The airline boss with a hit list of 12 bid targets in his desk drawer September 13, 2010 It is clear that British Airways (BA) chief executive Willie Walsh always likes to keep his foot hard on the pedal. The Dublin-born airline boss is in the middle of a bitter 18-month dispute with his cabin crew, and only a few weeks ago received US and European regulatory clearance to pursue a transatlantic tie-up [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS September 2, 2010 PERNOD RICARD Standard & Poor’s rates the drinks firm a “buy” with a target price of €72, adding the company’s recent results proved its theory of an improving trend in underlying sales. The broker has raised its earnings per share forecast for 2010 to reflect currency benefits, and said sales in emerging markets are performing [...]
BP sells assets in Malaysia to pay for US spill September 1, 2010 BP HAS sold its Malaysian ethylene and polyethylene assets to Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) for $363m (£234.8m) to help foot the bill for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in US history. As part of the deal, BP will sell off its 15 per cent interest in Ethylene Malaysia and its [...]
BP sells assets in Malaysia to pay for US spill September 1, 2010 BP HAS sold its Malaysian ethylene and polyethylene assets to Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) for $363m (£234.8m) to help foot the bill for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in US history. As part of the deal, BP will sell off its 15 per cent interest in Ethylene Malaysia and its [...]
Vivendi rises after improving profit forecasts and reassuring over buys September 1, 2010 Vivendi, Europe’s largest telecom and entertainment group, yesterday raised its profit targets on the back of forecast-beating first-half results. The firm also reassured investors on its acquisition strategy, lifting its flagging stock. Vivendi shares have slid to seven-year lows relative to the European market, largely underperforming peers on concerns about acquisitions, the cost of a [...]
David Miliband: The least bad option August 31, 2010 ONE of the stories of the summer has been just how far the Labour party is moving to the left, as its leadership candidates appeal to grassroot members and trade unionists angry at the perceived betrayals of the Blair years. With the coalition’s honeymoon long since over, and the Lib Dems’ popularity in freefall, who [...]
IFS: BUDGET TO HIT POOREST HARDEST August 24, 2010 GEORGE Osborne’s era of austerity will hit the poorest the hardest, the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has claimed, casting doubt on the coalition’s “progressive” credentials. When he unveiled his emergency Budget in June, the chancellor insisted those with the “broadest shoulders” would carry the burden of tax hikes and welfare cuts, but new IFS [...]
IFS: BUDGET TO HIT POOREST HARDEST August 24, 2010 GEORGE Osborne’s era of austerity will hit the poorest the hardest, the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has claimed, casting doubt on the coalition’s “progressive” credentials. When he unveiled his emergency Budget in June, the chancellor insisted those with the “broadest shoulders” would carry the burden of tax hikes and welfare cuts, but new IFS [...]
Eastern lights: Asia’s sleepless city August 15, 2010 A BRILLIANT meeting of East and West, it offers an unforgettable introduction to the Orient, and is the perfect place to explore a different culture while taking in the rugby at the Hong Kong Sevens (and, for the sports-mad, the golf at the Hong Kong Open Championship and the horse-racing at Happy Valley). Or just [...]
Return to seven furlongs can give Ouqba the edge in the Hungerford August 12, 2010 IT may well be over a year since he last won a race, but Barry Hills’ OUQBA looks the one to beat in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury this weekend. The four-year-old son of Red Ransom is ideally suited by a fast-run seven furlongs on decent ground and he should have all those conditions in [...]