Lego builds its market share as sales soar February 22, 2013 LEGO yesterday proved that old-fashioned toys can beat computer games, as the Danish toymaker posted a surge in annual sales and picked up global market share. The firm’s net profit for 2012 rose 35 per cent to 5.6bn krone (£650.6m), on revenues 25 per cent higher at 23.4bn krone. The Lego Friends range, which was [...]
Cameron backs plan to simplify energy tariffs February 22, 2013 DAVID Cameron yesterday said it was time to put “people before profits” as he backed proposals by regulator Ofgem to force suppliers to offer customers their lowest variable rate deal for electricity and gas by default. From next winter suppliers will only be allowed to offer four core tariffs per fuel type. One of the [...]
HMRC names and shames tax dodgers in fresh clampdown February 22, 2013 A HAIRDRESSER, a grocer and a knitwear manufacturer were among the nine individuals and firms named and shamed as so-called deliberate tax defaulters yesterday in the first list of its kind published by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). HMRC said the nine “deliberate defaulters” – for whom it revealed names, addresses and the total amount [...]
Chipmaker CSR boosted by rise in Bluetooth headset demand February 22, 2013 STRONGER than ever demand for Bluetooth headsets drove shares in microchip maker CSR to two-year highs yesterday. The Cambridge-based technology firm saw annual revenues break the billion dollar mark, hitting $1.03bn (£675m), a 21 per cent increase on the previous year. The company, which sees a big opportunity in the rise of internet connected everyday [...]
PayPal card reader for retailers February 22, 2013 Online payments company PayPal is set to expand its presence on the high street with the launch of a Chip & Pin card reader it says will make face-to-face payments easier. PayPal, which started off in the 1990s processing eBay payments, will release a portable card reader directed at small businesses and independent sellers. The [...]
Informa’s annual revenues fall February 22, 2013 Lloyd’s List publisher Informa yesterday reported a three per cent decline in annual revenues in 2012 as its business publishing unit struggled to attract sales. However, its academic publishing unit, mainly comprised of Routledge, saw a rise in sales. The sales fall meant pre-tax profits dropped by a quarter to £67m. However, the group hiked [...]
Bombardier earnings dive February 22, 2013 AMY-JO CROWLEY CANADIAN train-maker Bombardier said yesterday that its results are “not reflective of our potential” after it reported a 93 per cent drop in fourth-quarter earnings to just $14m (£9.2m). Full-year profits at the firm fell to $692m from $865m, hurt by a restructuring charge in its transportation division, while revenues dipped to $16.8bn [...]
Losses spike at New World February 22, 2013 CZECH miner New World Resources swung into the red in the final three months of last year, in its biggest quarterly loss since listing in 2008. Coal producer New World Resources fell to a loss of €48.6m (£42.1m) over the three months, compared to a profit of €8.8m over the fourth quarter of 2011. “The [...]
Expansion pays off at Filtrona as profit soars February 22, 2013 HARRY BANKS PLASTICS group Filtrona yesterday reported a 26 per cent rise in full-year profit, helped by acquisitions. Filtrona also said it acquired Ulinco Components AB, a Sweden-based distributor of plastic protection and finishing products. It also announced a joint venture with tobacco company BBM Bommidala Group in the United Arab Emirates. Adjusted pre-tax profit [...]
Finance execs’ pay squeezed by regulations February 22, 2013 EXECUTIVE pay in financial services is barely creeping up this year and will come in well below inflation, according to new forecasts from Mercer. Average salaries will rise by just 2.2 per cent, they survey indicates, well down on the 2.9 per cent rise last year and firmly below consumer price inflation – currently running [...]
