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This is not the first run-in between Mr Battle and the French

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This is not the first run-in between Mr Battle and the French. In fact he's so irritated that he has written to his opposite number in Paris warning that Britain will retaliate by pulling the plug on French electricity imports unless it implements the new law inside three months.Some hope, you might think, given the leisurely Gallic attitude to EU directives at the best of times and the fact that the French political classes will soon be heading to their gites for August. The latest cause of friction is France's failure to open up its domestic power market to competition from the likes of British Energy. The EU directive requiring the French to open up a quarter of their market to other suppliers has been in force now for five months, but since they show no willingness to do so, who's counting? Mr Battle is. Electric madness ICI NOUS ALLONS encore. The French have a way of getting under the skin of the Energy Minister, John Battle, particularly when it comes to electricity. Some optimistic punters believe Toad, whose shares have risen from 17.5p in October to yesterday's 27p, could even beat predictions of a pounds 2.6m profit.. According to rumours, the maker of car and motorbike alarms is starting to put its chequered past behind it.The company is said to have told a few analysts that trading is good and that finals, due at the start of August, could provide some pleasant surprises.

BNB provides training services for a wide range of blue-chip clients - including Rolls-Royce, Deutsche Bank and Somerfield - and could be a good buy for one of its larger rivals.SOME BROKERS are making positive noises on Toad. The recruitment and training specialist has recently hit a yearly record of 151p amid talk of a bid.The shares have fallen back a bit since, ending yesterday 1p down at 145p, but insiders believe that the takeover story is still valid. The software group JBA soared 51.5p to 248p after agreeing a 250p-per-share bid from Canadian rival Geac Computer. PR agency Holmes & Merchant firmed 3p to 23.25p on persistent rumours of a bid from Shandwick founder Lord Chadlington, while shoe-maker Church & Co was kicked 25p higher to a record 595p by bid speculation. Frock seller Forminster, the owner of the UK franchise for Kookai, plunged 10.5p to 56p after a profit warning. Leisurewear retailer Blacks Leisure firmed 16p to 257.5p on bid talk.SEAQ VOLUME: 1.06BNSEAQ TRADES: 75,880GILTS INDEX: N/ASOME HOT money is chasing BNB Resources.

National Power surged 13p higher to 432.5p after a double push from Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs and revived bid rumours, while retailer Next climbed 11p to 712p after JP Morgan started coverage with a "buy".Dixons did not need any analytical support to rise 31p to 1346p. Investors filled their boots ahead of Monday's Freeserve flotation, which is thought to be 10-times oversubscribed. Rentokil jumped 5p to 246.75p on continued hopes of a takeover.Among the minnows, the electronic group Forward Technology rose 7.75p to 24p after receiving a 26-per-share management buyout bid. The mining group Billiton jumped 9.25p to 270.5p - the day's best blue chip - after HSBC said "buy". The American cable company is also believed to be close to bidding for the football and rugby club Newcastle United, up 5.5p to 87p.A few analysts' notes caused some waves among big hitters. However, its part- owned cable subsidiary Cable & Wireless Communications surged 9p higher to 699p on rumours that the merger of its business operations with US rival NTL is close.

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