Retailers facing a tough Xmas October 4, 2009 MANY struggling British retailers will face a bleaker Christmas than they did last year, when 15 major chains failed, according to insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor. Christmas is a crucial trading period for retailers but soaring unemployment and low consumer confidence is expected to result in more firms facing financial difficulty. “Christmas 2009 could see just [...]
CARE HOME MOGUL GETS BOOST FROM REALITY TV January 6, 2010 A REALITY television appearance is usually more of a kiss of death than a gateway of opportunity, but the case of Balhousie Care Group chairman Tony Banks has proved an exception to the rule. Banks became a household name last year when he travelled to Liverpool on Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire programme and subsequently had [...]
BA pension trustees meet to decide the chairman’s future November 17, 2009 BRITISH AIRWAYS’ retirement scheme trustees will meet with chairman Roger Maynard today to discuss his future at the helm of the fund. Maynard has come under fire for combining his role as chairman of both BA’s pension funds with board positions at BA and Spain’s Iberia, suggesting a conflict of interests. A spokesman for the [...]
John Lewis sales boost shows confidence is back November 15, 2009 Bellwether retailer John Lewis provided fresh signs of confidence seeping back into the high street by reporting a 17.1 per cent rise in sales last week compared to last year. And the group said that the past week’s trading is also £500,000 up on 2007, pre-credit crunch, when shoppers spent £71.98 on average each. John [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING January 20, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES BERLIN PUSHES WEBER FOR TOP JOB AT THE ECB Berlin has stepped up its campaign for Axel Weber, Bundesbank chief, to be elected president of the European Central Bank amid intense negotiations over the appointment of the number two position at the Frankfurt-based institution. German officials told the Financial Times that eurozone nations [...]
Britain needs to rediscover how to save January 10, 2010 BELIEVE it or not but many forecasters are becoming more upbeat about Britain’s prospects for the coming year. HSBC, whose predictions are always cautious, is expecting growth of 2.2 per cent, much higher than the consensus; others are also becoming more optimistic. I remain more downbeat. But it is worth taking a look at some [...]
OUT THIS WEEKEND November 19, 2009 FILMGLORIOUS 39 From director Stephen Poliakoff, a film about an British family on the eve of war. EXAMINED LIFE Documentary about contemporary philosophers in New York. CHRISTMAS IN WONDERLAND Festive family fun starring the late Patrick Swayze. DVDTERMINATOR: SALVATION Fourth in the franchise, with Christian Bale taking on the machines. MY SISTER’S KEEPER Tear-jerker starring [...]
Further tube strikes threatened October 27, 2009 Tube drivers on the Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City lines will be balloted for strike action, it emerged yesterday, in a dispute over new timetables. Union bosses are meeting today to approve a ballot for the 250 drivers at Neasden depot, which serves the two lines. The threat brings yet more bad news for commuters, [...]
PADDED BRA MAGNATE IS TOP WOMAN IN BUSINESS January 4, 2010 PLENTY of lists of the most powerful women in business are published each year now that we ladies have (almost) succeeded in cracking that glass ceiling, so The Capitalist was somewhat surprised by the novel value of the latest addition to the pack. A sneak peek at ladies’ magazine Glamour’s upcoming list of the five [...]
Banks hired by NewLook December 2, 2009 FASHION chain New Look yesterday edged closer to a possible £1.7bn stock market flotation by handpicking banks to work on the deal. The budget fashion chain, owned by private equity firms Apax and Permira, has chosen to work with JP Morgan Cazenove, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse. Lazard has acted as an adviser to the [...]