BAA re-opens runway and apologises for chaos December 21, 2010 AIRPORT operator BAA last night re-opened the southern runway at Heathrow airport in a bid to end the snow chaos that has left thousands of passengers stranded. Airport bosses hope the move will help them to reduce the delays and cancellations caused by the weather, with 700 flights axed yesterday and only a third of [...]
Hackers under suspicion for Amazon crash December 12, 2010 WEB giant Amazon last night became the latest suspected victim of a cyber attack by supporters of WikiLeaks. The firm’s website was out of action for more than half an hour during one of the most lucrative shopping days in the run-up to Christmas. The firm’s operations in the UK, France, Germany and Spain were [...]
Portugal on the brink as fear returns January 10, 2011 PORTUGAL is scrambling to avoid being hit by the Eurozone debt crisis, amid mounting expectations of a third bailout for the currency region. Analysts yesterday said that only the European Central Bank’s special bond purchasing programme is standing between the country and a rescue. With Portugal facing its first sale of long-term debt tomorrow, figures show [...]
Ocado sales increase but jury still out January 10, 2011 ONLINE grocer Ocado yesterday reported a 27 per cent sales rise in the four weeks to Christmas – but some analysts still questioned the company’s progress following a troubled float. The firm posted gross sales of £50.9m for the period, helped by more customers shopping online instead of going to supermarkets in freezing weather conditions. [...]
Fare hike hits commuters January 3, 2011 COMMUTERS returning to work following the Christmas break have been hit with a fare hike of up to 13 per cent on annual rail season tickets. Rail passengers in London and the South East are facing increases as high as 12.8 per cent on some high-speed lines. Yearly tickets will increase across the country by [...]
Learn to enjoy your bubbly the molecular way December 22, 2010 IT’S Christmas time again so isn’t it time you knew a thing or two about Champagne? Danny Hodrein certainly does. Or rather, he does now. Danny is a “flavourist” at taste consultancy F&F Projects (think science boffin in a white coat) who, until this latest project, spent most of his time making our crisps taste [...]
Flights and commuters hit by snow December 19, 2010 SNOW storms and intense frost risk causing commuter chaos today, train operators and airports warned last night. Holidays have also been ruined at the busiest time of year, after Heathrow abandoned all of yesterday’s flights. Flight delays are expected throughout the week, as problems build up. Around half a million passengers are thought to have [...]
Vodafone drags on the FTSE despite strong insurer gains January 27, 2011 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 share index closed slightly lower yesterday, after a dip in index heavyweight Vodafone, dented by weak results from AT&T, offset a surge in insurers following positive broker comment. The FTSE 100 closed down 4.13 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 5,965.08, having added 0.9 per cent the previous session. Vodafone, the company [...]
CITY VIEWS: WILL YOU BUY NOW TO AVOID THE VAT RISE? December 6, 2010 MARK RODDIS | HISCOX “No, I won’t make any big purchases because I don’t have any big purchases to make before then. I’m not really bothered by the 2.5 per cent increase in costs to my everyday life. The post-Christmas sales might help to counter the effect as well.” ASHLEY STRATTAN | CRS YACHTS “I [...]
John Lewis stores defy cold snap November 28, 2010 SNOWSTORMS could not stop the boom in John Lewis sales, the department store announced yesterday. Sales last week were just short of £100m, up 8.7 per cent on the same time last year. And the Oxford Street branch recorded its best ever November week. Children’s toys are predictably selling well in the run up to [...]