Heathrow January traffic up February 11, 2013 Heathrow said this morning that 5.18m passengers passed through the airport in January, a record for the month. It marks an increase of 0.3 per cent on January 2012, up despite disruption from snow. The load factor – which shows how full the typical flight was – also set a record for the month at [...]
EU leaders agree budget deal February 8, 2013 European Union leaders this afternoon reached agreement on a budget until the end of the decade, following more than 24 hours of negotiation. Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, chaired the meeting of the 27 EU leaders. He confirmed that the deal was done and said it was “worth waiting for” in [...]
All hail the simple Ayurvedic massage February 8, 2013 My first experience of Ayurveda – a Hindu system of traditional medicine native to India – was just before Christmas, and one I’ll never forget. I was locked in a dark room in a spa (read: a shed) on a dodgy Keralan backstreet, while a mute youth covered my entire body, face and hair in [...]
Construction output edges up 0.9 per cent in fourth quarter February 8, 2013 UK construction output ticked up by more than first thought in the last three months of the year, pointing to a minor boost in overall economic output, according to figures out today. Official data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the construction sector – which makes up about seven per cent of the [...]
Cable & Wireless Communications on track for targets February 8, 2013 Cable & Wireless Communications this morning said it was trading in line with forecasts, as it started to roll out a fibre network in its Barbados and Cayman markets. The UK-based communications firm reiterated that its full-year earnings would be broadly similar to last year, as mobile data revenue grew strongly across the group. Panama [...]
Chinese data boosts FTSE 100 February 8, 2013 The blue chip index rebounded strongly this morning, as large-cap mining and engineering stocks led the rally on the back of improved Chinese trade data. Chinese exports and imports jumped more than expected last month, pointing to both stronger domestic demand and to a recovery in the world economy as a whole, which led to [...]
EU leaders on brink of budget deal February 8, 2013 European Union leaders have agreed the framework of a new long-term budget this morning, following all-night talks. The framework is understood to outline €960bn (£818bn) of spending on agriculture, aid and scientific research in the years ahead. The agreement, which EU officials said would only be finalised later today, strikes a tight balance between the [...]
China reports solid trade data February 8, 2013 China has reported better-than-expected exports and imports in January, pointing to a rebound in external and domestic demand, according to official data out this morning. Exports expanded 25 per cent from a year earlier, while imports surged 28.8 per cent, indicating a healthy uptick in demand. Other data showed that headline inflationary pressure was subdued. [...]
Catlin profits surge on lower natural disaster claims February 8, 2013 Insurer Catlin said this morning that its annual profit jumped almost fivefold thanks to lower natural disaster claims last year. The insurer, which is the operator of the biggest insurance syndicate at Lloyd’s of London, made a pre-tax profit of $339mm (£215.5m) over 2012, up from $71m in 2011, when insurers faced a spate of [...]
HMV to close 66 stores February 7, 2013 HMV administrator Deloitte today said that around a quarter of loss-making stores will close, affecting 930 jobs. The closure of 66 stores, out of its 220-strong store portfolio, is expected to take place over the next two months. HMV currently employs around 4,000 people in the UK. Deloitte was appointed administrator to struggling HMV in [...]
