The UK Economy

Britain’s largest coal producer, UK Coal plc (LSE:UKC), has completed the restructuring of the company, beset with insurmountable deficit in pension contribution and debt nearly seven times its market capitalisation, in an “unprecendented scale” that saved more than 2,500 jobs. The company will be renamed Coalfields Resources plc, to reflect “the new emphasis of its […]

There is a Ally Bank commercial in the US that goes something like this: TV Host:  “Tonight, our guest . . . Thomas Sergeant, Nobel Laureate in economics and one of the most cited economists in the world . . .  Professor Sergeant, can you tell me what CD rates will be in two years?” […]

AIM listed property investment group First Property (LSE:FPO) has not exactly been a stellar share tip from my twelve years running  t1ps.com. I tipped the stock at 19.25p in May 2008 and after publishing results for the six months to 30th September yesterday the shares trade at 18.75p. We have, to be fair, enjoyed 4.82p […]

I recommended this on my Nifty Fifty website last week at a mid price of 259.5p. The shares are up by a few pence but are still a strong defensive long term growth buy. Investment Case: Shares in AIM-listed provider and manager of industrial workforces in the UK, Staffline Group (LSE:STAF) are a successful recommendation […]

The political class is today delighted as Starbucks appears to be caving in and agreeing to pay more tax. No doubt Amazon and Google will follow suit. My warning here is that what is going on will cost British jobs and it stinks of high hypocrisy. And yes Margaret Hodge MP I am talking about […]

“What launched as the Bank of England’s great white hope risks looking like a white elephant.”  That is the assessment of Christopher Shaw, CEO of Platform Black, commenting on the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) taxpayer bailout of flailing and failing UK banks.  I know that “white elephant” is not a circus animal, but this […]

After losing nearly 25% of its value between 06 November and 12 November, Balfour Beatty (LSE:BBY) is inching its way back toward the 320.00 mark with a 6.00 pence gain to 253.1 approaching the 14:00 hour. BBY share price dropped earlier this month, charting with a glide path like a father jumping into the Thames […]

“We got it wrong.”  That’s what Sir Mervyn King told the House of Commons’ Treasury Select Committee as he was testifying at a hearing on the Bank of England’s November Inflation Report.  No wonder the UK banking system is in such disarray.  The bloody Bank of England doesn’t know what it is doing either. I […]

Given the events of the news released this morning, you might wonder if UBS stands for Unbelievable Banking Screw-Up. The traditional round of tea at the Monday morning UBS staff meeting was served iced as the bank got kicked in the knickers with a £29.7 million fine for failing to have adequate controls in place […]

The guys over at Scottish & Southern Energy (LSE:SSE) have once again proven the theory that either they never took courses in psychology and public relations, or that they have got their heads buried so deep in the sand that they have long ago lost any sense of how their customers view them.  Or, maybe […]