BlackRock nears BGI deal June 8, 2009 US ASSET manager BlackRock, led by chief executive Larry Fink, is poised to wrap up a $13bn (£8bn) deal for Barclays Global Investors (BGI) as early as tomorrow, in a move that will create the world’s largest money manager. The cash-plus-equity deal, which looks set to go ahead despite interest from Bank of New York [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 8, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES OBAMA’S SPENDING DRIVE TO FOCUS ON JOBSBarack Obama yesterday stepped up the pace of Washington’s stimulus spending with plans to create or save 600,000 jobs over the next 100 days – four times the rate achieved in the $787bn package’s first 100 days. The announcement, which follows last week’s news that 345,000 jobs [...]
Setanta close to administration June 8, 2009 The board of Irish sports broadcaster Setanta met yesterday, a person familiar with the situation said, following media reports the group was close to going into administration. Sources close to the Premier League said that the people running English football’s top flight would be willing to see the broadcaster go under. The company, which could [...]
Pubs to fight competition probe June 8, 2009 Pub companies are to fight a rearguard action to prevent a potentially damaging probe into competition issues at the heart of the industry. A cross-party committee of MPs last week called on the Competition Commission to look into the arrangement by which pub tenants buy beer directly from landlords. But Enterprise Inns is now leading [...]
REVENUES FIZZ AT IRN BRU June 8, 2009 DRINKS maker AG Barr, which makes Irn Bru, said yesterday its sales from 1 February to 29 May rose 22.5 per cent from a year ago, boosted by a strong performance in the Rubicon fruit juice unit it bought last year. Like-for-like sales, taking out the effect of the Rubicon acquisition, also jumped by 7.9 [...]
1,000 CITY MENU TO STAGE A COMEBACK June 7, 2009 LAST year, one of the City’s favourite restaurants, Vivat Bacchus, made headlines all around the globe for introducing a £1,000 tasting menu despite the onset of the credit crunch, as a treat for hard-working financiers celebrating their (albeit reduced) bonuses. The menu – which included royal sevruga caviar, lobster linguini flavoured with 40-year-old Armagnac, grilled [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK June 7, 2009 A GROUP of nine City boys arrived at the Mint Leaf Lounge in Angel Court to cool off during that all-too-brief spell of hot, sunny weather last week. They wolfed down the restaurant’s new chilled mango and canteloupe soup, prawn mango salad and scallops, followed by lobster tails, lamb biryani and seabass. But though the [...]
Federer joy at long-awaited French glory June 7, 2009 WORLD No2 Roger Federer toasted the finest moment of his distinguished career after finally triumphing at the French Open yesterday. A straight-sets victory over Sweden’s Robin Soderling saw Federer snare the one Grand Slam to elude him, and equal Pete Sampras’s record of 14 major titles. Federer sank to his knees in relief upon completing [...]
Button’s Turkish delight after sixth win June 7, 2009 BRITAIN’S Jenson Button paid tribute to his “monster” car after tightening his grip on the world championship with a sixth win of the season at the Turkish Grand Prix. Button took full advantage when pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel ran his Red Bull wide at turn nine on the opening lap. He quickly extended his lead and [...]
Flutey back in contention as Lions prepare to face Sharks June 7, 2009 ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey has given the British and Irish Lions a fitness boost ahead of their penultimate warm-up game against the Sharks on Wednesday. Flutey will resume training today after overcoming a knee injury he sustained in the Lions’ opening tour game against the Royal XV. The Wasps player will hope to earn his [...]
