PC sales take a hit as e-reader demand rises February 7, 2012 PC shipments to the UK dropped at an annual rate of 19.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011, totalling 2.9m units and marking the UK’s fifth consecutive quarterly shipment decline according to Gartner data. Hit by the economy and growth in smartphones, tablets and e-readers, the Christmas period saw PC shipments slide further [...]
REVENUE GROWTH DISAPPOINTS AT DISNEY February 7, 2012 Walt Disney, which is set to re-release its classic Lady and the Tramp, last night reported a quarterly revenue increase that fell short of Wall Street expectations as media networks and theme parks gained but revenue at its movie studio declined. The operator of television networks ESPN and ABC, led by Robert Iger (inset), posted [...]
Profits fall as CBRE starts to feel the heat in the Americas February 7, 2012 STRONGER revenue from sales and outsourcing helped global commercial property agent CBRE to surprise Wall Street last night despite leasing revenue falling in the Americas. The group posted a 16 per cent fall in fourth-quarter net income fell to $79.8m (£50.2m), or 25 cents per share. Earnings excluding charges rose 29 per cent to $149.3m, [...]
Bellway sees resilient UK market ahead February 7, 2012 BELLWAY said the UK housing market remained “resilient” ahead of the key spring selling season, but warned that the growth rates were set to slow. The housebuilder sold 2,455 homes in the first half of the year – up five per cent on the same period in 2010 – while the average selling price climbed [...]
House sellers knock £20,000 off prices to drum up interest February 7, 2012 OVER a third of properties for sale in the UK have been reduced in price at least once since coming onto the market, research from Zoopla showed yesterday, as owners struggle to sell. The average discount now stands at £19,580, or 7.5 per cent of the asking price, and more than £1,000 higher than the [...]
ONE HYDE PARK LOOKS FOR RETAIL BUYERS February 7, 2012 The developer of One Hyde Park, the luxury residential and retail complex in London’s Knightsbridge is looking to sell one of its stores on the ground floor for at least £21m. Project Grande, a joint venture between CPC Group and the Qatar Prime Minster, has appointed Savills to sell the space rented by the Abu [...]
ArcelorMittal thinks output will pick up February 7, 2012 ARCELORMITTAL, the world’s largest steelmaker, yesterday forecast an improvement in the first half of 2012 from a weak end to last year, with a clear pick up in North America but still concerns about Europe. The company, which makes around seven per cent of global steel, said yesterday steel shipments would return to the level [...]
Toyota raises full year outlook February 7, 2012 TOYOTA Motor raised its full-year profit forecast by more than a third yesterday as it cuts costs, trims spending and expects Japanese government schemes to boost sales, though the guidance was still some way below analysts’ expectations. Japan’s number one carmaker now expects operating profit – earnings from its core operations – for the year [...]
Coca-Cola’s cost savings add an extra fizz to strong results February 7, 2012 COCA-COLA reported better-than-expected quarterly results yesterday and announced a new cost-savings program yesterday that it will use to boost its brands and mitigate higher commodity costs. Coke’s results were “solid” given the weak global economy, said Consumer Edge Research analyst Bill Pecoriello. Coke’s new productivity programme is targeting annual savings of $350m (£220.3m) to $400m [...]
Anglo chief confident in Chile fight February 7, 2012 ANGLO American’s shareholders are “very supportive” of the company in its legal battle against copper producing giant Codelco in Chile, chief executive Cynthia Carroll said yesterday. “We are very confident about our legal position. We have acted within our rights and we are in no doubt about that,” Carroll said at a mining industry gathering. [...]
