HSBC Holdings HSBA saw growth in operating expenses easily outstrip the banks increase in revenue. Todays interim results reveal reveal that during the first half, revenue rose by 4% whilst operating expenses grew by 7%., or 8% on an adjusted basis. Adjusted profit before tax fell by 2%. The Group Chairman descended from on high to tell us that a good start had been made on its two main targets of enhancing not only performance but reputation as well. He does not enlighten us but I wonder who told him that, customers or senior management ?, Whoever it was has presumably not had the experience of trying to get a broken down(for the umpteenth time) ATM to dispense cash on a Saturday afternoon, or even if it was not broken down, having the same problem because it has, yet again, run out of cash. Go back to the grass roots Mr. Chairman and find out the truth about your bank’s real reputation.
Tesco TSCO has signed its long term strategic alliance with Carrefour. It will become operational in October and last for three years. What possible good it will do even to troubled Tesco, only time will tell.
easyJet plc EZJ was hit by a triple whammy in July, with industrial action in Europe, a runway closure at Gatwick and adverse weather.. Despite that it still managed to increase passenger numbers by 4.5% but this was well down on the 6.2% increase over the year from July 2017. Load factor for this July rose by only 0.1% compared to 1.4% for the rolling 12 months.Still, unless the European Union has its evil way, it will be a few years before they are reduced to doing pleasure flights round Blackpool Tower.
Ultra Electronics ULE benefited from increased US defence spending during the half year to the 30th June but the reported results were impacted by cost overruns. Organic revenue rose by 1.3% and organic profit growth by 1.4%. Basic earnings per share were down by nearly 50% and statutory profit before tax fell by a third to 20m. The order book has been and continues to be strong and better than expected. Foreign exchange “headwinds: are blamed for a 5.8% impact on underlying operating profit. The interim dividend remains unchanged at 14.6p per share.
Beachfront villas & houses for sale in Greece; http://www.hiddengreece.net