have been casting off the shackles of domination and casting votes against excessive executive pay awards Well, that's the idea anyway, although it is worth noting that votes on remuneration reports are on
Read moreFriday tips round-up: WPP, Wood Group, Barratt
11th May 2012 06:54
In the Telegraph Questor is still keen on advertising goliath WPP. Yesterday it reported strong revenue growth in all regions, with emerging markets, in particular booming (+11.2 per cent over the prior year). This year has the "golden triple" of the European football championships, the London Oly
Read morePay wars hot up, WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell under spotlight
1st May 2012 10:13
Whisper it not at remuneration committee meetings but we may be living through a golden period of shareholder activism over pay. The latest target may be Sir Martin Sorrell, the not unassuming Chief Executive of WPP, the world's biggest advertising firm. The Telegraph suggests the company is "riski
Read moreMonday broker round-up
30th Apr 2012 08:29
Anglo American: AlphaValue downgrades from neutral to reduce, target cut from 7,115p to 6,970p. AstraZeneca: Jefferies upgrades from hold to buy, target cut from 3,050p to 2,975p; JP Morgan Cazenove upgrades from underweight to neutral, target hiked from 2,800p to 3,050p. British Sky Broadcasting:
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks expected to open higher
30th Apr 2012 07:22
London's benchmark index is expected to start trading with moderate gains on Monday morning following on from a strong performance for Asian stocks overnight. Meanwhile, Spanish bond yields will be in focus this week ahead of the country's debt auction on Thursday, the first auction since the count
Read moreWPP takes stake in US car industry specialist
30th Apr 2012 07:02
Advertising conglomerate WPP has made a small strategic investment in Enprecis, a US company which uses a proprietary online platform to collect and analyse data about consumer experience for the car industry. WPP is paying $1.2m for a minority stake in Enprecis, continuing its strategy of investin
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise as markets await US GDP data
27th Apr 2012 11:56
- US futures flat ahead of GDP data - UK investors shrug off Spanish downgrade - Man, CRH, British Land rise after upgrades The Footsie was trading firmly higher on Friday morning as investors shrugged off a downgrade for Spain and some disappointing UK economic data. US stock futures were pointi
Read moreLondon open: Spanish downgrade weighs on sentiment
27th Apr 2012 08:41
- S and P downgrades Spain - UK consumer confidence misses estimates - Banks, miners lead the downside in London The FTSE 100 opened cautiously on Friday morning looking like it could snap a three-day winning streak, with banking and mining blue chips providing a drag on the back of concerns over t
Read moreWPP considers raising guidance after strong start to 2012
27th Apr 2012 07:41
Highly acquisitive media giant WPP could be raising its full-year forecasts after an impressive start to 2012 with like-for-like revenue growth coming in ahead of expectations in the first quarter. Group revenue in the three months to March 31st totalled £2,392m, up 7.6% on last year's £2,223m. The
Read moreLondon pre-open: Spain downgrade to dent investor sentiment
27th Apr 2012 07:34
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down 26 points from yesterday's close of 5,749 following Standard and Poor's downgrade of Spain, the Eurozone's fourth largest economy, to BBB-plus from A with a negative outlook. S&P said it predicts the Spanish economy will shrink and believes the gove
Read moreWPP's LFL sales better than anticipated
27th Apr 2012 07:06
Highly acquisitive media giant WPP has had a strong start to 2012 with like-for-like revenue growth coming in ahead of expectations in the first quarter. The group, led by frontman Sir Martin Sorrell, said revenue in the three months to March 31st totalled £2,392m, up 7.6% on last year's £2,223m.
Read moreFriday preview: Barclays AGM, WPP trading statement
26th Apr 2012 17:50
After Thursday's barrage of company announcements there is the usual Friday let-up. Advertising firms WPP and Aegis will have the stage much to themselves, although the annual general meeting of Barclays could prove lively if the subject gets round to executive remuneration. In an effort to stave o
Read moreWPP grabs a piece of mySupermarket
19th Apr 2012 11:29
Marketing and advertising giant WPP has bought a "strategic" stake in Dolphin Software, the owners of the mySupermarket price comparison service. The $7m outlay by Sir Martin Sorrell's group has bought a minority stake in Dolphin, which has seen mySupermarket's growth at around 100% year on year.
Read moreWPP buys movie research firm
18th Apr 2012 07:27
Ever-growing advertising behemoth, WPP, said it has bought the film research firm First Movies for an undisclosed sum. The purchase was made by WPP's communications subsidiary Penn Schoen Berland. First Movies undertakes research for many of the world's major film studios, independent distributors
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