Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT), Tesco Corporation (USA) (NASDAQ:TESO), Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (ADR) (NYSE:RBS), Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RIO), Old Mutual plc (LON:OML), Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY), Rexam PLC (LON:REX), Hays plc (LON:HAS), BHP Billiton plc (LON:BLT), J Sainsbury plc (LON:SBRY)
Old Mutual plc (LON:OML)’s funds benefit from equity market boom (Reuters)
Anglo-South African insurer Old Mutual plc (LON:OML) on Thursday reported growth in funds under management for the first quarter that outpaced market forecasts, supported by buoyant financial markets. The company said funds under management rose 7 percent over the period to 288.4 billion pounds ($448.91 billion), with rising markets adding to the impact of net client cash inflows of 3.9 billion pounds. …Old Mutual plc (LON:OML) said the UK savings market has been “disrupted” while financial advisers adjusted to the new system and contributed to a 10 percent drop in the net client cash flow via its UK platform.
UK supermarket Sainsbury’s posts rising profits (Yahoo)
British supermarket chain J Sainsbury plc (LON:SBRY)‘s on Wednesday announced a rise in annual profits and said it was taking full control of the group’s banking unit after buying the stake held by bailed-out Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY). Britain’s third-biggest supermarket chain after Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT)-owned Asda and the country’s largest retailer Tesco Corporation (USA) (NASDAQ:TESO) said net profit grew 3.0 percent to £614 million ($951 million, 725 million euros) in the 12 months to March 16.
Is Lloyds Banking Group an Exciting Emerging Market Play? (DailyFinance)
While crippling austerity in Europe has put the brake on growth rates in Europe, a backdrop of accommodative central bank action, elevated commodity prices, and rising personal affluence levels has created an exceptional investing opportunity in developing countries. …Bubbly activity in developing geographies can create large opportunities for many London-listed firms. Today, I am looking at Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) and assessing whether its operations in these regions are likely to underpin solid earnings growth. Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) announced at the end of April that pre-tax profit leapt to 2 billion pounds in the initial three months of 2013, up substantially from a profit of 280 million pounds in the same period last year.
What Price Will Lloyds Banking Group PLC And Royal Bank Of Scotland Group Plc Be Sold For? (Fool)
A few weeks ago, I asked “When will the Government Sell Shares in Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (ADR) (NYSE:RBS)?”, suggesting that David Cameron would do something before the next general election in May 2015. Since then, managers at both Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (ADR) (NYSE:RBS) have made positive noises about being ready for privatisation in that time-scale. Speculation on the form of any privatisation has increased, too, with the Policy Exchange — said to be George Osborne’s favourite think-tank — calling for a mass share distribution along the lines of Baroness Thatcher’s era. With a strong political agenda, there’s a good chance of a retail element.
Rexam PLC : Ready, Set, Click… Rexam Healthcare Unveils All-New Web Product Catalogue (4-Traders)
Rexam Healthcare, global leader in healthcare rigid plastic packaging and medical devices, has debuted a new way for industry professionals to easily find and choose the company’s solutions, through its all-new market and application-based web site: www.rexamcatalogue.com/healthcare/. …More than 500 product references and thousands of configurations are accessible in a few clicks. In addition, complementary info, product file downloads and direct business e-mail access are accessible at all times. Further info on Rexam PLC (LON:REX) or on Rexam Healthcare’s activities and commitments is available
Rexam PLC : Rexam launches innovative new printing technology, Editions*, to customers globally (4-Traders)
Following the development of Editions* by Rexam PLC (LON:REX) in South America in July 2012, Rexam PLC (LON:REX) is now launching this innovative printing process globally. Using the latest patent pending technology, Editions* allows Rexam PLC (LON:REX) to produce 8 to 24 designs of the same label simultaneously on a single pallet. This printing innovation allows Rexam PLC (LON:REX)’s customers to deliver several designs to one single filling line, creating increased marketing opportunities for brands using beverage cans and improving efficiency in the filling process as designs are already mixed on the same pallet.
Hays plc Stock Rating Reaffirmed by Espirito Santo Investment Bank Research (HAS) (MideastTime)
Espirito Santo Investment Bank Research reissued their neutral rating on shares of Hays plc (LON:HAS) in a research report released on Thursday morning, AnalystRatings.Net reports. Espirito Santo Investment Bank Research currently has a GBX 98 ($1.53) price target on the stock. Hays plc (LON:HAS) traded up 1.80% on Thursday, hitting GBX 93.45. Hays plc (LON:HAS) has a 1-year low of GBX 66.00 and a 1-year high of GBX 102.50. The stock’s 50-day moving average is currently GBX 79.73. The company’s market cap is £1.299 billion.
Hays plc : Increased HR and payroll workload tops list of auto-enrolment concerns (4-Traders)
Two thirds of employers are concerned that pensions auto enrolment will increase workload for their HR and payroll departments, according to new research from Hays plc (LON:HAS), the leading recruiting expert. One in ten (11%) expect to take on additional staff to handle the additional work. While increased workload topped the list of concerns for employers, communicating changes to their employees was also a concern for over half (57%), followed by the development of new IT systems and data migration (36%).
BHP exec sees iron ore seaborne supply accelerating, pressuring prices (Reuters)
BHP Billiton plc (LON:BLT), the world’s No. 3 iron ore miner, expects growth in iron ore seaborne supply to accelerate in the years ahead, leading to lower prices for the steelmaking raw material, a senior company official said on Wednesday. “Supply growth is and will keep accelerating in the coming years. This new supply will also bear a lot of cost and will gradually displace higher-cost production,” BHP Billiton plc (LON:BLT) General Manager Alan Chirgwin told an industry conference in Singapore, adding the onset of new supply will translate into lower iron ore prices.
Rio Tinto sees iron ore demand intact, sticks to expansion (Reuters)
Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RIO), the world’s No. 2 iron ore miner, is keeping output expansion plans for the steelmaking raw material intact, with global demand led by top market China likely to keep growing, albeit at a slower pace, a senior company official said. …BHP Billiton plc (LON:BLT), which itself is on track to lift iron ore output by 5 percent to 183 million tonnes in the year ending June 2013, also said Chinese demand will remain the key driver for the steelmaking commodity, but like Rio, acknowledged that demand there for steel will eventually peak. “Supply growth is and will keep accelerating in coming years,” BHP Billiton plc (LON:BLT) General Manager Alan Chirgwin told the same conference, adding the onset of new supply will translate into lower iron ore prices.
