Starbucks reports record revenue in its first quarter results but share price tumbles January 21, 2016 Starbucks share price plummeted 4.55 per cent to $56.28 after markets closed when it revealed its first quarter trading figures for 2016. The figures Net revenue was a record $5.37bn (£3.78bn), up 12 per cent from 2015. Net profits fell however, to $687.6m, from $983m the year before. Profits before tax fell 19.2 per cent [...]
Land Securities bucks the trend as customers flock to its shopping centres January 21, 2016 Land Securities said visitors to its shopping centres hit record levels in the third quarter, after a change in its strategy to focus on better quality properties paid off. The listed property giant, which owns Bluewater shopping centre in Kent as well as Trinity in Leeds, said footfall rose by 1.7 per cent in the [...]
The big short: Market volatility increases short selling on the FTSE 100 by 15 per cent in 2016 as the number of non-disclosed short positions increases January 21, 2016 The turbulent start to the markets has encouraged short sellers to increase their positions – the number of shares on loan has increased 15 per cent since the start of the year, and is now worth $25bn (£17.6bn) according to the latest data from Markit. Short selling is when an investor borrows shares in order to sell and [...]
Oil industry leaders bullish in Davos, BP boss and Saudi Aramco forecast recovery in price January 21, 2016 The chairman of Saudi Arabia controlled oil company Saudi Aramco Khalid Al-Falih labelled the current oil price as “irrational”, and said it should be higher than $30 a barrel. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the chairman also made it clear if the oil price stays low Aramco would be able to endure [...]
Virgin Media cuts 900 jobs in the UK as it continues its plan to grow the company’s ultrafast broadband network January 21, 2016 Virgin Media is cutting 900 jobs in the UK over the next two years, and has begun consulting with the employees affected. The company said it was restructuring in order to expand, and would continue to create new roles and recruit in areas driving growth. One such area of growth is Virgin Media's five year programme to [...]
Investment banking giant JP Morgan is actually encouraging its workers to take time off – and fast-tracking January 21, 2016 Investment banking: it's not usually associated with a softly, softly approach when it comes to HR. But that's all about to change – after a new policy introduced by US giant JP Morgan means workers will be encouraged to take time off at weekends. The so-called Pencils Down initiative was designed to be "realistic to what this [...]
S&P: China’s financial sector faces “tougher” 2016 January 21, 2016 Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has warned that China’s embattled financial sector must navigate an even tougher playing field this year. Mounting concern over the pace of China’s economic slowdown, coupled with falling oil prices, have sparked a sell-off across global financial markets since the beginning of this year. S&P said a slump [...]
FTSE 100 index closes up after being encouraged by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s pledge to review its monetary policy in March January 21, 2016 The FTSE 100 index closed higher on Thursday, stabilising after trading with some volatility in the morning. The UK's blue-chip index ended the session 1.77 per cent higher at 5,773 points, spurred on by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s pledge to review its monetary policy in March. The ECB decided not to cut interest rates further today, but many believe [...]
Shoe giant Brantano enters administration, putting 2,000 jobs at risk January 21, 2016 Shoe giant Brantano has entered administration, with around 2,000 British jobs at risk – the first retailer casualty of the year. Tony Barrell, Mike Jervis and Rob Hunt of PwC were appointed joint administrators of the 140-store company. Staff at the business, which is headquartered in Leicester, will be paid any wages in arrears, and will continue [...]
The return of the mega project helps value of construction schemes hit £74bn in 2015 January 21, 2016 Construction projects soared by £10bn in value last year to £74bn thanks to a resurgence in large-scale schemes. The number of projects commissioned in 2015 decreased by 4.7 per cent year-on-year to under 12,000. However, the total value increased overall as schemes grew bigger, with the average project value rising by 18 per cent to [...]
