The Lex Column:
*No cheque mates - Russian mobile is to European mobile as chess is to draughts. Europe’s big operators now have the choice of playing in a market with labyrinthine ownership wrangles and murky government relationships.
*Korea Exchange Bank - What price a seven-month delay? Lone Star’s proposed sale of Korea Exchange Bank has been stalled by allegations that the price was manipulated to enable the US private equity firm to buy it cheap.
*Alternative fund floats - It is not called “evergreen” capital for nothing. Just when it looked as if Doughty Hanson’s aborted flotation of a €1-billion private equity fund had killed the concept, along comes Boussard & Gavaudan Asset Management.
The Francesco Guerrera on Mondfay Column:
*'Early bird' factor is thwarting 'Go Shop' clause – Missing shoppers mean no counterbids.
*Fortress of riches (Fortress Investment Group).
*Sunny side up (Corporate earnings are breaking new records).
Interview:
*Jeffrey Immelt, Chief Executive of General Electric (GEC.L).
Further news:
*Pension threat for Sea Containers.
*Starwood buys into leisure group.
*Sony is scoring low at its own game.
*Internet newcomers find Silicon Valley hard to crack.
The Economic View Column:
*Past mistakes return to haunt Japan.
Smaller Stock to Watch:
*Advance AIM Value Realisation Fund.
Further news:
*30 enter the fray in £1-billion fight for Aston Martin.
*London regains top spot for rises in shop rents.
*Oger Telecom of Dubai putting the finishing touches to an Initial Public Offering in London that could value it at up to £4.2-billion.
*De Beers enters conflict at the heart of diamond industry.
*LSE (LSE.L) boom sets poser for Nasdaq.
The Ruth Lea Personal View Column:
*Business should beware of green-clad fundamentals.
Profile:
*Mike Lazaridis (Creator of the Blackberry).
Market Profile:
*Chris Mottershead (Chief Executive of TravelZest (TVZ.L)).
Further news:
*Financial watchdog to shine spotlight on private equity.
*Two Government consultants accused of conflict of interest over assessing companies to administer the new Home Inspectors Scheme have been suspended ahead of a possible National Audit Office inquiry.
*Only one in five companies ‘ready for accounting change’.
The Stephen King Column:
*Climate taxes need a step change in thinking.
The Small Talk Column:
*Takeover would be the icing on the cake for Inter Link (ITF.L).
*A miner miracle? (Cambridge Mineral Resources (CMR.L))
*Vulcan aims for a good Finnish - Vulcan Recovery seeking admission to AIM today.
Further news:
*BAT (BATS.L) leads attack on anti-smoking laws.
*Oil rig project to create Teeside jobs.
*BT (BT.L) set to ring up another quarter of growth.
*FTSE chief executives earned 98-times more than the typical UK employee last year.
*Tata Steel expects to regain its industry beating margins in the 4th-or 5th-year after its £5-billion acquisition of Corus (CS.L).
*Starwood Capital has bought a stake of almost 3% in Whitbread (WTB.L) amid speculation it may launch a bid.
*Ladbrokes (LAD.L) confirms that it is in takeover talks with 888 Holdings (888.L).
*Vivendi (VIV.L) confirms friendly $51-billion approach from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
*Investment banks believe uranium prices will keep rising during the next 2-years.
*Tesco (TSCO.L) plans to open its first branded store in Beijing in January.
*Knight Frank plans to build up a £600-million portfolio of European property though the flotation of a new investment fund.
*IT&e, the Australian software group, is seeking a dual listing on AIM.
*BeCCo, of Spain, is planning to raise £80-million through an AIM flotation.
*SeaDragon Offshore is considering an AIM flotation next year to raise up to £79-million.
*James Fisher (FSJ.L) sets up nuclear industry arm.
SOME ITEMS THAT COULD INFLUENCE SHARE PRICES
*The death sentence passed on Saddam Hussein fails to reconcile warring Iraq sects.
*Israel says the military offensive in Gaza would continue in the face of international concern about an operation in which more than 40 Palestinians have been killed.
*Tokyo calls for North Korea to reiterate non-nuclear status ahead of talks.
*Predictions that ministers are to raise a raft of green taxes to combat climate change dismissed as 'scare stories'.
*The London Olympics will face an extra £1-billion VAT bill on construction.
*Investment banks and hedge funds are being forced to adjust their trading strategies amid reported 'panic selling' in the US and European credit derivatives market last week.
*The UK head of Sony forecasts demand for CDs will halve in 3-years.
*Sea Containers faces threat over pensions.
*Sales of digital televisions top analogue sets.
*Drivers should pay to use Britain's roads or be charged more in the rush hour, according to a draft study on the nation's transport problems.
*Record turnover highlights jobs market strength.
Compiled in association with HB PLC and WH Ireland Ltd
