The Lex Column:
*Dividends in tears - Beware banks bearing high yields. The dividends on offer from a number of blue chip European and US banks look mouthwatering, but investors should think twice.
*US airlines - The US air industry is in dire need of consolidation. High fuel costs have eroded margins while there is the bigger problem of duplication of fixed overheads.
*Reuters (RTR) - While banks have been clobbered in recent weeks, Reuters has sailed on serenely, pegged to the terms of a cash-and-shares deal agreed with Thomson in May.
The Tony Jackson on Monday Column:
*Banks are resistant to pain – which is just as well.
In the Spotlight:
*Kevin Rudd.
Profile:
*Andrew Dalton (founder of Dalton Strategic Partnership).
Face to Face:
*Paul Abberley (of ABN Asset Management).
Fund in Focus:
*Lion Trust Continental Europe.
Further news:
*OPEC to keep an eye on falling US dollar.
*Vodafone (VOD) sees China growth.
*Northern Rock (NRK) shareholders call for new management and halt to sale.
*EADS aims for deal in US defence market.
*Investors dive into the heart of Africa's market.
*Pension Corp hits back after official rebuke.
The Economic View Column:
*Rumsfeld logic serves as guide to direction of US economy.
The Monday Manifesto:
*Sandy Crombie, chief executive of Standard Life (SL.).
Further news:
*Big energy users eager to invest in nuclear stations.
*BT (BT.A) chairman to oversee private equity code of conduct.
*New BP (BP.) executive Anne Quinn to join Lord Browne at Riverstone, the private equity firm.
*Supplement on Minerals and Mining: the fortunes that lie beneath the surface.
The Comment Column:
*China must act before dollar's fall sparks protectionism.
Profile:
*Andrew Fickling, managing director Sport Newspapers.
The AIM Market:
*Fuel cell companies pushing for a renewable’s index.
Profile:
*Raymond Mould and Patrick Vaughan.
Further news:
*Cut-price Rock (NRK) bids add to investor woes.
*Lloyd's of London braced for wave of credit crunch claims.
*Temasek faces £2.4 billion fine following a showdown with the Indonesian government over telecoms investments.
The Stephen King Column:
*Football, migration and the blame game - Has foreign influx really undermined English football?
The Small Talk Column:
*Synergy Healthcare (SYR) - Acquisition to vital synergies.
*Norcros (NXR) - Looks to be worth closer inspection.
*Atlantic Gold - Getting in early might be a shrewd move.
Further news:
*Diageo (DGE) sparks fightback as the Smirnoff ice ban cometh.
*easyJet (EZJ) flying high bit oil price lurks on horizon.
*The head of Great Britain's private equity body, the BVCA, warns that the industry is making a big sacrifice with tomorrow's publication of a voluntary code of conduct on transparency that risks driving some buy-out firms overseas.
*Marks & Spencer (MKS) is the best-regarded company in Great Britain, according to a survey for CBI.
*Shareholders in Northern Rock (NRK) are planning to propose to chairman Bryan Sanderson that the bank should halt its sale process and install a management team headed by former Abbey chief Luq Arnold.
*BHP Billiton (BLT) boss claims merger with Rio Tinto (RIO) has bilateral shareholder support.
*The mining industry digs in for a turf war, following the BHP (BLT) offer for Rio (RIO).
*China's 3 leading banks have approached Temasek, the Singapore state investment agency, to discuss the possible acquisition of its 17% stake in Standard Chartered (STAN).
*Two directors of Copper Resources (CRC) expected to resign following a board split over an offer for the group by Metorex.
*EADS is planning acquisitions in the US defence market, to reduce its vulnerability to the weakening US dollar.
*Miller Group confirms that investors representing more than 60% of its share capital want to sell their stakes.
*Private equity firm LGV Capital has appointed Hawkpoint to advise on a sale of its 51% holding in Integrated Dental Holdings.
*The OneWord digital radio station owned by Channel 4 and UBC Media (UBC) seems certain to go off the air within months.
*Tommy Hilfiger, the fashion label, set to float on Euronext.
SOME ITEMS THAT COULD INFLUENCE SHARE PRICES
*General Musharraf rejects US call to end emergency and free his opponents.
*Tony Blair unveils huge jobs plan to bolster Middle East peace talks.
*The Government admits it has no clear definition of a sub-prime loan.
*G20 leaders warn of global slowdown.
*John Lewis could be heading for a bumper Christmas after sales rose 7% in spite of a spending downturn.
*The risk of a collision between the US Federal Reserve and the markets over an interest rate cut appear to be increasing by the day.
*City housing plans ‘mothballed’ as buy-to-let crisis intensifies.
*Property prices fell by an average of 0.7% over the last month, with homeowners asking lower prices in all regions except London, according to Rightmove.
*London office prices suffer as big banks put lettings on hold, according to an MWB Business Exchange survey.
*Business confidence has fallen to a 2-year low, according to Business Confidence Monitor.
*OPEC agrees to keep talking about the effects of the weak US dollar, in an effort to bridge the divisions exposed at the oil cartel's summit in Riyadh.
*Bookmakers demand end of horse racing levy.
*UK tourism faces 110,000 job losses.
Compiled in association with HB PLC and WH Ireland Ltd
