Albemarle & Bond boosted as consumers turn to pawn May 26, 2009 PAWNBROKER Albemarle & Bond said yesterday it expects full year results to be significantly ahead of expectations as out-of-pocket consumers continue to frequent its shops to exchange valuables for ready cash. Albemarle said it had upped predictions for the year to the end of June after retail sales rose in the recession. It also benefited [...]
Wallace gets nod to renew family affair June 18, 2009 IRELAND flanker David Wallace has spoken of his delight at following in the family footsteps and taking his place in the British and Irish Lions Test side. Wallace’s elder brother Paul played in all three Tests against the South Africa in 1997 – the Lions’ last series success. Now, 12 years on, it’s David’s turn [...]
OUT OF OFFICE May 20, 2009 PAMPERING AT SELFRIDGESCutting-edge skin care brand 3LAB will be in situ at Selfridges throughout June and July, inviting shoppers to “experience pure pampering” with its range of treatments, moisturisers, toners and cleansers. On offer will be express facials, skincare consultations and the chance to win the whole Pure Pampering Collection (worth over £600), which includes [...]
Clifford Chance loses top spot, but global reach means it will still flourish July 7, 2009 IT WAS never going to be a great result, but even so the news that partner profits at Clifford Chance were down a whopping 37 per cent in the year ending in April compared to the previous one revealed the once globe-conquering law firm to be uniquely exposed in the financial crisis. A reordering of [...]
Ascot is all about hats with a big H June 4, 2009 I’M sitting on a gold baroque-style seat in a small boutique on Great Queen Street, surrounded by hats that look more like sculptural cakes than headwear. There is an otherworldly hush in the shop, and each hat is a sophisticated creation. Celebrity milliner Stephen Jones’s hatworld is daunting. After all, it is about what he [...]
PREMIER TAX EXPERT STILL IN THE LEAGUE July 1, 2009 IT WAS au revoir (but not goodbye) last night at a leaving party at City restaurant Manicomio for PricewaterhouseCoopers’ John Whiting, the popular tax adviser who’s often been dubbed “Britain’s most quoted accountant”. Whiting – who’s known as “Mr T” on his regular stints on the BBC 2 Working Lunch sofa – has already started [...]
Signet fails to shine as sales slump bites September 4, 2008 The World’s biggest speciality jewellery retailer, Signet, has announced a 7.8 per cent fall in first half pre-tax profit, slightly better than analysts had feared. Signet warned that the consumer environment in both the US and the UK remained “very challenging”. Investec had forecast profits of $75.3m (£42.3m), five per cent lower than those reported. [...]
Signet moves share listing to New York July 11, 2008 Jewellery giant Signet Group yesterday announced it would move its primary listing to the New York Stock Exchange, as part of a raft of changes to focus its business on the American market. The jeweller, which owns the H Samuel and Ernest Jones chains in the UK, said it hoped to complete the move – [...]
There’s no business like l’eau business, but is it all just an expensive con? July 3, 2008 As more bottled water comes on the market, can anyone tell the difference? A time comes in the life of any product that it goes from being naff, to being promoted by a Beckham. Last week a story emerged – was it leaked, perhaps? – that David B, the model and sometime footballer, is to [...]
Bad news as poor growth hits Reuters October 28, 2005 Shares in Reuters fell by more than 5 per cent yesterday as City followers were unimpressed with the media company’s failure to raise its second half growth forecasts. The company’s stock fell as much as 20p to 346p in early trading before recovering slightly. The data and news provider reported an underlying 1 per cent [...]