Growing DIY trend boosts B&Q profits September 17, 2009 DIY chain B&Q was hailed the “jewel in the crown” by Kingfisher’s chief executive Ian Cheshire yesterday, as the growing trend of home improvement boosted sales and lifted profits ahead of expectations. Kingfisher yesterday said pre-tax profits leapt by 35 per cent to £288m in the 26 weeks to 1 August, from £214m the year [...]
Growing DIY trend boosts B&Q profits September 17, 2009 DIY chain B&Q was hailed the “jewel in the crown” by Kingfisher’s chief executive Ian Cheshire yesterday, as the growing trend of home improvement boosted sales and lifted profits ahead of expectations. Kingfisher yesterday said pre-tax profits leapt by 35 per cent to £288m in the 26 weeks to 1 August, from £214m the year [...]
EasyJet warns of a tough winter ahead November 17, 2009 BUDGET airline easyJet yesterday warned the aviation industry is in for a tough winter as it revealed its pre-tax profit halved over the past year despite customers trading down to cheaper transport options. Reported pre-tax profit at the airline fell 50.4 per cent to £54.7m in the year to September, down from £110.2m in 2007, [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 4, 2009 THE FINANCIAL TIMES OPEL U-TURN LEAVES GERMANY ANGRYGermany and Russia reacted furiously to General Motors’ surprise decision to keep Opel rather than sell it, throwing up fresh uncertainty about the future direction of one of Europe’s biggest carmakers. The news that GM’s board had abandoned the sale of Opel/Vauxhall to Canada’s Magna and Russia’s Sberbank [...]
Virgin and BT join forces in BSkyB attack October 4, 2009 Virgin Media and BT have hit out at BSkyB’s pricing mechanism for its premium channels, saying that its “near monopoly” restricts consumer choice and keeps prices high. The attack came in a joint submission to Ofcom, which is consulting over its proposals to control the wholesale pay-TV market, that would mean BSkyB having to sell [...]
Pace signals a healthy full year outlook November 4, 2009 SET-TOP box maker Pace said yesterday it was on track to meet expectations for the year as it continued to perform well in a strong digital TV market. The company, which makes devices for BSkyB and Comcast, said average selling prices were increasing in the second half compared with the first half of the year, [...]
Pawnbroker’sprofit surges on gold price September 28, 2009 PAWNBROKER Albemarle & Bond (A&B) yesterday announced a 50 per cent rise in its full-year pre-tax profit helped by a strong gold price, and said trading remained strong. The company also said in a separate statement that its founder, Philip Murphy, will retire from his role as non-executive director at the group’s next annual meeting. [...]
The power plant boss who is busy trying to clean up her firm’s act December 16, 2009 T he best way to describe the chief executive of Drax power station Dorothy Thompson is to say that she is poised – a quality that will undoubtedly come in handy when it comes to navigating a path through energy markets beset with low demand and ever more onerous climate change targets. When one meets [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING December 15, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES MYNERS TO BOOST PROTECTION OF BANK CLIENTS PLANS to increase protection for clients and counterparties of failing investment banks will be unveiled by the Treasury today in an effort to prevent a repeat of the legal wrangling around the collapsed Lehman Brothers. The move is aimed at ensuring an orderly wind-down of investment [...]
Pirc attacks Ball’s ITV demand September 21, 2009 Shareholder body Pirc yesterday launched an attack on the £30m pay package ex-BSkyB boss Tony Ball is said to be demanding to take up the role of chief executive of ITV. The body is concerned over potential risks to the long-term stability of the struggling broadcaster. It is expected that ITV will make an announcement [...]