What the Finance

Centaurus Capital Ltd’s chairman and CEO, Bernard Oppetit, said he is buying loans and bonds being sold off by banks and rival funds.
“We are seeing some credit and bonds trading at stupid prices,” Oppetit, the $4 billion London-based hedge fund’s founder said in an interview on March, 28. “There are a lot of people forced [...]

Market sources said that sandwich chain Pret a Manger looks determined to head to private-equity sponsor Bridgepoint Capital. Press reports have confirmed that Bridgepoint will purchase the sandwich chain for £350 million

Carrefour announced strong sales figures for the fourth quarter and it is expecting a further 6-8% sales growth in 2008 and operating profit growth above that range. And that is excluding acquisitions - the retailer just bought a 75% stake in PT Alfa Retailandon in Indonesia for $72m!

Scenery remains the same, as US dollars keep on falling against EUR, which has nearly reached its highest ever price and now stands at 1.4966.

A recent research report from major US investment bank has shown that low grade bonds have outperformed high grade, not only for the month December, but also for the whole year. However, the Merrill Lynch Global High Yield & Emerging Markets Plus index plunged to 2.59%, which is the second worst full year performance, since