en-us Reuters UK) - Pubs firm Punch Taverns PUB said on Wednesday it expected profits to be affected in the short-term by high unemployment, impending duty and VAT increases and an uncertain environment for consumers.The company, grappling with net debt of close to 3.5 billion pounds at the end of...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:04:15 -0800 Reuters UK) - General Electric Co GE GE expects to record flat profit across its big industrial units next year, as a sluggish global economy crimps sales for jet engines, electric turbines and other heavy equipment.The largest U.S. conglomerate believes the worst of the financial crisis...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:00:08 -0800 MMM CMCSA GE UTX MMM,CMCSA,GE,UTX Reuters UK) - The U.S. government "quietly" agreed not to collect billions of dollars in potential taxes from Citigroup Inc C as part of its deal to allow the bank to repay its taxpayer bailout, The Washington Post reported.The Internal Revenue Service issued a notice on Friday that...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:58:33 -0800 C C Reuters UK) - Floor coverings retailer Carpetright CATVU posted an expected 58 percent rise in first-half profit, boosted by higher house moves and reduced competition. "While we remain cautious about the retail market in the balance of the financial year and through 2010, we have made a good start...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:46:31 -0800 Reuters UK) - Chocolatier Cadbury teased shareholders with the prospect of rival bids and promised bigger dividends and stronger growth as it again knocked back a hostile 10 billion pound offer from Kraft Foods.Cadbury chairman Roger Carr said Hershey and Italy's Ferrero had both...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:37:13 -0800 CSG KFT CSG,KFT Reuters UK) - Pfizer PFE, which halved its industry-topping dividend in January to finance its recent acquisition of Wyeth, boosted the dividend 12.5 percent on Monday.Shares of the world's largest drugmaker rose modestly after the dividend increase, which had been expected by many investors. The rise was within...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:31:29 -0800 BMY LLY MRK PFE WYE BMY,LLY,MRK,PFE,WYE Reuters UK) - Chocolatier Cadbury teased shareholders with the prospect of rival bids and promised bigger dividends and stronger growth as it again knocked back a hostile 10 billion pound offer from Kraft Foods.Cadbury chairman Roger Carr said Hershey and Italy's Ferrero had both...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:29:26 -0800 CSG KFT CSG,KFT Reuters UK) - Interdealer broker Tullett Prebon TLPR said it would help relocate staff who want to avoid the controversial bonus tax, underscoring fears the levy could prompt an exodus of finance workers.Tullett, the world's second-biggest interdealer broker, is the first major City of London player to say openly...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:14:36 -0800 Reuters UK) - Exillon Energy, a Russia-focussed oil producer, is to raise just over $100 million (62 million pounds) in what will be the first London stock market flotation by a Russian company since the financial crisis broke in 2008.The group, which has early stage assets in the Western...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:00:01 -0800 Reuters UK) - Insurers could save Britain's government billions of pounds if they took on more of its risk, though they would need a significant amount of extra capital to do so, Legal & General's LGEN chief executive told the Sunday Telegraph."Through state pensions, unemployment benefits and the National...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:42:29 -0800 Reuters UK) - Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, who now advises President Obama, thinks Britain's special tax on hefty bank bonuses is "interesting" but is wary about imposing levies on financial market transactions, he told a German newspaper.Told by the Welt am Sonntag weekly that German Chancellor...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:36:26 -0800 Reuters UK) - The Conservatives would cut a big chunk of the budget deficit within four years if they win an election as expected next year, Conservative shadow chancellor George Osborne said on Saturday.Labour, behind the Conservatives in opinion polls with an election due by June 2010, laid out...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:32:36 -0800 Reuters UK) - Banks are likely to swallow the bulk of the cost of a shock UK tax on bonuses unveiled this week, rather than pass it on to staff or find loopholes, as more countries join the clampdown on payouts, industry experts and sources said.Britain slapped...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:25:05 -0800 GS GS Reuters UK) - The European Union urged the International Monetary Fund on Friday to pursue a global tax on financial transactions to limit the risk of another economic crisis, despite U.S. opposition.EU leaders also underlined the need for "sound and effective" financial sector pay...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:23:36 -0800 Reuters UK) - Fund manager Gartmore GRTMO cut the price range on its planned initial public offering IPO on Friday, the third European share sale to land in trouble this month.Gartmore lowered its price range to 220-250 pence per share from 250-330 pence, confirming a Reuters story....]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:21:27 -0800 BAC MS BAC,MS Reuters UK) - European shares briefly turned negative in morning trade on Thursday as financial stocks gave up early gains ahead of the Bank of England's interest rate decision later in the session.At 8:27 a.m. British time, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.1...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:55:52 -0800 STAN STAN Reuters UK) - World equities were generally weaker on Thursday, adding to five sessions of losses, although Europe rebounded after recent hits over some of the region's more vulnerable economies.Globally, investors have been closing books ahead of year-end in a climate of concern about...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:55:15 -0800 Reuters UK) - Britain is still in danger of losing its triple-A credit rating and the Conservatives would make protecting it a priority if elected next year, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said.In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Osborne also said most of the...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:54:22 -0800 Reuters UK) - Paper and packaging group DS Smith SMDS posted a 21 percent fall in first-half adjusted pretax profit mainly due to higher input costs, cut its dividend and said trading conditions remained uncertain.However, the producer of recycled packaging said on Thursday it might beat its previous expectations for...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:48:56 -0800 Reuters UK) - The number of vacancies in London's City financial services industry rose on annual basis for the first time in two years in November, showing improving confidence in the recession-battered city is reflected in the jobs market.Morgan McKinley, a professional recruitment consultancy, said on Wednesday the number...]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:10:25 -0800