Live like a true king in Kingston July 8, 2012 THE SUN descends over Kingston town, casting a warm blood orange-hued glow over the city and dramatic dock beyond. At street level music systems crank out raga, cars beep, locals chat animatedly by beer shacks and jerk chicken stands as our car weaves masterfully through the throng of traffic. “Rush hour,” explains our driver, handing [...]
Debenhams profits to beat forecasts September 20, 2011 DEBENHAMS said yesterday it expects profits to beat forecasts despite flat sales in the year to 3 September. Sales – excluding the effects of new store openings and the VAT rise – fell 0.3 per cent over the year, the company said. However, group like-for-like sales rose by 0.4 per cent in the last nine weeks [...]
Debenhams profits to beat forecasts September 20, 2011 DEBENHAMS said yesterday it expects profits to beat forecasts despite flat sales in the year to 3 September. Sales – excluding the effects of new store openings and the VAT rise – fell 0.3 per cent over the year, the company said. However, group like-for-like sales rose by 0.4 per cent in the last nine weeks [...]
Driving this Jeep is a hard wrangle May 1, 2012 Wow, this is cool Daddy, what is it?” says my daughter as she clambers into the back of the 70th Anniversary edition Jeep Wrangler. I appear to have acquired instant street cred. Amongst the under threes, in any case. That I am driving this car at all for this column is questionable. There is almost [...]
British Land pays £240m for Plymouth mall January 6, 2011 British Land, the second-biggest landlord by market value, has bought a mall in Plymouth for £240m to add to its growing retail portfolio. The 425,000 square feet Drake Circus shopping centre was bought at a net initial yield of six percent, with the potential for income growth through asset management, the real estate investment trust [...]
Tata to rival Vodafone in bid for CWW March 1, 2012 A SECOND bidder has entered the ring to fight for Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW), the ailing telecoms company which has already attracted the interest of Vodafone. Tata Communications yesterday said it was “evaluating a possible cash offer for CWW”, but emphasised that “considerations are at a very preliminary stage.” Its announcement comes just two [...]
British Land signs “cheesegrater” contract December 22, 2010 British Land and Oxford Properties have signed contracts for a 50:50 joint venture to develop the Leadenhall building. The company, which sidelined the project during the recession, said corporations had expressed interest in the building. Oxford Properties is real-estate arm of Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (Omers) pension fund, Dubbed the ‘Cheesegrater’ because of its [...]
British Land signs “cheesegrater” contract December 22, 2010 British Land and Oxford Properties have signed contracts for a 50:50 joint venture to develop the Leadenhall building. The company, which sidelined the project during the recession, said corporations had expressed interest in the building. Oxford Properties is real-estate arm of Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (Omers) pension fund, Dubbed the ‘Cheesegrater’ because of its [...]
FTSE solid as Eurozone pledge boosts confidence October 10, 2011 The FTSE 100 opened steadily this morning as investors eyed the news that Franco-Belgian bank Dexia has been rescued while Germany and France pledged to unveil a Eurozone debt crisis plan by the end of the month. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after talks in Berlin on Sunday that their [...]
The UK’s oldest tour operator is still stuck in the past March 28, 2012 DISASTER has been averted. Just a few months ago, many thought that Thomas Cook was not long for this world. After yesterday’s update, it is clear the firm will live to fight another day. The imminent sale of its Indian business, which is expected to net £130m, along with a stabilisation in trading, means its debt repayments [...]