Fledgling Broad prepares for his toughest test yet July 10, 2008 Stuart Broad admits facing South Africa this summer will prove the toughest challenge of his fledgling Test career. The 22-year-old paceman will win his seventh Test cap at Lord’s this morning when the Springboks arrive for the first in a four-match series. After impressing in the one day set-up, Broad has now emerged as England’s [...]
Hleb poised to seal £14m Barca switch July 10, 2008 Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb is set to complete his long-awaited move to Barcelona, after the two clubs reportedly agreed a fee of £14.3m. Hleb, who has been linked with a move from the Emirates all summer, is poised to sign a four-year deal with Barcelona after rejecting the chance to join Bayern Munich. Arsenal have [...]
Credit crisis begins to take human toll July 10, 2008 It is not only bonuses that have come crashing down during the recent economic decline, but also the number of divorce papers hitting the doormat. Research commissioned for City law firm Mishcon de Reya revealed that while half the workers in the Square Mile had seen their bonuses cut by up to £40,000 this year, [...]
Upbeat 3i soothes investors’ nerves July 10, 2008 Publicly listed private equity company 3i yesterday soothed investors with an upbeat trading statement, reassuring them that it was still well placed for investment opportunities despite the credit crunch. Chief executive Philip Yea said the mid-market – 3i’s key market – had remained open over the first three months of the year, providing both investment [...]
Rose survives protest vote on double role July 10, 2008 Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose has kept his job after a planned shareholder revolt at the retailer’s annual meeting yesterday turned into no more than a whimper. Over 94 per cent of the grey-haired army that braved the rain to descend on the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank yesterday afternoon to [...]
Barratt close to securing debt deal July 10, 2008 Housebuilder Barratt Developments is today expected to reveal it has managed to renegotiate a refinancing package with its bankers. Barratt, which has £1.7bn debt and a market capitalisation of just £140m, has been negotiating with lenders to extend repayment of £400m debt due in April , as well as agree changes to its debt covenants [...]
Arsenal’s Hleb refutes rant at team-mate and manager July 9, 2008 Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb last night attempted to build bridges with the club by denying reports he had launched a verbal attack on his manager and team-mates. Hleb, whose expected move to Barcelona has failed to materialise, was yesterday claimed to have criticised midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. The Belarus international moved [...]
Lampard and Drogba will stay at Chelsea, says ‘So-So One’ Scolari July 9, 2008 Luiz Felipe Scolari yesterday announced his arrival as Chelsea manager by insisting that, contrary to expectation, midfielder Frank Lampard and striker Didier Drogba would not be departing the club. Lampard is the subject of a renewed £7.9m bid by Inter Milan and is yet to commit his future to Chelsea, but, speaking in his first [...]
G8 in climate dispute with poor states July 9, 2008 Big emerging economies will come under pressure today to respond to an initiative by rich countries to work towards a target of at least halving their global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Group of Eight (G8) industrial nations want the leaders of eight fast growing countries to adopt a “shared vision” of tackling global [...]
Bank of Ireland hit as sector struggles July 9, 2008 Bank of Ireland’s share price reached a 20-year low yesterday after the governor of its board told shareholders to expect a difficult time. “It’s time for hard hats I’m afraid. It’s time to run this bank in a very conservative way,” Richard Burrows, governor of Bank of Ireland’s board, told shareholders at the company’s annual [...]