What’s outside your window? October 13, 2005 The price of property is soaring in Thailand despite laws preventing foreigners owning land. Since the Asian tsunami struck on 26 December last year, the number of tourists visiting Thailand has fallen dramatically. About a year ago, 192 holiday flights landed at Phuket airport every week – last week that figure was only 35. Hotels [...]
US drier for SAB Miller October 13, 2005 Shares in dual-listed global brewing company SABMiller fell yesterday despite a relatively strong trading statement from the group. Despite announcing a performance in line with management expectations, the group warned that trading conditions in America were increasingly difficult. Shares in the Anglo-South African company fell by 14p to 1044p a share early yesterday. The company [...]
Pithy returns for AIM’s Chinese newcomers October 13, 2005 Two AIM newcomers from China both reported strong trading performances yesterday. Asian Citrus, the largest orange plantation owner and operator in China and the biggest Chinese firm on AIM, reported its first full-year results since floating on 3 August. Pre-tax profits for the year to 30 June soared by more than 60 per cent to [...]
JJB Sports declares a new price war October 13, 2005 Sportswear retailer JJB Sports said yesterday it was not afraid to start a price war by adopting a “more aggressive pricing policy”. Like smaller rival JD Sports the retailer has been a victim of the slowdown in consumer spending with like-for-like sales falling 8.8 per cent in the 26 weeks to 31 July. Operating profit [...]
OECD gloomy over 2005 growth October 13, 2005 The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) sided with hawks in the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee yesterday, saying there was no need for an interest rate cut despite a flagging economy. It also cut its 2005 forecast for British economic growth from 2.4 to 1.7 per cent in a report released yesterday. [...]