magazine archive
magazine archive
Big News
Worldpay swoop takes value of 2019 global mega-deals above $300bn
Thursday 21 Mar 2019A recommended $43bn takeover offer for WorldPay ( WPY ) from US financial technology firm FIS shows the value placed on payment processing assets amid structural growth in digital payments. It also emphasises the need for scale in this space and highlights the M&A surge seen so far in the first...
Tesco’s shares race ahead while peers are distracted
Thursday 21 Mar 2019Full year results from grocery giant Tesco ( TSCO ) on 10 April will reveal if the supermarket titan has extended an impressive run of quarterly sales growth. With rivals Sainsbury’s ( SBRY ) and Marks & Spencer ( MKS ) both distracted by strategic activity, Tesco has been quietly focusing on...
Could Unilever turn the tables on Kraft Heinz?
Thursday 14 Mar 2019Since Unilever ( ULVR ) rejected an unwanted bid from Kraft Heinz over two years ago, the two packaged consumer goods powerhouses have been on very different share price trajectories. The erstwhile prey looks in a position to turn the tables on its one-time predator, according to an article by...
Doubts raised on OneSavings Bank and Charter Court merger
Thursday 14 Mar 2019On 11 March it emerged that ‘challenger banks’ Charter Court Financial Services ( CCFS ) and OneSavings Bank ( OSB ) want to merge. Investors chased both stocks higher, Charter Court finishing up 12% just above 340p and OneSavings Bank up more than 10% at 410p. That puts their combined market value...
Superdry, Kier, Domino’s and other news
Thursday 14 Mar 2019The board of struggling fashion brand Superdry ( SDRY ) came out fighting with a scathing statement rebutting claims made by charismatic co-founder Julian Dunkerton as he bids to return to the business. Currently led by chief executive Euan Sutherland, the board said its strategy was working and...
What Norway’s oil investment U-turn means for UK investors
Thursday 14 Mar 2019The decision by Norway’s $1trn sovereign wealth fund to sell its positions in pure play oil and gas companies has caused shockwaves across the natural resources sector. The plan, subject to parliamentary approval, is to sell off interests in businesses which only undertake exploration and...
Raft of negative economic data fuels global growth concerns
Thursday 14 Mar 2019Fears over the state of the global economy are intensifying as a series of key data points suggest growth is stalling. On 8 March the influential US non-farm payrolls figures came in miles behind expectations. Just 20,000 new jobs were created across America in February against a consensus forecast...
Airline sector gets tough on shareholders to keep flying post-Brexit
Thursday 14 Mar 2019E asyJet ( EZJ ) is the only London-listed airline yet to meet shareholding rules to ensure it maintains the right to fly within the European Union after Brexit. Operating licences to fly between locations within the bloc are reserved for airlines owned more than 50% by European Economic Area (EEA...
News on Vodafone, RELX, GoCompare and more over the past week
Thursday 07 Mar 2019Shares in Vodafone ( VOD ) burst back to life after the telecoms giant announced plans to raise up to €4bn through issuing convertible bonds. The shares jumped nearly 3% on 5 March as Vodafone spelled out the reasons for raising the money. It will use the proceeds to help finance the acquisition of...
A tale of two founders: Ted Baker and Superdry
Thursday 07 Mar 2019Maligned retail player Ray Kelvin has resigned as chief executive of British fashion label Ted Baker ( TED ) following an ongoing probe into ‘hugging’ claims made by some employees. Kelvin is the creative inspiration behind the brand he founded in Glasgow over 30 years ago and he remains the...