Construction plunges August 5, 2008 Construction activity fell to a record low in July, driven by the collapse of the housing market and the stuttering economy, the latest survey showed yesterday. According to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s construction PMI, building levels fell to 36.7 last month, from 38.8 in June. Any reading below 50 means the sector [...]
Construction plunges August 5, 2008 Construction activity fell to a record low in July, driven by the collapse of the housing market and the stuttering economy, the latest survey showed yesterday. According to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s construction PMI, building levels fell to 36.7 last month, from 38.8 in June. Any reading below 50 means the sector [...]
It’s time to take a punt on politics August 4, 2008 The quick changes in the political landscape offer opportunities for spreadbetters, says Chris Shillington A week is a long time in politics, as Harold Wilson said, but the few minutes it takes to read a 1,000 word article can also be a significant period. Especially if the article in question is one written by foreign [...]
Cabinet backs Brown after Blair memo August 4, 2008 Three cabinet ministers threw their weight behind the embattled prime minister yesterday in an attempt to defuse the speculation surrounding his leadership. Chancellor Alistair Darling, deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman and Skills Secretary John Denham all endorsed Gordon Brown, insisting he is the right man for the job. Denham said Brown had the skills necessary [...]
More pain for homes August 1, 2008 The clouds gathering over the housing market darkened yesterday when Britain’s biggest building society reported the biggest annual drop in house prices since records began. Mortgage lender Nationwide said property values were now 8.1 per cent less than last year ago, almost a £15,000 decrease. The average cost of a home in Britain is now [...]
BAT looks to overseas for profits hike August 1, 2008 A strong performance in emerging markets helped BAT turn in better than expected first-half profits yesterday Europe’s largest cigarette maker, whose brands include Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall, reported a 16 per cent rise in profit from operations to £1.72bn from £1.49bn a year earlier. The reported group revenue increased by 15 per [...]
Advertising slump dents Trinity sales August 1, 2008 Trinity Mirror revealed an 8 per cent fall in first-half sales to £460.8m, with heavy falls in advertising revenues continuing to take their toll The parent company of the Daily Mirror was further rocked by a 15 per cent slump in advertising sales during the month of July. Advertising comprises nearly 51 per cent of [...]
Cheer Up: Not all media companies are preforming badly August 1, 2008 Look: it’s time for all this generalised gloom about the state of the media to stop There is nothing anyone can do about the state of the economy or the severe downward pressure on advertising revenues. Not even Gordon Brown can do anything about that. But this week there has been more good news than [...]
Miliband says no leadership challenge July 31, 2008 The favourite to succeed Gordon Brown sidestepped claims yesterday he was launching a leadership bid and said he was convinced the prime minister could win the next election. Foreign Secretary David Miliband, a youthful figure at the centre of the party, sparked talk of a leadership challenge by saying Labour needed a “radical new phase” [...]
Buying property on a golf course can be an above par investment July 31, 2008 Look to the States or Morocco for a sporting second home, writes Alex Delmar-Morgan As the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale reached its nail-biting conclusion recently, with Irishman Padraig Harrington pipping veteran Aussie Greg Norman to win the claret jug, many around the country were surely visualising themselves ambling round a gold-course, driver in hand, [...]
