Euro retail sales rise at quickest pace since 2007 June 5, 2014 RETAIL sales in the Eurozone rose by 2.4 per cent in the year to April, the strongest increase in seven years, and a positive indication that consumers in the currency union are beginning to increase their spending. Of the region’s major economies, France saw the strongest increase, with a 2.3 per cent spending bump. German [...]
Shortest dole queue for seven years boosts US recovery hopes June 5, 2014 THE AVERAGE number of newly unemployed US workers claiming benefits dropped to its lowest level since 2007 in May, according to figures released yesterday. In the last week of May, there were 312,000 fresh claimants. This brought the moving average for the month to 310,250, the lowest level since the summer of 2007, before the full [...]
Queen marks 20 years of Eurostar on D-Day trip June 5, 2014 HER MAJESTY the Queen stopped off at St Pancras Station yesterday morning to unveil a plaque celebrating 20 years of the Channel Tunnel passenger service. Her Majesty was travelling with Prince Philip to Paris, to begin a state visit to France to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Deal for three? Lunch with Jim goes onto eBay June 5, 2014 THE BIDDING is afoot – multi-millionaire fund manager Jim Mellon is currently being auctioned off on eBay. Well, lunch with him, at least. Mellon is often referred to as the British Warren Buffett and now the Isle of Man-based fund manager has taken the analogy further by offering a power lunch with himself to the highest [...]
Shard’s smoke is a mystery June 5, 2014 THE SHARD had its second brush with death in as many weeks yesterday, as smoke caused the building to be evacuated exactly two weeks after it was struck by fork lightning. Fire trucks rushed to the scene and 900 people were forced to line the streets as the source was investigated but the threat didn’t last [...]
Brick Lane welcomes Tech City wiff waff June 5, 2014 FACEBOOK lost against Funding Circle in the final of last night’s Ping Pong Fight Club, an event bringing together London’s more hand-eye co-ordinated tech companies, just off Brick Lane. Organised by Mind Candy – the tournament saw 14 of Tech City’s finest battle it out for the crown of Ping Pong Champ. Fancy it? Mind [...]
Matthey profits soar but warns on year ahead June 5, 2014 CHEMICALS firm Johnson Matthey yesterday warned on flat profits this year, due to adverse foreign exchange movements and the loss of a contract with Anglo Platinum, sending its share price down one per cent. A 17 per cent jump in pre-tax profit to £406.6m for the year ended 31 March and a 10 per cent [...]
Bellway says order book for new homes is way ahead of last year June 5, 2014 HOUSEBUILDER Bellway said yesterday that it was confident Britain’s strong housing market would continue to grow, as it reported that its order book for new homes was “significantly ahead” of where it was last year. The company that its order book of homes due for completion after 31 July stood at £670m, compared to £380m [...]
APR Energy finance chief to step down June 5, 2014 TEMPORARY power provider APR Energy yesterday said its chief financial officer Andrew Martinez has decided to step down from 1 September “to pursue other interests”. Martinez joined the London-listed firm in 2011 and took on the finance chief role in 2012. Lee Munro, currently APR’s senior vice president of strategy and systems, will take on [...]
WPP branches out into India June 5, 2014 ADVERTISING giant WPP announced yesterday that its wholly owned partners, Bates CHI&Partners, had agreed to acquire the business and assets of Temple Advertising Private, a boutique advertising agency based in Bangalore, India. Founded in 2004 and employing about 40 people, Temple Advertising Private has worked with leading Indian brands in the media, entertainment, automotive and real estate [...]
