Barclays is test case for corporate governance 3 Feb 2003 But are these good enough excuses to justify appointing the CEO as chairman? Matt Barrett has transformed the performance of the UK retail bank. He is also a charismatic ambassador for the banking sector as a whole.
Scottish & Newcastle warns on profits 3 Feb 2003 What does Britain's biggest brewer want to be: a growth stock or the beverage industry's version of a utility? Its 80% dividend payout does not square with its pretensions for growth. Something has to give.
Trinity Mirror battles bid speculation 3 Feb 2003 The newspaper group will have little difficulty keeping deal fever at bay if shareholders insist on £5 a share, as one already has publicly. Trinity's new boss should be given time to create value herself. But if she wants to avoid future bids, she should think about a breakup.
Amber alert for Ericsson investors 3 Feb 2003 Ericsson s balance sheet is holding up well but shareholders can t completely rule out another fundraising. The Swedish group excels in cost cutting but the shrinking telecoms equipment market erodes the benefit. The Swedish telecoms equipment maker may require another expensive round of restructuring. Costcutting has slowed, price pressure is extreme and orders are worrying. Ericsson badly needs 3G to bounce back.
UK’s FSA relaxes insurer solvency requirements 2 Feb 2003 Did rules forcing UK life insurers to dump shares to maintain solvency create a false market? We might be about to find out, because these rules will no longer be enforced.