magazine archive
magazine archive
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Asset valuation concerns cloud Hammerson as it seeks £1.9bn disposals
Thursday 26 Jul 2018Property group Hammerson ( HMSO ) wants to sell £1.9bn worth of assets by the end of 2019 as it tries to streamline its focus on flagship retail destinations and premium outlets. It intends to exit all retail parks over the medium term and won’t go ahead with expanding the Brent Cross shopping...
Shareholders rally to block excessive pay packages
Thursday 26 Jul 2018Shareholders are increasingly blocking excessive pay packages with the latest example being Royal Mail ( RMG ) where 70.2% voted against the directors’ remuneration package. New chief executive Rico Back is being paid a £640,000 annual salary, which is 16.8% higher than his predecessor Moya Greene...
Can Jack’s work its magic as Tesco’s new discount chain?
Thursday 26 Jul 2018Reports suggest Tesco ( TSCO ) is about to launch a new discount chain named Jack’s as part of wider efforts to combat competition from Aldi and Lidl. We previously reported in February that Tesco was weighing up a budget format launch. It is now rumoured the Jack’s fascia, named after Tesco co-...
Renewed speculation that GlaxoSmithKline could spin off consumer division
Thursday 26 Jul 2018Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline ( GSK ) is once again in the spotlight about potentially spinning off its consumer division to unlock value in the business and have a tighter focus. The demerged entity would focus on such brands as Sensodyne , Piriton and Panadol . UBS analyst Michael Leuchten...
Brexit rebellion averted
Thursday 19 Jul 2018By squeaking home in a key vote on joining a customs union with the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May demonstrates she can just about command the support of House of Commons heading into negotiations with Brussels. Pro-European Conservatives hoped to push through an amendment which would have...
Act now to take advantage of a superb buying opportunity in ASOS shares
Thursday 19 Jul 2018A share price plunge from £65 to £59 at global online fashion destination ASOS ( ASC:AIM ) since a poorly-received third quarter trading statement (12 Jul) presents a compelling new entry point. We rate this as a superb business and highlight that spending money on infrastructure improvements is...
What do recruiters’ results tell us about the global economy?
Thursday 19 Jul 2018Recent results from two of the big UK-listed recruitment businesses offer a relatively encouraging picture of the world economy. Staffing firms are a good indicator for global growth as companies tend to hire in strong economic conditions and delay hiring when times get tough. Recruiters obviously...
What investment trusts’ first half performance tells us about the markets
Thursday 19 Jul 2018Stockbroker Numis Securities’ review of the first half of 2018 for equity-focused investment trusts fits the pattern of the wider markets through the period. It is very much a tale of two halves. In the first quarter trusts struggled amid a big setback for global stocks before a strong recovery in...
Disappointing Chinese data inflates trade war fears
Thursday 19 Jul 2018The latest Chinese growth figures are spooking the markets. Growth slowed from 6.8% in the first three months of 2018 to 6.7% in the second quarter. These figures come against the backdrop of an escalating trade dispute with the US. China has appealed to the World Trade Organisation over the tariff...
Stocks super charged by electric vehicle plans
Thursday 12 Jul 2018Government support for an electric vehicle (EV) revolution has taken a step forward with proposals for new homes and street lights in areas with on-street parking to be fitted with charging points. The plans are part of an effort to curb CO2 emissions which are also likely to include a ban on the...