TweetHSBC have had an unbelievable year so far with 6 month profits up by 3 percent to $7,000,000,000. However, they are cutting around 30,000 jobs globally. Thankfully the UK is unlikely to get hit with the job cuts, it is thought that only around 700 jobs will go in the UK and many of... Stock market news »

TweetBSkyB are planning to buy-back £750 million of their own shares to help protect themselves from a hostile takeover bid. The move will also make it clear to shareholders that they do not plan to be taken over any time soon. BSkyB has reported good financial results this year with an increase in revenues... Stock market news »

TweetIt seems that the new owners of Harrods have decided that one way to boost sales this Christmas is to start early. Maybe the Qatari royal family simply mistook our miserable British summer for the onset of winter? Harrods are not alone though. Selfridges have also set up Christmas displays. It used to be a... Stock market news »

TweetThe phone hacking scandal that his News of the World is spreading across the whole of News International with reports of the FBI investigating claims that families of victims of the 9/11 attacks had their phones hacked for stories. Only yesterday Rupurt Murdoch said that Rebekah Brooks still had his full support, however, today she stepped... Stock market news »

TweetBritish Sky Broadcasting Group plc (often called BSkyB or just Sky) is the largest pay-TV broadcaster in the UK with over 10 million customers. It was formed in 1990 when Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting merged – both companies were struggling financially and were not able to effectively compete with each other. It... Stock market news »

TweetThe phone hacking scandal could have deep repercussions for News International. Various companies are cancelling advertising deals with News of the World. The Royal British Legion, Sainsburys, Boots and N Power have all suspended advertising with News of the World due to the scandal. News of the World investigative reporters are accused of accessing... Stock market news »

TweetFor 2 years I tested an automated corporate actions system. I cannot name the system here, but can say that it won awards at the time and has been in the financial news press since. However, for our business we found that the system was not compatible. The reason for sharing this information is... Stock market news »

TweetThe UKs only train manufacturer Bombardier, has lost out on a key contract to Germany’s Siemens. Bombardier Transportation is the railway division of Bombardier Incorporated, a Canadian company which It is expected that around 1400 contractors will be amongst those losing their jobs at the Derby plant. The Derby plant is home to Derby... Stock market news »

TweetMySpace has just changed hands. On the day Google announces the launch of its own social networking system (the only real threat to Facebook in the next 10 years), MySpace, once the favourite hang-out for teenagers, pop bands and bored students, was passed from one company to another in a transaction that will mostly... Stock market news »

TweetCredit Suisse is planning job cuts across many European offices to reduce costs. It is thought that up to 100 jobs will be lost from Credit Suisse’s UK offices. Credit Suisse is reducing the number of top level managers in the business as well as administrators. So far at least 20 managing directors have... Stock market news »

TweetFT.com announced today that it is giving the FT30 share index a makeover. FT30 Index is the oldest of the indices and was set up to track the top 30 companies in 1935. The FT30 was the brainchild of Maurice Green and Richard Clarke who worked for the Financial News in the 1930′s. Having just... Stock market news »

TweetTomTom shares have fallen by a staggering 27% today, down by EUR1.32 to EUR3.57. TomTom is the Netherlands-based manufacturer that specialises in GPS services for the automotive industry and operates the most well respected car navigation devices on the market. However, TomTom is suffering from the rapid rise of competition in the form of smartphones. Many... Stock market news »

TweetThe UK’s favourite chocolate shop, Thorntons, has announced plans to close some under-performing stores. This news shows that the deepening crisis in the retail sector is still continuing and consumers are buying less top quality products. In addition to just selling chocolates Thorntons run many small coffee shops as part of their stores which are very popular. In the summer many also... Stock market news »

TweetHabitat closed and sold stores last year in an attempt to reduce debts but today we learned that Habitats financial situation could not be recovered. Habitat has gone into administration. The only high street store to be totally dedicated providing fashionalbe and stlyish home furnisihings has now gone. Who Is Buying Habitat? Home Retail... Stock market news »

TweetBP Plc., the global oil giant, sold its majority stake in Wytch Farm, the largest onshore oil field in Western Europe. In a US$610 million deal, BP sold its majority stake of 67.81% to the Anglo-French private oil firm Perenco. In as early as in July 2010, BP announced its plans to divest its... Stock market news »

