Latest news with #DCC
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Holiday money mistake costing Scots hundreds of pounds this summer
Travellers should be cautious when choosing how to pay their bills whilst abroad. Travellers jetting off abroad this summer are reportedly unknowingly falling into a costly trap at restaurants, shops and ATMs whilst on holiday. According to Jessie Chambers, Travel Expert at Global Work & Travel, choosing to pay in pounds (GBP) instead of the local currency could be inflating holiday spending by as much as 10% per transaction - thanks to a little-known practice called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). She said: 'It feels familiar and safe to choose pounds, but it's one of the biggest travel money mistakes Brits make. You're letting the shop or ATM provider apply their own conversion rate – and it's almost always worse than your bank's. Dynamic Currency Conversion is when a foreign card machine offers to convert your bill into GBP on the spot. While it sounds convenient, this 'service' often comes with: Inflated exchange rates Hidden mark-ups (typically 6–10%) Additional fees layered on top A €100 meal in Spain could cost £84 when paid in local currency, but would actually £8 more when paid in GBP via DCC. Multiply that over a week-long trip with hotels, restaurants, and activities, and travellers could be losing £100–£250 without realising. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Money saving tips when spending abroad Always pay in local currency – especially at ATMs and restaurants Use a card with no foreign transaction fees (e.g. Revolut, Monzo, Chase) Decline 'conversion to GBP' offers from shopkeepers or waiters Withdraw cash abroad in local currency using fee-free apps Jessie added: "We've had travellers message us mid-trip after realising how much they've lost to bad conversions. The worst part? It's totally avoidable." Another thing to consider, according to Alastair Douglas, CEO at TotallyMoney, is which credit card to take - if at all - to make sure you're not being hit by hefty currency conversion charges. Alastair warned: 'Don't get burnt by bank charges this summer and take a fee-free card with you. Otherwise, if you pack the wrong one, you could find yourself paying £8.15 for £5 of cash when abroad.' Alastair also advises checking your providers flat fees. He added: "When using your card, remember that making multiple, smaller purchases or withdrawals can really add up. In which case, you might be better off withdrawing a larger amount of money once, and setting a daily budget.' Alastair also warned if you're in the UK and switching one foreign currency to another foreign currency, then it's likely that you'll be charged two sets of fees or commissions. One will be to convert your cash into pounds, and another from pounds into the new currency. So, you might be better off waiting until you reach your destination and exchanging there.
Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
‘Surreal': Perth dancer reveals moment DCC dream came true
Perth dancer Faith Ward is still coming to terms with the surreal feeling of becoming an official Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. 'My whole world has done a 360, it's honestly insane,' she said. The 22-year-old, known as Flexi Faith, was picked alongside six other rookies to join 30 veterans, where they will represent the NFL's Dallas Cowboys team on the sidelines in their iconic blue and white star-spangled uniforms. Ward said she thinks the news will finally sink in when she gets to wear her uniform for official photos on Tuesday. Faith Ward with Kelli Finglass (DCC director) and Judy Trammel (DCC choreographer) at her uniform fitting. Credit: Supplied 'I'm just so incredibly grateful to be in this position and feeling like everything that I've done and trained for is paid off,' she said. 'It feels a little bit like a dream, if I'm being 100 per cent honest, and I'm just so excited.' Ward is the first New Zealander to join the team and the third Australian, following in the footsteps of former members Angela Nicotera Brown and Jinelle Esther. 'I honestly feel like I'm doing my country so proud, and it's just so cool, because I know that in New Zealand, we don't really get a lot of opportunity, and we have to really venture out to make ourselves be seen and heard,' she said. Faith Ward before her DCC makeover. Credit: Supplied Faith Ward after her DCC makeover. Credit: Supplied 'It's really nice to represent both of my places where I've grown up, but I'll always be a true Kiwi at heart.' Ward danced for her life during a rigorous selection process led by team director Kelli Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammel. The intense method of cutting the team to 36 has become more well-known thanks to the Netflix series America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make the squad. Ward was competing against American women who had grown up dancing in the 'power pom' collegiate cheerleading style, a challenging genre for someone who doesn't come from that dance background. Fans of the Netflix show may get an insight into Ward's DCC journey if the series is renewed for a third season. 'The first lesson, when I came in, I'm sure you guys will eventually see, I'm a deer in headlights. Going into an environment where I'd never done the style before, never held a pair of pom poms, and didn't know any of the routines, while all the veterans around you know what they're doing, is extremely intimidating. 'Plus, you're literally fighting for your life in front of Judy and Kelli. Part of the process sees the rookies and veterans take part in a month-long training camp where they practise choreography from game day dances. 'Training camp is probably one of the hardest experiences of your life, and you are seriously pushed to limits that you didn't even think were possible,' she said. 'I think every athlete needs to go through something like that, because the process just makes you grow so much as a person, mentally and physically. 'But I'm not going to lie to you, definitely one of the hardest experiences.' Faith Ward with her fellow rookies. Credit: Supplied Ward thanked her dance teachers and said she wouldn't have achieved her dream without them. She specifically thanked them for being strict, which has helped her navigate the reality of the 'brutal' professional dancing world. As Ward settles into life in Texas, she said she has a lot to learn about the American way of life, including the road rules. 'Everything is the opposite...I've been loving trying all the American food,' she said. The cheerleaders are now preparing for the first home preseason game for the Cowboys, scheduled for August 17. The season officially kicks off at their home turf in Arlington, Texas on September 15.
Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
Centre to deregulate household antiseptic sales
New Delhi: The health ministry is set to deregulate the sale of common household liquid antiseptics, with a new policy in the works for easing wholesale licensing requirements for these products. Currently, only retail sales of household antiseptics bought from licensed wholesalers are exempt from licensing, two officials and documents reviewed by the Mint said. Household liquid antiseptics are those used for cleaning wounds or sanitizing surfaces at home such as Dettol and Savlon. Also read | India restricts sale of TB drugs to government channels to curb resistance This proposed change, supported by the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), aims to make hygiene products both more affordable and easier for consumers to access. It will also benefit companies that produce and sell liquid antiseptics, which are frequently used in homes for first aid on living tissues and have historically faced stricter regulations. The move comes in the backdrop of the Centre's plan to allow non-prescription drugs sales at neighbourhood stores. Matter discussed A discussion on this matter took place at the 66th meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) held last month chaired by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). Currently, there's a difference in how antiseptics and disinfectants are treated. While disinfectants, typically used for general cleaning purposes, are usually exempt from requiring special sales licenses, antiseptics, which are specifically designed for application to living tissues, have always been more regulated. Also read | Centre asks states to tackle over-the-counter sale of prescription drugs 'This issue is in consideration from 2022 to make household liquid antiseptics easier to buy. They were allowed to be sold without a special retail license, as long as they were purchased from a licensed wholesaler or manufacturer. Now, the industry is pushing even further, asking to remove the need for a wholesale license altogether for these products," said the official familiar with the matter. A meeting was also held in May 2025 with the pharmaceutical companies and associations to take this matter forward. Clearer approach The official said that the government has suggested a clearer approach, i.e. divide antiseptics into two main groups. One group would be "household/daily use" antiseptics, and the other would be "hospital grade" antiseptics. 'The idea is that the stronger, hospital-grade versions would still only be sold in licensed medical stores. But, everyday household antiseptics could be sold in regular shops, much like other common household items," the official added, adding that the matter will be taken up by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), a key advisory body. 'A draft rule was even prepared to change the existing regulations. However, the ministry recommended getting more input from various interested parties and discussing it further," a second official aware of the matter said. Also read | Govt doctors told to give suggestions on over-the-counter drugs in 3 months 'The DTAB will now consider all these points and make its recommendations on the matter. If approved, this could mean that picking up a bottle of household antiseptic might become as straightforward as buying other daily necessities from your local store," the official added. Krishna Khatwani, Head of Sales (India), Godrej Consumer Products Ltd said that dedicated antiseptic brands may benefit from increased distribution following deregulation. Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson, DCGI, and antiseptic makers ITC, Reckitt, Apollo Pharmacy and HUL remained unanswered.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
After a 15% decline, should I move on from this FTSE 100 stock?
When I started buying shares in DCC (LSE:DCC) last year, I had a two-part investment thesis. Neither's going to plan, so I'm thinking about selling the FTSE 100 stock and moving on. Even the best investors get things wrong. And as Warren Buffett says, one of the most important things is being able to move on quickly when an investment doesn't turn out as expected. The plan My general view of DCC was that the entire company was worth much more than the sum of its parts. And the firm was looking to sell its healthcare and technology divisions to realise this value. Analysts estimated these to be worth £2.1bn – over 33% of the firm's market value. And with its balance sheet in good shape, the cash could be used for dividends or share buybacks. That would leave the energy unit, which was making just over £500m a year in operating income. More importantly, it was growing at around 9% a year. All of that sounds pretty good, but things haven't gone according to plan. The divestitures haven't – so far, at least – raised the expected cash and growth in the energy business is slowing. What's been going on? DCC announced the sale of its healthcare unit earlier this year. But the £1.1bn sale price was a 15% discount to the £1.3bn analysts had been expecting. Worse yet, the company's full-year results for 2024 showed slowing growth in the energy business. And it's started the year (beginning in April) with a slight year-over-year decline. The latest news is that DCC's sold its UK and Ireland distribution business (part of its technology unit) for £100m. Given that it was essentially breaking even, that's not a bad result. That leaves the larger part of the technology division still to divest, but unless it achieves a surprising valuation, my overall thesis is going to come up short. So what should I do? A dilemma All of this leaves me with a dilemma. I'm a big believer in the benefits of being a long-term investor, but the underlying business looks a lot less attractive than it used to. There's another £700m on the way via a share buyback, plus whatever the firm can raise by selling its remaining technology operations. The big question is whether or not that's worth waiting for. DCC started buying back shares in May, but the stock has fallen 5% since then. So there's no guarantee a falling share count will cause the stock to rally. Ultimately though, the biggest question is over the energy unit. The long-term outlook for the stock depends on that part of the company being able to keep growing. Thesis busted? DCC's energy division is on the edge of my circle of competence. I'd hoped the cash raised by divesting the healthcare and technology units would give me enough of a margin of safety. That hasn't really happened. That's obviously a disappointment, but that happens in investing. With a dividend on the way later this week, I haven't (yet) lost much on this one. I've got my eye on some other FTSE 100 stocks, but I might wait and see how the rest of the restructuring goes. The post After a 15% decline, should I move on from this FTSE 100 stock? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Stephen Wright has positions in DCC Plc. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
With 64% institutional ownership, DCC plc (LON:DCC) is a favorite amongst the big guns
Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, DCC's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions 50% of the business is held by the top 18 shareholders Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. A look at the shareholders of DCC plc (LON:DCC) can tell us which group is most powerful. With 64% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of DCC. Check out our latest analysis for DCC What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About DCC? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in DCC. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see DCC's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in DCC. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 9.9% of shares outstanding. With 5.4% and 5.3% of the shares outstanding respectively, The Vanguard Group, Inc. and Fidelity International Ltd are the second and third largest shareholders. After doing some more digging, we found that the top 18 have the combined ownership of 50% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of DCC While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of DCC plc in their own names. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around UK£11m worth of shares (at current prices). It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 36% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand DCC better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with DCC , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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