Analysts pan Microsoft and Nokia tie-up February 14, 2011 NOKIA chief executive Stephen Elop defended his firm’s partnership with Microsoft yesterday after the deal sent its shares tumbling a further five per cent. Shares in the Finnish firm have now lost a staggering 19 per cent since the deal was announced on Friday, knocking €6bn (£5bn) off its market value. Elop said Nokia will [...]
Menorah to land the Champion for Hobbs March 14, 2011 LAST year we thought we weren’t going to see Binocular run in the Champion Hurdle and his connections surprised us all by declaring him fit for the race at the last minute. Amazingly, 12 months on, they have surprised us all again at the final hour by not declaring the champion because of a medication [...]
OUT OF OFFICE November 22, 2010 BLACK WATCH RETURNS TO THE BARBICAN Quite simply one of the greatest theatrical achievements of the past decade, Gregory Burke’s astonishing play about Scottish soldiers fighting in the Middle East is returning to the Barbican this month. Taking in military traditions, the desolation of working class Scottish life, the boredom and terrors of desert warfare, [...]
Consumers are not willing to splash the cash November 16, 2010 The Christmas spending season is well under way, but there are some worrying signs for UK retailers in the latest Bloomberg/YouGov Household Economic Activity Tracker (HEAT). Particular concern is warranted around consumers’ willingness to purchase big ticket items, which can make or break a brand’s Christmas retail season. The report found that UK consumers have [...]
Portugal bond auction dominates markets January 12, 2011 European markets were today putting Portugal under the microscope as the ailing euro zone member launched its first debt auction of the year. The country – desperately trying to avoid a bailout from the European Union and IMF – is tapping bond investors for around €1.24bn. All eyes are on the auction which is key [...]
Fiat in crucial week of Italian union talks December 20, 2010 ITALIAN carmaker Fiat has entered a crucial week of talks over the future of its historic Mirafiori plant ahead of a self-imposed Christmas deadline to decide whether to stick to planned investments. Fiat unveiled a plan at the end of November to invest more than €1bn (£840m) in its Turin Mirafiori plant to build top-range [...]
Fiat in crucial week of Italian union talks December 20, 2010 ITALIAN carmaker Fiat has entered a crucial week of talks over the future of its historic Mirafiori plant ahead of a self-imposed Christmas deadline to decide whether to stick to planned investments. Fiat unveiled a plan at the end of November to invest more than €1bn (£840m) in its Turin Mirafiori plant to build top-range [...]
BAA chief to forego bonus amid snow chaos December 22, 2010 BAA chief executive Colin Matthews has said he will voluntarily give up his 2010 bonus as Heathrow struggles to perform in the snow and ice. BAA, which owns and runs Heathrow as well as others including Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Southampton, said his focus was on helping the thousands of passengers stranded in freezing conditions [...]
FTSE left lower as investor confidence knocked January 27, 2011 The FTSE lost traction this afternoon after a credit rating cut on Japan knocked investor confidence from the market open, and poor results from fashion chain H&M saw retailers sold. The FTSE 100 closed down 0.07 per cent or 4.13 per cent at 5,965.08 with miners giving up earlier gains to allow steady asset management [...]
FTSE left lower as investor confidence knocked January 27, 2011 The FTSE lost traction this afternoon after a credit rating cut on Japan knocked investor confidence from the market open, and poor results from fashion chain H&M saw retailers sold. The FTSE 100 closed down 0.07 per cent or 4.13 per cent at 5,965.08 with miners giving up earlier gains to allow steady asset management [...]