The Cover Story:
*2007 – The gathering storm: The year of living dangerously. WARNING, 2007 may damage your wealth.
Business Focus:
*M&A – 2006 was a boom time for M&A. But prospects are not as bright in the coming year. Deal or No Deal.
The Alchemist Column:
*Mining will be in a hole but it’s worth taking a bet online.
The AIM Investor:
*Takeover activity will gather speed in London’s junior listing venue.
*Bad stocks are set to drag good ones down – But here are 4 stocks for 2007 - Buy Centamin (CEY.L), Kenmare (KMR.L), Radicle Projects (RDP.L) and Advent Air (AAIR.L).
SHARES MAGAZINE
The Cover Story:
*Top Tips for 2007 (3 Portfolios).
The Lex Column:
*Land of the fee - If the European arms of the big US investment banks are no longer treated like mere satellites, it is for good reason. In the world of investment banking, money talks.
*Merger and acquisitions - They’ve never had it so good. Mergers and acquisitions volumes in 2006 are set to total a record $3,870bn, 29 per more than last year and 16 per cent above the previous high in 2000.
*Credit markets - Leonardo would have flourished in today’s credit market renaissance. Investment bankers have become prolific innovators in a benign environment already several years old.
The Lombard Column:
*Wherever there are league tables, there is discord - Like all the banks Citigroup (CGP.L) wants some glory.
*Top dog, rock bottom (HMV (HMV.L)).
*Jabre’s back (GLG's Philippe Jabre).
Further news:
*M&A frenzy eclipses tech boom.
*Rumours that a leading broker is set to start coverage of Galiform (GFRM.L).
*Alexon (AXN.L) gains ground on sale of shoe retailer.
*Overseas expansion talk lifts Goals Soccer Centre (GOAL.L).
*Chunk of 8% changes hands in Petroceltic (PCI.L).
The Business Editor’s Commentary Column:
*DVD’s and a change of technology (HMV (HMV.L)).
*A lot of hot air (Air travel emissions).
*Payment cover failing the poor (Farepak).
The Tempus Column:
*Sell - British Energy (BGY.L) and HMV (HMV.L).
*Buy - Playtech (PTEC.L).
Further news:
*Shortfall in funding puts nuclear clean-up work at risk.
*Sports World unlikely to make a full bid for Blacks Leisure (BSLA.L).
*Britvic (BVIC.L) still fizzing as new rumours to the rounds.
*Rumours that Inchcape (INCH.L) could be a takeover target.
*Tadpole (TAD.L) evolves but fails to grow.
The Comment Column:
*If HMV (HMV.L) is singing the blues, why is the CBI so chirpy?
*Higher rates alone won't end the debt spree.
The Questor Column:
*Hold Bodycote (BOY.L).
*Avoid Park Group (PKG.L).
*Summit Germany (SGL.L) a speculative buy.
Further news:
*Fund guru blasts HSBC’s (HSBA.L) new head.
*Christmas torpor sets in as rate rise becomes more likely.
*Bid rumours bolster Britvic (BVIC.L) and Ladbrokes (LAD.L).
The Outlook Column:
*Despite the grumbling, there's no recession in retailing yet, but there are plenty of losers.
*British Energy (BGY.L) disappoint again.
*No end in sight to merger boom.
The Investment Column:
*Buy Aegis (AGS.L) and Pinewood Shepperton (PWS.L).
*Avoid Park Group (PKG.L).
Further news:
*IMF urges fiscal restraint as public sector borrowing soars.
*BT (BT.L) rings up gains after being open on pensions.
*Talk that Carter & Carter (CART.L) may face a bid from a private equity group next year.
*Centaurus Capital takes bet that Nasdaq bid for London Stock Exchange (LSE.L) will fail.
*Fined former GLG trader, Philippe Jabre, opens new fund in Geneva.
*Royal Dutch Shell's (RDSA.L) plan to hand over control of Sakhalin-2 to Gazprom could be announced as early as today.
*Vodafone's (VOD.L) board set to meet today to consider a proposed £6.9-billion-plus offer for Hutchison Essar, the fourth biggest mobile operator in India.
*Lord Browne has denied a final say over BP (BP.L) successor.
*Ryanair's (RYA.L) bid for Aer Lingus (AERL.L) lapses.
*BT (BT.L) tops FTSE risers on vague rumours of private equity predatory interest, following moves to tackle its pension deficit.
*RAB Capital (RAB.L) is considering moving to the main market following rapid growth.
*Great Portland Estates (GPOR.L) conducts debt refinancing.
*Yoomedia (YOO.L) sells 44-million Catalyst Media (CMX.L) shares.
*Kryso Resources (KYS.L) forms joint venture with Great Basin; and raises £1-million through placing.
*Newcastle United (NCU.L) confirms St James' Park Group is among the bidders, but says it has not accepted any proposals.
*Terrace Hill (THG.L) joint venture buys London property; expects redevelopment value of £180-million.
*Northern Rock (NRK.L) appoints Merrill Lynch to act as joint broker.
*Georgica (GGA.L) to sell Ten Pin Bowl in Bristol to George Wimpey (WMPY.L) for £9.3-million.
*Traction Technologies makes AIM debut at 28p.
SOME ITEMS THAT COULD INFLUENCE SHARE PRICES
*The Dow fell 7.45-points at 12463.87, the Nasdaq slipped 1.94-points to 2427.61, while the S&P lost 2.02-points to 1423.53.
*President Bush tones down claim that US is winning the war in Iraq.
*Violence in Iraq kills 23, as new US Defence Secretary Robert Gates pays a visit.
*Iran's oil minister admits that the country is having trouble financing oil production in a rare acknowledgement of the economic cost of its nuclear dispute.
*Israeli prime minister lifts hope of summit with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
*Public finances have deteriorated so much in recent years that Great Britain could not withstand another global downturn, according to the IMF.
*The City expects a rate increase after retail sales hit 2-year high and mortgage demand rises.
*The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee voted 9-0 to keep key interest rate unchanged at 5%.
*UK mortgage lending hit record high in November.
*UK December Retail Sales balance up 25%, the highest in 2-years, according to CBI.
*Retailers greet the Retail Sales report with scepticism.
*House prices could soar by another 15% next year, according to Lombard Street Research.
*UK November provisional M4 money supply up 13.1% year-on-year; M4 lending up £30.3-billion.
*UK third-quarter institutional investment up £4.2 billion from second-quarter.
*UK November PSNB improves to £9.9 billion from £10.2-billion in November 2005.
*Fall in US oil stockpiles triggers rise in crude price.
*UK pressure groups start legal challenge against Serious Fraud Office decision on BAE Systems (BA.L)/Saudi project.
*OFCOM threatens an intensive crackdown on mis-selling and other abuses in the telephone and broadband markets.
Compiled in association with HB PLC and WH Ireland Ltd
