US Q2 growth
30 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 67 views]
The US is ticking away nicely. The second quarter saw an annual rate of growth of 3.3%. This was 0.5% less than in the first quarter, but 0.2% better than in the final quarter of 2000 and compares with a mere 1.5% in the UK.
BHB breaks world mining record
30 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 50 views]
The good times are rolling in for mining companies. Take BHP Billiton; it’s the world’s largest miner, and puts in a regular appearance in our risers chart, in fact shares are up 47% up so far this year. Yesterday it posted the biggest annual profits ever by an Australian firm, – $6.4bn. No prizes for [...]
Somerfield appeals
30 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 33 views]
When Somerfield bought 115 stores from Morrison last year for £260mn, competition authorities were not impressed. The UK’s fifth largest supermarket chain was told to sell 12 stores. Now Somerfield has appealed, saying that many of the areas in question also boast a Tescos or Asda. amp;#63; Meanwhile, the battle to own Somerfield rumbles on. [...]
‘888′ lands on black
30 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 58 views]
Maybe an investment in one of the online poker firms is only right for you if you are a regular user of their products, because it would appear, or so seems to be the wisdom on the markets, that an investment in these stocks is something of a flutter. Yesterday, it wa ‘‘888′s turn to [...]
House prices: recovery gains momentum
30 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 57 views]
It’s gone from a trickle to a flood. First there was RICS with its closely watched surveys of estate agents; then there was Rightmove; and then earlier this week the British Bankers Association joined the party; now both the Nationwide and the Bank of England have hailed the comeback of house prices. Actually, at first [...]
UK sees more money coming in than out
30 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 61 views]
The UK benefited from a massive surge in foreign investment in 2004, with Direct Foreign investment almost quadrupling from $20bn in 2003 to $78bn last year. In all, the UK was the second most popular destination for FDI behind the US, says a new report from Unctad Merger and acquisition activity was the main factor [...]
UK on the rails? Growth at 12 year low, retail at 22 year low.
29 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 42 views]
It’s been said that one of Gordon Brown’s favourite jokes goes like this: What’s the difference between a good chancellor and a bad chancellor? Answer, it’s down to when they resign! Okay, we grant you not the best joke ever told, but telling nevertheless. It’s been a golden run for the UK, and under Gordon [...]
Roman Empire moves West
29 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 72 views]
Here’s the choice? You accept around £7bn for your shares in a company you bought for £100mn ten years ago, and accept another term as governor of the remote Siberian province Chukotka, or you follow in the footsteps of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and serve time in one of Russia’s finest prisons. No one is actually saying [...]
US consumer confidence dives
28 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 67 views]
Consumer Confidence has taken a big hit in the US. The widely watched Consumer Confidence Index, published by the Conference Board fell to 86.6, from 105.5 in August; that’s the lowest level in almost two years. “Hurricane Katrina, coupled with soaring gasoline prices and a less optimistic job outlook, has pushed consumer confidence to its [...]
UK could freeze this winter
28 Sep 2005 [0 Comments | 62 views]
Do you remember all the talk that the summer of 2005 was going to be a sizzler? There was a date in mid August, when they were saying it was going to be the hottest day ever recorded in the UK. In fact it rained that day, and it felt more like autumn. For all [...]
