Germany’s factories lead Eurozone back to growth August 22, 2013 HOPES grew yesterday that the Eurozone economy could at last be getting back on the right track as private sector activity increased at its fastest pace for two years, according to an influential market survey. And markets across the continent rose, hinting at improved confidence among investors. German manufacturing activity led the expansion – output [...]
Euro ministers split on fresh Greek bailout August 22, 2013 JEROEN Dijsselbloem, current president of the Eurogroup, added himself to the list of figures admitting that Greece will need another bailout programme when the existing one runs out in 2014. The current head of the Eurozone’s finance ministers was quoted in his native Dutch media, saying: “The problems in Greece won’t be solved in 2014, [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 23 August 2013 August 22, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Kia Motors braces for work stoppages Kia Motors is facing production losses of hundreds of millions of dollars from a suspension of Saturday shifts at its South Korean car plants, as it fights to avoid a wider strike following failed pay negotiations with its union. Saturday production was halted in March at two [...]
Shadow cabinet wants EU vote August 22, 2013 Frontbench figures in the Labour party are pushing Ed Miliband to change the party’s position on an EU referendum and back it at their conference in September, according to the Financial Times. Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, and Lord Wood, an adviser of Miliband’s, are said to back the policy change. Jon Cruddas, who is [...]
Merging airlines seek trial date August 22, 2013 Two major US aviation companies, American Airlines and US Airways, are asking to hear the US justice department’s opposition to their proposed merger in court on 12 November. US Airways chief executive Doug Parker, who would become the merged firm’s head, commented: “Action would deny millions of customers access to a more competitive airline that [...]
Saxo profits from trading volumes August 22, 2013 Danish lender Saxo Bank saw pre-tax profits rise to 407m Danish krone (£46.8m) in the first half of the year, up 436 per cent from 76m krone in the same period of 2012. Return on total equity increased from 2.3 per cent to 11.6 per cent, while headcount fell from 1,527 to 1,354. The bank [...]
John Lewis pays £40m to staff after pay error August 22, 2013 AROUND 69,000 John Lewis staff will share a £40m windfall this month after the retailer discovered an error in the way it calculated pay for Sundays and bank holidays. The firm said yesterday it had discovered that employees who were entitled to premiums for working on Sunday or bank holidays “had not been paid correctly [...]
Gold fund provider strikes deal with Royal Mint for bullion coins August 22, 2013 ONE OF the world’s top gold exchange traded fund providers yesterday struck a deal with the Royal Mint to help punters exchange their investment for physical gold bullion. ETF Securities, which looks after $12.2bn of gold-backed exchange traded products (ETP), has joined forces with the 1,000 year-old British institution to allow its Gold Bullion Securities [...]
Moody’s eyes downgrade for major US banks August 22, 2013 CREDIT ratings agency Moody’s warned last night that it may cut the debt ratings of four of the biggest US banks, citing expectations of reduced government assistance in the case of a fresh financial crisis. Moody’s placed Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo on review, and is considering whether to downgrade [...]
Former Egyptian President Mubarak freed August 22, 2013 FORMER Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was yesterday released from prison in a move likely to fuel political tensions in Egypt. Mubarak still faces charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of demonstrators during the protests that toppled him in 2011. His release is being seen as a sign that the army is once again [...]