WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 19, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES SIEMENS SHELTERS CASH AT ECB Siemens withdrew more than half a billion euros in cash deposits from a large French bank two weeks ago and transferred it to the ECB, in a sign of how companies are seeking havens amid Europe’s sovereign debt crisis. The German industrial group withdrew the money partly because [...]
Small companies holding back on new investment July 24, 2011 COST pressures and weak domestic demand are preventing small businesses from investing in future growth, a survey by Lloyds TSB unveiled today. Fewer than one in five firms expect to boost their level of investment over the next six months, while slightly more (21 per cent) are planning cuts. The negative balance (minus two per [...]
Retailers look for Christmas sales lift December 6, 2010 CONSUMER spending showed another month of modest growth in November, according to data released today. Yet shop vacancies have risen compared with last year as the high street cuts back on costs. Prospects for Christmas sales remain “delicately poised” following the early winter freeze, said the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which conducted the survey with [...]
US mood rises despite house prices falling January 25, 2011 HOUSE prices in the US fell for a fifth consecutive month in November, a well regarded survey revealed yesterday. However, there was better news for the US recovery as official data showed consumer confidence hitting a seven-month high in January. The US Conference Board said its index of consumer sentiment jumped to 60.6 this month, [...]
US mood rises despite house prices falling January 25, 2011 HOUSE prices in the US fell for a fifth consecutive month in November, a well regarded survey revealed yesterday. However, there was better news for the US recovery as official data showed consumer confidence hitting a seven-month high in January. The US Conference Board said its index of consumer sentiment jumped to 60.6 this month, [...]
Snow losers for traders looking for volatility January 16, 2011 THE Christmas trading results branded companies as either winners or “snow losers” last week. Tesco shocked the market by offering figures that analysts felt paled in comparison to Sainsbury’s. Thanks to 12,000 tonnes of grit, the supermarket deserved to take the title of winner of the festive race. Toy, clothing and leisure retailers also offered [...]
Thorntons and Carpetright to shut branches June 28, 2011 HIGH street chocolate seller Thorntons and carpet retailer Carpetright yesterday warned they will both shut more branches in a bid to trim costs and stay afloat. Thorntons, which gave a profit warning in May, said a minimum of 120 shops would shut, with the possibility of an extra 60 closures. The group currently has 227 [...]
Businesses can’t blame it all on weatherman January 30, 2011 WON’T blame it on myself, I’ll blame it on the weatherman”. So sang rubbish Irish girl group B*Witched in their 1999 number one hit. Over a decade later business leaders are following their lead. In December it snowed in the UK. In January we heard that people bought fewer Airfix models and drank less beer. [...]
Fears over debt plague markets August 2, 2011 MARKETS continued to spiral downwards even as the US’s debt deal was signed into law yesterday, with President Barack Obama warning that the economy was suffering “a Washington-inflicted wound on America”. Even after it was passed comfortably by the Senate, investors took little solace from the deal, which will cut $2.4 trillion (£1.48 trillion) from [...]
FTSE up but GDP data casts shadow July 26, 2011 Investors were apparently gaining in confidence that the US would break its deadlock over a debt deal as the FTSE 100 opened on the front foot today. The US is under pressure to rescue its Triple A credit rating by upping its debt ceiling – a controversial move which has driven a wedge between Republicans [...]