Costa and Premier Inn see owner Whitbread achieve double digit sales growth September 10, 2013 Hotel and restaurant group Whitbread has seen like-for-like sales grow by 2.6 per cent in the 24 weeks to 15 August (release). In terms of total sales, a 12.4 per cent increase in the same period. These results are weaker than analysts had hoped for, with Costa achieving just 3.0 per cent like-for-like growth in [...]
Before the open: FTSE expected up following Chinese strengthening September 10, 2013 Given stronger data in from China this morning, investors are expecting London's leading index to move higher at the open. Industrial production and retail sales came in higher than analysts anticipated. European opening calls: FTSE +22, DAX +34, CAC +13 — Carolin Roth (@CarolinCNBC) September 10, 2013 $ little weaker, equities set to be stronger [...]
China goes two for two: Higher industrial production and retail sales data September 10, 2013 Fears of a Chinese slowdown allayed by some stronger data this morning. Industrial production rose by 10.4 per cent in the year to August, from 9.7 per cent last month. That beats analyst estimates of a 9.9 per cent rise. Retail sales also looking good, with a 13.4 per cent jump in the same period. [...]
Banks were the best regarded UK institutions – now just 19 per cent believe they are well run September 9, 2013 IN JUST 30 years British banks have fallen from being the UK’s most trusted institutions to some of the most loathed – and a devastating study out today shows their reputations are not improving despite the burgeoning economic recovery. According to the landmark 30th annual British Social Attitudes report, released this morning, in the 1980s [...]
Pressure on Vodafone as investors pile into Kabel stock September 9, 2013 VODAFONE is under increasing pressure to change the terms of its €7.7bn (£6.5bn) purchase of Kabel Deutschland ahead of tomorrow’s deadline, as it was revealed yesterday that shareholders have increased their stake in the company. The German telecoms operator said yesterday that Paul E Singer, of Elliott Asset Management, has increased his holdings in the [...]
New fears house bubble may undermine recovery September 9, 2013 PLANS to pump up the housing market could undo the UK’s progress towards sustained economic growth, economists warned yesterday after the chancellor welcomed the recovery. George Osborne yesterday said the return to growth vindicated his decisions to stick with the deficit reduction plans, and insisted he is working to improve living standards. Analysts praised the [...]
Damaged UK growth could linger for years September 9, 2013 Weak economic growth may now be the norm for the British economy unless major reforms are undertaken, according to a report out this morning. New research by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) claims that after the longest crisis in British economic history, the country may not ever be able to return to previously typical [...]
MPs attack BBC over payoffs September 9, 2013 CURRENT and former BBC bosses were accused of incompetence and back-covering by an influential panel of MPs yesterday. The grilling came after 150 leaving execs received £25m. Ex-director general Mark Thompson claimed the payoffs represented “value for money” as they were making long run savings. But MPs disagreed. “At best what we’ve seen is incompetence, [...]
Syria urged to yield weapons September 9, 2013 AS President Barack Obama struggled to rally Congress and the American people behind military action in Syria, Russia seized on a remark by his secretary of state John Kerry yesterday to say Damascus should save itself by handing over its chemical weapons. Prime Minister David Cameron joined the calls for Syria to place its arsenal [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 10 September 2013 September 9, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Dougan vows not to make losses Credit Suisse’s chief executive has laid out a vision for a banking industry with lower but more sustainable returns and has vowed to never again make losses. Brady Dougan, one of the very few to survive at the helm of a global bank during the tumultuous past [...]