Record-breaking Big Bucks wins fourth World Hurdle March 15, 2012 RECORDS tumbled on day three of the Cheltenham Festival as Big Bucks claimed his fourth World Hurdle crown and equalled the mark for consecutive victories over jumps. The 8-11 favourite stayed on bravely to hold off mare Voler La Vedette and put Paul Nicholls back in the Trainers’ Championship lead. The horse’s triumph brought him [...]
BEST of the BROKERS April 1, 2012 GDF SUEZ UBS rates the energy group “buy” and has a 12-month price target of €23. The broker thinks GDF’s bid for the remainder of London-listed peer International Power has come earlier than expected, although the offer itself is hardly surprising. UBS reckons the offer price of 390p per share is likely to rise, and [...]
OFT renews its probe of Ryanair deal September 1, 2011 THE OFFICE of Fair Trading has resumed its investigation into Ryanair’s minority stake in Irish rival Aer Lingus and said it expected to reach a decision by the end of next month. The move, which Ryanair slammed as “unnecessary” and “damaging”, is part of an OFT probe into whether Ryanair’s 30 per cent holding in [...]
Planes a priority but passenger levy must stay March 21, 2012 THE CHANCELLOR yesterday signalled his support for more airports or runways in the south east of England – but airlines were left fuming after he again ignored their calls to halt a hike in air passenger duty. George Osborne said the government must “confront” the problem of air capacity, though he shied away from backing [...]
Captain Chris has to be of interest at a massive 14/1 March 14, 2012 THERE have only been seven runnings of the Ryanair Chase and sponsor Michael O’Leary won’t be happy that no horse from his native Ireland has won this yet. They arguably have their strongest hand this time with last year’s Jewson winner NOBLE PRINCE and the third home in this race 12 months ago, Rubi Light. [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING March 8, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES DEUTSCHE BANK TAPPED ECB FOR UP TO €10BN Deutsche Bank took as much as €10bn of European Central Bank emergency funding last week, despite deep reservations over the programme voiced by outgoing chief Josef Ackermann. Investors briefed by Deutsche Bank’s finance director and investor relations executives say the bank was persuaded by the [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 24, 2012 RYANAIR Espirito Santo rates the airline “buy” and has a target price of €4.60. The broker is expecting the firm to post a net loss of €18m in its quarterly results next week, on revenues of €806m. It thinks Ryanair’s current trading is on track and that the firm’s decision to cut capacity over the [...]
Oscar Whisky primed to land another Aintree Hurdle April 12, 2012 IT isn’t easy to pinpoint value on this afternoon’s Aintree card, but I don’t think the bookmakers have got it right in the John Smith’s Melling Chase (3.05pm). I’m a big fan of Finian’s Rainbow, but he has always struck me as a genuine two-miler and he has been beaten both times he has been [...]
Ryanair loses Aer Lingus case July 28, 2011 Ryanair was yesterday dealt a blow by the Competition Appeal Tribunal, which ruled that the budget airline’s stake in Aer Lingus can be probed by UK watchdogs. Ryanair, the biggest shareholder in Aer Lingus, has previously had two hostile bids for the firm blocked under monopoly law. Ryanair said it plans to appeal, after arguing [...]
Air Asia X axes only UK route January 12, 2012 EUROPE’S laws and taxes on airlines were brought into sharp focus yesterday, as routes were scrapped and Ryanair hiked its charges in response to regulations. Low-cost carrier Air Asia X ditched its Gatwick to Kuala Lumpur flight as part of its withdrawal from unprofitable routes over the next year. Its only UK route, which was [...]