Ukraine peace deal unravelling fast as violence flares in the east April 22, 2014 A FRAGILE peace deal, agreed between Russia and Ukraine last Thursday, looks to be unravelling after reports that two pro-Ukrainian supporters, one a politician, were tortured and killed emerged yesterday. Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov called for counter-terrorist operations, suspended last week as part of the peace deal, to resume in eastern Ukraine. “The terrorists [...]
Harley-Davidson roars to bumper profits April 22, 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit yesterday, lifted by strong sales growth outside its core North American market, sending its shares more than seven per cent higher. The Milwaukee-based bike company reported first-quarter net income of $265.9m, or $1.21 a share, up from $224.1m, or 99 cents a share, a year earlier.
By George! Cam wants us to give our saint a party April 22, 2014 HAVE you been prepping for your St George’s Day celebrations? It’s 23 April today, so surely you’ve had this evening planned for weeks? No, us neither, but the Prime Minister has rolled up his tweeds, settled into a cup of Yorkshire and launched an effort to make St George’s Day more of a, erm, day. [...]
Board meeting: Ladbrokes gets in kerfuffle at Man Utd ground April 22, 2014 IT WOULD appear David Moyes wasn’t the only person asked to leave Old Trafford yesterday, as Ladbrokes’ spin doctor Alex Donohue also had to do the walk of shame away from the Man Utd grounds. He had been on site with his chalk board, peddling the odds on who would replace Moyes and chatting to [...]
Tesco steps up assault with more price cuts April 22, 2014 TESCO yesterday launched a fresh round of price cuts and slashed its online shopping charges as it steps up its efforts to stop customers defecting to its discount rivals. The retailer dropped prices on over 30 products yesterday including bacon, sugar, broccoli and some of its bread ranges. The price of six Tesco free-range medium [...]
Tasty earnings at Yum Brands as China tucks into KFC and pizza April 22, 2014 KFC parent company Yum Brands last night posted healthy first quarter results, largely in line with analyst expectations. The group revealed net income of $399m, up from $337m (£237m) in the first quarter of 2013. Revenue was $2.72bn for the quarter, which narrowly missed predictions of $2.79bn. Results in China were strong, despite concerns over [...]
McDonald’s profits fall as US diners stay away April 22, 2014 MCDONALD’S has suffered another sluggish quarter of sales in its key US market, dragging group profits down, as the fast-food giant struggled with fierce competition, weak consumer spending and a cold winter. Group like-for-like sales rose 0.5 per cent but US sales fell 1.7 per cent, which the hamburger chain blamed partly yesterday on the [...]
United Tech beats on earnings April 22, 2014 United Technologies reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit yesterday, helped by revenue growth across its aerospace and commercial building segments and strong sales in China. The manufacturer of elevators, jet engines and climate control systems, also lifted the low end of its 2014 earnings forecast.
Intu completes rights issue April 22, 2014 Shopping centre owner Intu said yesterday that it had completed its rights issue, raising around £488m. Investors initially took up 99 per cent of the shares but Intu subsequently found subscribers for the remaining 2.7m shares. The issue will help fund a trio of acquisitions, including a fifty per cent stake in Westfield Merry Hill.
Lockheed looks beyond US sales April 22, 2014 Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon’s largest supplier, yesterday reported a 23 per cent jump in operating profit and earnings per share in the first quarter, and raised its earnings per share outlook for the full year. But Lockheed said sales to the US military are likely to drop by six per cent this year after a [...]