Resolution falls as breakup plan splits investors March 27, 2012 INVESTORS reacted badly to news that insurance firm Resolution plans to split itself in two, pushing shares in the FTSE 100 firm down by over five per cent. Resolution also shelved a promised £250m handout to shareholders because falling bond and stock prices had dented its finances. The developments signal a change in focus for the [...]
Rio Tinto decides that diamond mines are not forever March 27, 2012 DEMAND for diamonds is booming. Tiffany, the luxury jeweller that is famous for using the precious stones in its pieces, earlier this month said its worldwide sales jumped 15 per cent in 2011 and warned that supplies were struggling to keep up. Gem Diamonds, which counts Tiffany as one of its biggest clients, reported a [...]
Takeover hopes fade for Omega March 27, 2012 Omega, the Lloyd’s of London insurer that rejected three takeover bids last year, yesterday disappointed the market by providing scant details of a possible takeover offer. The firm said yesterday it “confirms that it continues to review possible options to increase value for its shareholders, which include an offer for the company”. Its shares, which [...]
Sony offers EMI deal concessions March 27, 2012 The Sony-led consortium bidding to buy EMI’s music publishing unit has offered concessions to Brussels as it pushes for approval of the takeover. Details were not given, but it is thought Sony would be willing to sell off some divisions or commit to certain business practices to protect the $2.2bn deal. Sony, alongside Blackstone, Abu [...]
HSBC shuts Slovakian business March 27, 2012 HSBC is planning to close its Slovakian operations by the end of the third quarter, the banking group announced yesterday, as part of its efforts to refocus on its core Asian markets. HSBC will stop taking new business in the country immediately but will provide services for existing clients until the closure later this year. [...]
Kalou fires Chelsea to brink of Euro semis March 27, 2012 BENFICA 0 vs CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA manager Roberto di Matteo is still expecting sleepless nights before next week’s return leg, despite planting one foot into the Champions League semi-finals with a gutsy victory last night in Lisbon. Much-maligned forward Salomon Kalou’s 75th-minute tap-in and his team-mates’ tireless chasing of a talented Benfica side ushered the [...]
Spurs see off Bolton to book all-London Wembley cup date March 27, 2012 TOTTENHAM 3 vs BOLTON1 TOTTENHAM winger Gareth Bale admits they face daunting FA Cup semi-final opposition in Chelsea after his late goal helped vanquish stubborn Bolton last night and set up an all-London date at Wembley. In a match rearranged after the original was abandoned due to Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba’s on-field cardiac arrest, Spurs [...]
England star Hartley lands eight-week ban for biting March 27, 2012 SIX NATIONS rugby chiefs were last night coming under increasing pressure to explain their reasoning after England hooker Dylan Hartley escaped with an eight-week ban for biting Ireland’s Stephen Ferris. The suspension, which leaves Hartley free for the summer tour to South Africa, is four weeks shorter than the minimum stipulated by the International Rugby [...]
Batsmen have let side down, confesses Bell March 27, 2012 ENGLAND cricketer Ian Bell admits he and his fellow batsmen have failed their bowling colleagues too often this year after spin again proved their undoing on day two of the first Test in Sri Lanka. Woefully off-form Bell and out-of-sorts twirler Graeme Swann were the tourists’ unlikely star performers on an eventful day that saw [...]
Murray on course for Nadal clash in Miami March 27, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray swept into the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters with a straight-sets triumph over Frenchman Gilles Simon last night. World No4 Murray beat Simon for the ninth time in 10 meetings 6-3, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash against Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic. The Scot profited from a patient approach against Simon, [...]
