Microsoft takes on BBC iPlayer July 30, 2009 Microsoft yesterday announced a free service that will stream full-length television shows online, in a bid to cash in on the huge success of the BBC’s iPlayer. The MSN Video Player will be available from next week and will start streaming 300 hours of shows, although the technology giant hopes to secure more content as [...]
BAT strikes it lucky as new chair sought July 30, 2009 BRITISH American Tobacco (BAT) reported first-half pre-tax profits of £2.12bn, up 16 per cent from £1.84bn in the same period last year, as acquisitions boosted revenue. The maker of cigarette brands such as Lucky Strike and Dunhill enjoyed a 24 per cent surge in revenues from £5.5bn to £6.8bn, thanks in part to the purchases [...]
UK consumer confidence unchanged due to uncertain economic situation July 30, 2009 UK consumers were no more positive in July than in the previous month as they wait to see what happens to the economic situation over the next 12 months, according to GfK NOP figures released today. Overall UK consumer confidence remained at -25 – a very low level historically – but is nonetheless 14 points [...]
Travelodge aims to be biggest hotelier in capital ahead of 2012 Olympic games July 30, 2009 TRAVELODGE yesterday announced an £84m expansion plan that will create 200 jobs and make it the biggest hotel chain in London. It has snapped up six new hotels in a bid to cash in when the 2012 olympics comes to the capital. Once the new properties open, the hotel chain will operate 45 London hotels, [...]
Bread goodies give sales a boost at Finsbury Food July 30, 2009 CAKE and bread goodies maker Finsbury Food, which ended takeover talks with an unnamed third party just two weeks ago, yesterday said revenue grew over the past year despite poor trading conditions. Group revenue for the year to June was up eight per cent, boosted by acquisitions in the previous year, Finsbury said in a [...]
BACK ON TRACK July 30, 2009 MODEL train and racing car group Hornby yesterday said demand for its products had held up well across its international businesses over the first quarter and said the worst of the downturn is over. The firm didn’t pay a final dividend in June as the recession caused profits to tumble, but said “supply chain issues [...]
NYSE owner posts loss as costs mount July 30, 2009 TRANSATLANTIC exchange operator NYSE Euronext yesterday reported a second-quarter net loss of $182m (£110m), largely due to one-time charges, but beat expectations. The New York Stock Exchange parent recorded a $355m charge related to the termination of its European clearing contract with London-based LCH.Clearnet. It also absorbed a $87m charge from about 290 job cuts [...]
Carmakers’ results still weak July 30, 2009 AUTOMAKERS in Europe and Japan unveiled weak results for the first half of the year yesterday and are set to keep tight control over costs but most predict an improvement in conditions for rest of 2009. Europe’s largest car maker Volkswagen said second quarter profit sank sharply as France’s Renault swung into a first-half loss [...]
Travis Perkins warns of more sector bankruptcies July 30, 2009 TRAVIS Perkins, the builders merchants and owner of DIY chain Wickes, yesterday posted a better-than-expected 27 per cent fall in first-half profit, but warned the sector may see a further slew of bankruptcies before the year is out. The group, which raised £300m in a rights issue in May, reported a pre-tax profit of £90.4m [...]
Alcatel-Lucent sees better days ahead after reporting poor second quarter July 30, 2009 ALCATEL-Lucent expects to burn less cash and improve margins in the second half after reporting deeper quarterly losses, hit by telecoms operators’ cuts in capital spending, the group said yesterday. The French-American telecoms equipment group also said it was monitoring the market to issue convertible bonds but pledged to steer clear of any deal too [...]