Britain needs more world-class firms March 2, 2010 IF you want to understand why so many people have now become so downbeat about the prospects for the UK, look no further than yesterday’s survey of the Hundred Group of FTSE 100 finance directors. Their total tax rate – combining all taxes borne or collected by FTSE 100 businesses on the government’s behalf – [...]
IBM UK pension scheme may close July 8, 2009 IBM said yesterday it might close its final salary pension scheme in the UK in order to become more competitive and make long-term pension costs more predictable. The IT giant started a 60-day consultation with about 5,000 members of its final salary scheme, representing a quarter of its staff in the UK. It is the [...]
IBM UK pension scheme may close July 8, 2009 IBM said yesterday it might close its final salary pension scheme in the UK in order to become more competitive and make long-term pension costs more predictable. The IT giant started a 60-day consultation with about 5,000 members of its final salary scheme, representing a quarter of its staff in the UK. It is the [...]
Exxon and factories light up Wall Street February 1, 2010 US stocks rose yesterday as better-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and earnings from ExxonMobil revived bullish sentiment after stocks closed out their worst month in almost a year. Exxon’s stock gained 2.7 per cent to end at $66.18 after the largest US oil company reported natural gas products boosted results at its exploration arm. [...]
Intel sued by US regulators over anticompetitive tactics December 16, 2009 INTEL, the world’s biggest computer chipmaker, was sued by US regulator the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) yesterday, for deliberately stifling competition. The FTC alleged Intel used its market dominance in efforts to shut out rivals by cutting off their access to the marketplace and denying consumers of their choice among competing microchips and lower prices. [...]
Smart idea to take a punt on the tech sector January 17, 2010 Jaws dropped on Wall Street late Thursday after Intel, the computer chip maker, reported an 875 per cent increase in profits between October and December last year. Profits were $2.3bn, up from $234m in the same quarter in 2008, smashing analyst expectations. But while a nine-fold increase in profits is unlikely to be replicated this [...]
Forget Microsoft, it’s all about Google vs Apple January 7, 2010 IN recent decades, the technology sector has been defined by a clash of titans. In the 1980s Microsoft took on Apple and ended up wiping the floor with it, a feat it repeated with IBM in the 1990s. But Bill Gates couldn’t make it a hat trick; when the firm tried to thwart Google in [...]
Galleon founder denies insider trading charges and slams wire tap evidence November 24, 2009 RAJ RAJARATNAM, the billionaire founder of hedge fund firm Galleon, denied federal insider trading charges and accused the government of violating his constitutional rights with its use of wiretaps. Rajaratnam’s response to a US Securities and Exchange Commission civil complaint was filed in Manhattan federal court yesterday and may herald a broad attack on the [...]
Intel sued for bullying by New York City prosecutor November 4, 2009 INTEL was sued yesterday by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who accused the world’s largest chipmaker of scheming to maintain monopoly power in the market for microprocessors. In an 87-page lawsuit filed in a Delaware federal court, Cuomo said Intel violated state and federal antitrust laws through a “systematic worldwide campaign” of illegal threats, [...]
The law firm boss who says his US merger is set to take on the world February 28, 2010 For a man weeks away from the biggest deal of his life, Lovells’ managing partner David Harris has a remarkably light air about him. On 1 May the City institution – it can trace its history back to 1899 – will merge with US rival Hogan Hartson to create one of the world’s largest law [...]