Downton turns its final corner March 26, 2015 THERE may be a Sunday night opening for sacked Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson and his colleagues Richard Hammond and James May now that ITV has confirmed that the sixth series of Downton Abbey will be the hit period drama’s last. The official announcement, made by ITV and the show’s maker Carnival Films, confirmed widespread [...]
Markets rocked as oil price spikes on Yemen violence March 26, 2015 MARKETS were yesterday shaken by the prospect of an end to the era of super-cheap oil after air strikes on rebels in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its allies threatened to disrupt world oil supplies. Brent crude – a North Sea benchmark – jumped 4.5 per cent to $59 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) [...]
Before the battle, a moment of unity – Editor’s Letter March 26, 2015 MY RICHARD III has a narrow posterity, fondly remembered only by my mother and, perhaps, my old drama teacher. Yet even brilliant exponents of Shakespeare’s great, twisted villain, from Laurence Olivier to Al Pacino, were crowded offstage as the real man’s remains were laid to rest in Leicester Cathedral this week. With his re-interment, there [...]
Greek banks lost €7bn of deposits during February March 26, 2015 GREEK banks suffered heavy outflows of deposits in February, figures released yesterday by the country’s central bank reveal. Depositors withdrew €7.6bn (£5.6bn) during the month, leaving total private sector deposits at €140.5bn – 14.5 per cent less than end-November levels. The figures support earlier reports in City A.M. that deposits had fallen to around €140bn [...]
Watchdog launches probe into fashion March 26, 2015 THE COMPETITION and Markets Authority (CMA) yesterday opened an investigation into dominance in the fashion, clothing and footwear markets. They will decide whether to proceed in October. Shares in Burberry, Next and Debenhams closed down yesterday.
Ed Miliband tells Jeremy Paxman: Hell yes, I’m tough enough for this March 26, 2015 Ed Miliband last night claimed that he has been underestimated, and that he is tough enough to be elected Prime Minister in six weeks’ time. The Labour leader cited his interventions on phone hacking, the energy markets, Syria, and even his decision to take on his brother David for the party leadership, as evidence of [...]
Premier League clubs agree £1bn for good causes if TV rights deal remains after Ofcom investigation March 26, 2015 The Premier League yesterday conditioned a £1bn grant for a variety of good causes, including grassroots football, on its new bumper £5bn TV rights deal not being overturned by a regulatory investigation. The body that oversees England’s 20 elite football clubs says its offer will not stand if an investigation by Ofcom, instigated after a [...]
Labour leader only party chief to qualify for the mansion tax March 26, 2015 ED MILIBAND is apparently the only one of the three major party leaders who lives in a mansion. The Labour leader’s north London home is worth a whopping £2.7m, more than triple the area’s average house price, according to online property portal Zoopla. Miliband would also be the only party leader who would be forced [...]
Lean premiums ebb earnings at Lloyd’s of London March 26, 2015 Lloyd’s of London profits dipped slightly last year after gross premiums written at the iconic institution fell. Pre-tax profits fell by £44m to £3.2bn for the year ending 2014, after premiums fell to £25.3bn from £25.6bn in the previous year. Overall profitability measures at the group also weakened, rising to a combined ratio of 88.1 [...]
Shell sheds another 250 North Sea jobs as oil prices plummet March 26, 2015 OIL GIANTS Shell and Taqa yesterday announced plans to cut hundreds of North Sea jobs as the commodity’s price volatility took its toll. Shell UK plans to cut 250 posts from its North Sea operations and change offshore shift patterns, as part of a drive to manage rising costs. Taqa said it planned to cut [...]
