SWISSIE WILL STAY STRONG DESPITE SNB July 14, 2009 BORIS SCHLOSSBERGDIRECTOR OF CURRENCY RESEARCH, GFT INTERVENTION is always a subject of controversy and conversation in the currency market. Typically, traders focus on the Bank of Japan (BoJ), which at one time spent nearly $250bn trying to drive down the value of the yen. However, while the BoJ receives the lion’s share of attention, the [...]
SWISSIE WILL STAY STRONG DESPITE SNB July 14, 2009 BORIS SCHLOSSBERGDIRECTOR OF CURRENCY RESEARCH, GFT INTERVENTION is always a subject of controversy and conversation in the currency market. Typically, traders focus on the Bank of Japan (BoJ), which at one time spent nearly $250bn trying to drive down the value of the yen. However, while the BoJ receives the lion’s share of attention, the [...]
Supermarkets that reacted to slump are strongest July 21, 2009 THE usual assumption is that the stock market is a “leading indicator” for economic confidence. But as today’s cut of YouGov data shows, it doesn’t lead public sentiment, but is actually behind. The graph shows the BrandIndex scores for public perception of “value for money” (rolling monthly average) for Waitrose, J Sainsbury and M&S, alongside [...]
PartyGaming and Channel Five launch bingo and casino service June 8, 2009 PartyGaming, the world’s biggest listed online gaming company, said yesterday it had signed an exclusive deal with broadcaster Channel 5 to create “Five” branded bingo and casino gaming services. The online service, which will be operated by PartyGaming and promoted by Five, will launch in the second half of 2009. PartyGaming chief executive Jim Ryan [...]
PartyGaming and Channel Five launch bingo and casino service June 8, 2009 PartyGaming, the world’s biggest listed online gaming company, said yesterday it had signed an exclusive deal with broadcaster Channel 5 to create “Five” branded bingo and casino gaming services. The online service, which will be operated by PartyGaming and promoted by Five, will launch in the second half of 2009. PartyGaming chief executive Jim Ryan [...]
WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR RETAIL SALES AND CONSUMER SPENDING? June 8, 2009 VICKY REDWOOD CAPITAL ECONOMICS“It was always likely there would be some fall in like-for-like retail sales in May after the boost from Easter dropped out. Factors impacting spending, particularly a weaker labour market, are taking effect and high street spending, which has been surprisingly resilient so far, is easing back in line with overall consumer [...]
Cadbury sales jump as Brits turn to treats June 18, 2009 CHOCOLATE giant Cadbury yesterday reported improved trading in April and May, as a recession-hit Britain snapped up its new “bitesize” range and relaunched Wispa bars. The world’s second-largest confectioner said it was cashing in on the frugal times with the bitesize bags of chocolate-coated sweets as a low-cost treat for consumers, who tend to stay [...]
WH Smith sales better than hoped June 4, 2009 WH Smith, the British newspaper, books and stationery retailer, reported a better than expected four per cent fall in underlying third quarter sales yesterday and said it was confident of its full-year prospects. The group, which trades from 557 high street stores across the UK, said sales at stores in its town centre businesses open [...]
Jaguar axes X-Type model and cuts jobs July 15, 2009 JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) is axing a further 300 jobs – this time at a plant in Merseyside – and is stopping production of its X-Type model, the carmaker said yesterday, as luxury cars are hit in the downturn. “Our industry has been especially badly hit by the recession and the premium sector more than [...]
Adviser fees to be revised June 25, 2009 FINANCIAL advisers could be barred from charging commission on the products they sell, under proposals unveiled by the Financial Services Authority yesterday. The City watchdog, led by chief executive Hector Sants, said in its Retail Distribution Review (RDR) that financial advisers should charge customers an up-front fee, rather than taking commission from the companies whose [...]