Carpetright in profit blow as sales tumble December 14, 2010 CARPETRIGHT, the country’s biggest floor coverings retailer, said the outlook for 2011 looked poor as sluggish mortgage approvals meant housing market activity was unlikely to pick up quickly. British mortgage approvals, which are a key lead indicator for Carpetright, fell to 30,766 in October, their lowest monthly level in more than one and a half [...]
Oil majors curb the FTSE 100 despite solid corporate news February 3, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index fell yesterday, hurt by Royal Dutch Shell as the oil major’s results were met with disappointment, while drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline rose after it decided to push ahead with a buyback programme. The FTSE 100 shed 16.73 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5,983.34, after closing 0.7 per cent higher on Wednesday. The [...]
City stars brawl ahead of Arsenal trip January 4, 2011 FRESH cracks have broken out in Manchester City’s mutinous squad ahead of tonight’s crunch visit to Arsenal after team-mates Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor brawled during training. Yesterday’s skirmish appeared to be sparked by Adebayor’s reaction to a tackle from Toure and had to be broken up by concerned team-mates including Patrick Vieira and Vincent [...]
City stars brawl ahead of Arsenal trip January 4, 2011 FRESH cracks have broken out in Manchester City’s mutinous squad ahead of tonight’s crunch visit to Arsenal after team-mates Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor brawled during training. Yesterday’s skirmish appeared to be sparked by Adebayor’s reaction to a tackle from Toure and had to be broken up by concerned team-mates including Patrick Vieira and Vincent [...]
Gifts with a sense of history November 22, 2010 IT’S no coincidence that the recession has overlapped with a surge in the popularity of all things old fashioned. If our confidence in a bold, sparkling future has faltered, our interest in the aesthetics of the past – and the values of quality, provenance and craftsmanship that go with it – has rocketed upwards. 1940s-themed [...]
Equities to leap as Santa Claus rally comes to town December 12, 2010 European stocks are forecast to power on ahead on the open this morning, building on recent gains as positive economic data are for now seen out-weighing fears that the region’s debt crisis could spread. GFT is quoting the FTSE 100 index to open up 32 points from Friday’s close, at a level of 5,844. The [...]
Cowen will cling on until election defeat December 8, 2010 IRISH Prime Minister Brian Cowen looks set to see off opposition from party rebels, barring an unlikely cabinet revolt, and lead his Fianna Fail party into an election drubbing that could halve its parliamentary presence. Cowen, whose popularity has plunged into the single digits since his debt-stricken government had to request an EU/IMF bailout, has [...]
Cowen will cling on until election defeat December 8, 2010 IRISH Prime Minister Brian Cowen looks set to see off opposition from party rebels, barring an unlikely cabinet revolt, and lead his Fianna Fail party into an election drubbing that could halve its parliamentary presence. Cowen, whose popularity has plunged into the single digits since his debt-stricken government had to request an EU/IMF bailout, has [...]
Game Group profit hit as price promotions weigh December 8, 2010 COMPUTER games retailer Game Group said its profit margins would fall by more than expected as it steps up promotions to lure cash-strapped shoppers and maintain share in a cut-throat competitive market. Game, which has been hit by the absence of new games console launches this year, said yesterday sales trends had improved in recent [...]
Time for festive frocks November 28, 2010 CHRISTMAS party season attracts its share of Grinch-like moaners. But let’s face it: a chance to roll out one fun frock after the next is good fun. Regarding the phrase “fun frock” – feel free to substitute “fun” with “glamorous” or “hot” or “lovely”. Anyway, the point is that you have to have a party [...]