Bodies of millionaire and wife are found September 1, 2008 Police investigating a fire at the home of millionaire businessman Christopher Foster have announced they are now treating it as a murder inquiry, following confirmation that the two bodies found there are those of Foster, 50, and his wife. A post-mortem examination has revealed that Jillian Foster, 49, from Osbaston House in Maesbrook, Shropshire, died [...]
Hays profits up but tough times ahead September 3, 2008 UK recruitment firm Hays posted a 25 per cent increase in annual profits yesterday on the back of international growth, but warned that the market would get tougher this year. The company reported pre-tax profits for the year ending 30 June of £264.4m, up from £211.7m, as it enjoyed a 19 per cent rise in [...]
Fake Facebook entry banned July 25, 2008 A business whose personal details were falsely entered on Facebook, the social networking website, has won substantial libel damages at the High Court. Mathew Firsht won £22,000 in damages against an old school friend, Grant Raphael, who created the false entries. The judge ruled that Raphael’s defence – that the entry was created by people [...]
Sage expects to deflect the credit crunch August 5, 2008 Business software maker Sage yesterday said that its second quarter profits were up by 12 per cent, fuelling hopes that it will hold strong in the face of challenging market conditions. Despite increased competition in the small to medium enterprise (SME) market, the company continued to grow ahead of market expectations, posting an increase of [...]
Credit Suisse swings back into the black July 25, 2008 Swiss bank Credit Suisse has returned to profit in its second quarter, thanks largely to its private banking arm. The group outstripped analysts’ predictions, recording profits of Sfr 1.2bn (£560m) in the three months to 30 June, reversing losses made in the first quarter. The figures showed a 62 per cent fall in profits year-on-year, [...]
Water world August 4, 2008 Piedmont is wet, but perfect for the outdoors enthusiast, discovers Katie Hope Every nation has its eccentric national pursuits. The Japanese play pachinko – an addictive cross between pinball and a fruit machine which pays out metal balls; the Dutch eat chips with mayonnaise; the Spanish fight bulls. And in Northern Italy, come the weekend [...]
UK industry is modern, high-tech and a good bet for savvy investors July 25, 2008 Funds and ETFs can help get you exposure to an area that promises to flourish, writes Phil Thornton Barely a day goes by without a new portent of doom and gloom for some part of the UK economy, whether for financials, retailers or housebuilding. But one sector may offer a glimmer of hope during a [...]
More upheavals at Highbury House October 19, 2005 Mike Frey has left troubled magazine publisher Highbury House Communications just 18 days after his appointment as chief operating officer. In a brief statement yesterday the company, headed by former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie, said Frey, who had at one stage been due to take over as chief executive, had “left the company by mutual [...]
BAA jobs to go despite profit rise November 2, 2005 Airports operator BAA said it will axe 700 jobs, almost 6 per cent of its workforce, despite posting a 5 per cent increase in half-year pre-tax profits. The business, which operates seven of Britain’s airports, posted pre-tax profit up 5.2 per cent to £366m, on sharply increased sales, up 6.4 per cent, of £1.2bn. It [...]
Clinton slips into the red November 1, 2005 Clinton Cards was one of the day’s biggest fallers yesterday after the retailer revealed the integration of its new charge, Birthdays, was running five months behind schedule and announcing a slump in recent sales. The company posted a loss of £10.4m on sales of £250.5m in the six months to 31 July. Like-for-like sales were [...]