The Lex Column:
*Marked for life - Prudential (PRU.L) shareholders had hoped Mark Tucker, chief executive, would transform the UK-based insurance group as he previously did its Asian franchise. But a glorious vision for the developing world is one thing; rescuing a mature business is quite another.
*European banks - Is it the top of the cycle for the European banking sector? At more than 20%, once-depressed return on equity is at record levels. But earnings have been supported by “twin peaks” in two areas, which have accounted for two-thirds of the change in earnings each year for the past decade.
*Consensus thinking - Collective thinking can be dangerous. Unlike the wisdom of crowds, which stems from the pooling of diverse views, consensus can – as Margaret Thatcher put it – just be something in which no one believes and to which no one objects.
The John Plender on Monday Column:
*The FSA may be no easy pushover for Nasdaq – The watchdog has the power to say no.
*Shareholders rights.
*Nutty dividend (Dividends in kind).
Interview:
*Ann Moore (Chief Executive Time Inc).
FM Section:
*Lan Dang tells Citywire's Charlie Parker how her Oddo Asset Management fund exploits the low interest rates in Japan.
Further news:
*BBC may be forced to double cost cuts.
*Venture capital rises to levels not seen since dotcom bubble.
*Spain's outer strength disguises investment weakness.
*Why China faces fresh tasks on trade.
*Prudential (PRU.L) make-up makes breaking up hard to do.
The Comment Column:
*More to Britain’s trade figures than meets the eye.
Interview:
*Brian Goggin.
Market Profile:
*Anthony Fabrizi.
Further news:
*Amec (AMEC.L) to write-off more than £100-million.
*Chancellor's golden treasure chest valued at £1,000 billion.
*Portman Hotel sold to Gloucester Capital for £80 million.
*UBC Media (UBC.L) boost for BSkyB's (BSY.L) radio news drive.
*Betex (BTX.L) to unveil plans to begin selling lottery scratch cards in China.
*The drama of tumbles and floats as Junior Market grows up (Evolutec (EVC.L), Chariot (UK) (CRT.L), Legacy Distribution (LDG.L), BrainJuicer (BJU.L), West China Cement (WCC.L)).
The Stephen King Column:
*’No more boom and bust’ – an epitaph for Chancellor Brown.
The Small Talk Column:
*Catalyst New Opportunities (CNW.L) powers back with hybrid vehicle products deal.
*Zirax (ZRX.L) output hots up.
*Origo Sino-India eyes Asia stakes.
*Cashbox (CBOX.L) wins contract to instal ATM machines in Nova leisure bars and clubs.
Further news:
*Cadbury’s (CBRY.L) disastrous year leaves a bitter taste.
*Man from the Pru (PRU.L) to seek £8 billion windfall.
*Nasdaq is expected to issue the formal offer document for its hostile £2.9-billion bid for the London Stock Exchange (LSE.L) this week.
*Prudential (PRU.L) has rebuffed an approach from Citigroup (CGP.L) for Egg (EGG.L).
*Analysts believe Prudential's (PRU.L) review of its UK life assurance arm could trigger a break-up.
*Tata Steel raises offer for Corus Group (CS.L) by around 10% to £4.7 billion, or 500p-a-share.
*Barratt Developments (BDEV.L) has submitted a £2.1-billion offer for Wilson Bowden (WLB.L).
*Home Depot (HOM.L) poised to challenge Kingfisher's (KGF.L) B&Q brand in China by paying £51-million for a majority stake in Home Way.
*RAB Capital (RAB.L) has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in A1 Grand Prix.
*Smith & Nephew (SN.L) expected to bid for Biomet.
*Citigroup (CGP.L) in exclusive talks to buy Morgan Stanley's Quilter wealth management arm.
*Cairn Energy (CNE.L) launches its $1.4-billion Indian subsidiary today.
*Shareholders await review at Amec (AMEC.L).
*Aida Capital to list a £27 million fund of hedge funds on London's main market.
*Sir Richard Branson to call on Alistair Darling to investigate whether the BSkyB (BSY.L) investment in ITV (ITV.L) constitutes a 'material influence'.
*Rupert Murdoch hopes to complete a deal with Liberty Media chairman John Malone in the next week or so.
*Wall Street's leading investment banks are expected to report strong fourth quarter earnings beginning tomorrow.
SOME ITEMS THAT COULD INFLUENCE SHARE PRICES
*Police investigating the murders of two Ipswich prostitutes say the body of a third woman is also that of a female of the same profession in the town. The woman's body was discovered by a walker on Sunday afternoon in an area of trees at Nacton, outside the town. Officers have said it is too early to link the death to those of Gemma Adams and Tania Nicol, whose bodies were found on the opposite side of Ipswich. Police say the incident is being treated as an "unexplained death".
*A second teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was kicked to death by a gang near a police station in an Oxfordshire town. Stephen Langford, 43, from St Anne's Court in Henley-on-Thames, was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head on Greys Road in the town on Saturday.
*The terrorist threat facing the UK is 'very high' according to home secretary John Reid in a GMTV interview.
*Donald Rumsfeld pays a visit to US troops in Iraq just nine days before he is due to be succeeded as US defence secretary by Robert Gates.
*OPEC and Russia cut dollar exposure to two-year low.
*OPEC prepares to put the squeeze on world stockpiles of oil.
*OFCOM to lay out auction plans for 3G spectrum.
*US relations with China are under strain because Beijing is putting the global economy at risk, according to US chief trade negotiator.
*Gulf Arab leaders are considering a joint civilian nuclear programme.
*The number of householders struggling to meet mortgage payments has increased, according to Bank of England research.
*Average asking price for houses has jumped by 13% over the last year, according to Rightmove (RMV.L).
*Central London house prices up 26% this year, according to Knight Frank.
*Private equity firms are putting in interim financial experts to boost earnings in companies where they have invested.
*Computers that read news stories and use the information gleaned as a basis for trading will become widespread over the next five years, according to Reuters (RTR.L).
*National Association of Estate Agents say homeowners are cutting house sale prices in the run up to Christmas.
*China Development Bank has held talks with Macquarie Bank to explore securitisation and selling some of its infrastructure loan.
*John Lewis sees record Christmas sales.
*Roman Abramovich's Kremlin links are to be examined in a US security review of £1.2-billion bid for Oregon Steel.
*Zara Phillips named BBC sports personality of the year.
*Former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet dies aged 91.
Compiled in association with HB PLC and WH Ireland Ltd