TweetThere are many ways to invest in the stock market. Although many people still invest in individual stocks there are many ways to spread your risks. If you chose to invest in companies you are relying on one or a few businesses to perform well to make a return on your investment. Individual shares... Stock market news »

TweetIt seems that tech stocks are always in news these days and today has seen 3 big tech stocks in the news. LinkedIn Share Price Drops First up is the update on the LinkedIn flotation – LinkedIn shares have fallen today. When LinkedIn floted on the stock market their share price doubled on the first day... Stock market news »

TweetVodafone is the world’s largest telecoms company (based on revenue) and the UK’s 4th largest company. It operated in 30 countries and owns 45% of Verizon Wireless, America’s most popular mobile telecoms company. Why Vodafone? The Name is derived from VOice DAta FONE. Vodafone is listed on the NASDAQ as well as the LSE.... Stock market news »

TweetBig news today, PNC Financial Services Group Inc are making a bid for RBC (Royal Bank of Canada). PNC is the 6th largest bank in America and has made an offer to pay a total of $3.62 billion in cash and stock for the Royal Bank of Canada’s retail business. PNC wishes to acquire RBC to help... Stock market news »

TweetBHP Billiton is the UK largest stock (based on first quarter 2011). It’s headquarters are in Melbourne with its second office in London. It is the world’s largest mining company based on annual revenues and is the 3rd largest company in the world. BHP operates a variety of mines all over the world including... Stock market news »

TweetIn case you had not already heard, Rolls-Royce and Daimler are taking over Tognum. On 6th June 58.35% of Tognum shareholders had accepted the offer from Daimler and Rolls-Royce. Daimler and Rolls-Royce now control a total of 59.87% of Tognum through their joint venture called Engine Holding GmbH. The final acceptance of shares is... Stock market news »

TweetNo, not the American heavy metal band, but the Australian resource and commodities company Metallica Minerals Ltd. Metallica has announced plans for a rights issue to raise $4.9 million to develop is Tri-metal Project. Metallica’s Tri-Metal Project operates in the Townsville area. Also it is running a Weipan zircon / rutile mineral sands project on... Stock market news »

TweetFor 27 months interest rates have been at 0.5%. Analysts are expecting a rate rise soon, but most feel that the country is not ready for one yet. We will know later on. The Telegraph business reporters say that the Bank of England are likely to keep rates low, and they are usually spot... Stock market news »

TweetGreat news for the British automotive industry today as BMW have announced plans to inject half a billion pounds into UK production. BMW Group has 7 main plants and offices across the UK: BMW Group Plant Swindon Vehicle Distribution Centre, Thorne BMW Plant Hams Hall, Coleshill BMW Group Plant Oxford BMW (UK) Ltd., Bracknell Rolls-Royce... Stock market news »

TweetNew Look had a disastrous year in 2010. Pre-tax profits have all but vanished completely. New Look floated in February 2010 with a value of £1.8 billion but just over a year later they are struggling to make a profit. CEO Alistair McGeorge blames internal disruption, including some poor decisions on fashion ranges, pricing and... Stock market news »

TweetAs if households have not felt the squeeze already, Scottish Power have announced that they will be increasing gas bills by 19% and electric bills by 10% this August. How do they justify such a huge increase? Scottish Power stated that the price increase was a reflection of the continued increase in the cost... Stock market news »

TweetBritish American Tobacco Plc. (BAT) is the world’s second largest tobacco company. It’s HQ is in London and it operates globally with a very strong presence in more than 50 countries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and also the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. BAT History, Mergers and Acquisitions BAT was formed in 1902 when... Stock market news »

TweetThe insurance company, Resolution plc, is planning to return up to £500 million to shareholders by way of a share buyback (also called a share repurchase offer). Companies perform share buybacks when they are cash rich and wish to reduce their cash balance. Buying back shares is a way to reward investors by offering... Stock market news »

TweetHigh street spending was down again in May 2011. Weather cannot be blamed this time so it really is simply that people are saving their money. This is really a good thing as as for too long people have been borrowing too much. Maybe the downturn is spending is not the result of people... Stock market news »

TweetCairn Energy plc. is a Scottish oil and gas exploration and production company with headquarters in Edinburgh. It produces around 33,000 barrels of oil a day. It has discovered many oil fields in India in recent years, especially in the Rajasthan region. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and also listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.... Stock market news »