Recovery hopes boosted by easing of manufacturing fall December 3, 2012 MANUFACTURING in the Eurozone contracted for a 16th straight month in November, data revealed yesterday, yet the pace of decline eased to its slowest in eight months. And factories are also suffering outside the single currency, with the manufacturing sector also shrinking in the UK. Yet British factories’ performances contracted at a much slower rate [...]
Banks charge for Swissie holdings December 3, 2012 Switzerland’s largest banks are to charge fees and pay negative interest rates on Swiss franc deposits made by rivals to encourage them to limit their holdings of the currency. “We invite our customers to keep cash balances as low as possible to avoid negative credit charges,” Credit Suisse said in a note to clients yesterday. [...]
Car sales down in France December 3, 2012 New car registrations in France slumped 19 per cent on last year in November, figures out yesterday showed. Sales have been falling year-on-year for the past nine months. The US fared better, with car sales near a five-year high at 15m vehicles, as the market rebounded from a storm-ravaged October.
Irish consumer confidence rises December 3, 2012 Irish consumer confidence improved for the second month running in November, a survey showed yesterday, but its authors warned that a tough austerity budget later this week could test the sense of optimism. The KBC Ireland/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index recovered to 63.8 in November from 60.9 in October, lifted by a significant improvement in consumers’ [...]
Waitrose rise in sales sparks hope for Xmas December 3, 2012 WAITROSE, the upmarket supermarket chain owned by John Lewis, said shoppers stocking up their pantries with Christmas staples helped drive sales up 7.8 per cent in the week to 1 December. Heston Blumenthal-branded Mulled Cider Gammon and Cropwell Bishop Potted Blue Stilton were among the best-sellers, with sales of the latter up 34.5 per cent. [...]
HMV sells its live music business Mama to Lloyds arm in £7m deal December 3, 2012 HMV, the troubled entertainment retailer, yesterday sold off a further chunk of its live music business for £7.3m to help slash debts, and said more disposals would follow. The group confirmed that LDC, the private-equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, has bought out the Mama Group, which owns some of the UK’s best known live [...]
Please give today December 3, 2012 £100 is the average school fee loan TWEET #cityamappeal with details of why you’ve donated. These comments may be printed in future editions of City A.M. £368,238 Raised since launch *Every pound donated by City A.M. readers will be matched by the UK Government up to a maximum of £5m online at: www.cityam.com/appeal by text: [...]
Ex-investment banker is Cupid for City singles December 3, 2012 LONELY City hearts searching for love this Christmas, look no further than ex-investment banker Salima Manji to play Cupid and gently tug on the heartstrings. Having worked at JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and the now-defunct Dresdner Kleinwort, Manji left the City to set up a matchmaking supper club for singles, the London Dinner Club, and [...]
Paralympian David Weir given Freedom of the City of London December 3, 2012 PARALYMPIAN David Weir was awarded the Freedom of the City of London yesterday in a ceremony at the Guildhall. Weir, a winner of six gold medals, is in fine company with recent holders of the Freedom of the City of London having included author JK Rowling, chef Raymond Blanc and actress Joanna Lumley. The City [...]
Rowland and Lewis set to see Icelandic float December 3, 2012 ICELAND’S MP Bank, which is part owned by Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis and Tory donor David Rowland, yesterday confirmed it was exploring plans to float on the Icelandic stock market in 2014. The Icelandic investment bank, which operates in asset management and M&A advisory, is gearing up for a float on the Nasdaq OMX, [...]