Friday Papers: Debt worries hinder Citi disposal - bids, comment and tips

Financial Times

* Citigroup’s attempts to sell OneMain Financial have stumbled over concerns among potential bidders about its funding as a standalone­-business

* The centuries-old St John’s Wood Barracks in London will be put on the block next week.

* The UK's last remaining train factory Bombardier suffered a significant blow when a consortium led by Germany's Siemens was named preferred bidder.

* ZFS sells $950 million insurance book to Swiss Re.

* Intelsat, the Luxembourg-based group, is to invest $1.3bn in satellite launches over the next 18 months.

* Luxury handbag maker Mulberry quadruples annual profits, led by a skyrocketing business in Asia.

* Pandora has dipped below its initial public offering price in just its second day of trading.


The Lex Column

* Research in Motion: frostbite - Earnings were very reminiscent of recent results from Nokia.

* Energy Transfer/Southern Union - Basis contraction’ is bad news for big pipeline operators.

* UK bank regulation: - Things will not change as much as Sir Mervyn King may hope.

* India: still seeking FDI - India: still seeking FDI India.

* Siemens: odd one out - German group is too conservative even by its own standards.

* South Korea and MSCI - Seoul may be hoping that index provider does not upgrade its market status.

* Greece: indebted and disorderly - Further procrastination will only make the inevitable default more painful.

* Electric cars: still in park - It remains mostly the smug and famous who are driving them.



The Times

* A stray bat was to blame for the eventual failure of the Southsea bank, its chairman Bernard Stanley told The Times.

* Missouri-based Cooper Industries make a tentative offer of £493 million for Laird, one of the great names of British industry, two weeks ago.



Tempus share tips

* Petrofac shares look high enough for now but, for those looking further afield, it is an interesting play on the continuing strength of oil; Rio Tinto a strong hold; Liontrust Asset Management could be a slow business; YCO Group, could be the one to watch out for.


Comment

* With definite risks involved, a low Growth Environment Score may prevent Russia from becoming the Top 5 Economies by 2020.

* The Rroyal Mail boss, Moya Greene keen to emphasise the generosity of the redundancy packages being handed to posties.x`x`x`x`

* The cost of insuring against a sovereign default rocketed for all the eurozone peripherals, most notably Greece but also, ominously, Spain.


The Independent

Investment Column

* Buy Mouchel and hold Ted Baker.

Outlook


* A VAT cut is worth it – even for those who worry about the deficit says David Prosser.

* Yesterday's announcement that Southend is to become an easyJet base seems bold but makes perfect sense for airline.

* UK care trade slips further into reverse.



The Guardian

Viewpoint Column

* Cairn Energy's changes at the top - Three directors, including the chairman, leaving a FTSE 100 company does not indicate serious upheaval.

* Southsea depositors over the limit - if the FSA had fears about Southsea Morgage & Investment, some customers may be getting the rough end of the stick.

* Opportunity knocks at Laird - Cooper has made a nicely timed bid for the UK technology firm, but it could stage a decent defence.


The Daily Telegraph

Comment

* Blackberry maker admits "challenging start" as it bets on PlayBook.

Daily Mail

* CITY FOCUS by Simon Duke: Regardless of the shape of the new rescue package for Athens, it is now abundantly clear that lenders across the eurozone will have to shoulder some of the cost of shoring up crisis-torn Greece.

* COMMENT by ALEX BRUMMER: Black Spot lifted at Primark - After three years of endless complaints and legal exchanges – during which the Beeb sought to wriggle off the hook – the BBC Trust (which now regulates the broadcaster) reached the conclusion that the filming of child labour was faked