HOPING FOR A CHANGE IN ECB POLICIES November 28, 2011 EQUITY markets bounced back yesterday, but last week was another grim period. Anyone hoping for an equity market rally into Thanksgiving will have been severely disappointed. The major stock indices across Europe, the US and Asian Pacific countries all fell sharply, with many breaking below significant support levels. From a technical perspective, last week’s sell-off [...]
LE Crunch December 13, 2011 EUROPE is in the midst of a severe credit crunch that has seen the market for bank debt disappear as the continent’s money supply shrinks. The conditions are so tough they have sparked a row between the region’s most senior regulators over how to shore up Europe’s crumbling banking system as politicians fall further and [...]
EX-BP CHIEF ENERGISES WELL-OILED GALA NIGHT November 20, 2011 THE OIL Council’s gala dinner was a slick affair, with commodities executives summoning the energy to fly in from the world’s exploration powerhouses: Houston, South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and, last but not least, Aberdeen. The 650 oilmen were among the first to take advantage of the Tower of London’s semi-permanent marquee, erected over the [...]
Blacks’ losses mount as it eyes funding October 27, 2011 OUTDOOR goods specialist Blacks leisure yesterday announced a half-year loss of £16m and said it was examining its funding options in a bid to shore up the struggling firm. The company, which also trades under the Millets brand, is fighting for survival due to mounting losses and surging debts. The pre-tax loss for the six [...]
Ted Baker bucks high street gloom October 6, 2011 Designer clothing brand Ted Baker posted strong first-half results led by growth in its overseas and online businesses, and raised the interim dividend 13.5 per cent. The fashion retailer, which began as a menswear brand in Glasgow in 1987, said it remained cautious of the second half given the uncertain macroeconomic environment. “Whilst we have [...]
Know your Fire from your Vox with our guide to the ultimate e-readers November 30, 2011 People said e-books would never catch on. For some reason, this was quite often backed up by the argument that e-readers don’t smell like real books. But – and this is no slight on the aroma of the works of Mark Twain – these people were wrong. Retailers are rubbing their hands at the prospect [...]
M&S returns to France April 1, 2011 Marks and Spencer will return to France this year with stores in Paris and its first international website, it announced today. The new website will be in French and is set to trade in Euros. A new store will be opened in Champs-Elysees, central Paris, in the next few months and will sell both womenswear [...]
Prices tumble at UK’s stores November 8, 2011 PRICE wars between supermarkets are driving down the cost of food and other items, as stores fight for the attention of increasingly squeezed shoppers. Food was half a per cent cheaper last month than in September, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed this morning. Tesco has been pushing its “Big Price Drop”, while Asda’s “Price [...]
Prices tumble at UK’s stores November 8, 2011 PRICE wars between supermarkets are driving down the cost of food and other items, as stores fight for the attention of increasingly squeezed shoppers. Food was half a per cent cheaper last month than in September, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed this morning. Tesco has been pushing its “Big Price Drop”, while Asda’s “Price [...]
Djokovic dominance to continue in Melbourne January 12, 2012 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Does anyone fancy Novak Djokovic to better his incredible 2011 season? The Serbian won three Grand Slams, a record-breaking five Masters 1000 titles and 10 tournaments overall. He earned over $12 million last year alone, the same as fifth-ranked David Ferrer’s career earnings. Djoko’s achievements are no less impressive when you remember that [...]