Amazon tops customer satisfaction table October 28, 2011 Amazon has retained its crown as Britain’s favourite retailer in an annual consumer poll. Satisfaction with the company’s service even increased over the past year, according to the Nunwood Customer Experience 100 survey. Amazon beat off the challenge of second place John Lewis and third place Virgin Atlantic, which was marginally ahead of competitor Emirates. [...]
Transactions tax is “madness” says Boris October 28, 2011 Boris Johnson has demanded the EU’s proposed financial transactions tax be dropped, warning it would badly hit the European economy. The mayor of London has written to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, protesting the tax would make European businesses uncompetitive and damage the continent’s jobs market. The proposals would see a levy of around [...]
Eurozone seeks bailout funds from China October 28, 2011 The head of the eurozone’s bailout fund has launched a bid to convince China to invest in a scheme to help rescue member countries facing debt crises. Klaus Regling said there were no formal negotiations and would be no deal now but met with Chinese leaders and broached the subject. It is thought China may [...]
Samsung overtakes Apple in smartphone market October 28, 2011 Samsung Electronics Co overtook Apple Inc as the world’s top smartphone maker in the July-September period with a 44 percent jump in shipments, and forecast strong sales in the current quarter in a clear warning to its rivals. Samsung only entered the smartphone market in earnest last year, but its sales have skyrocketed thanks to [...]
WPP cuts forecast but says margins improving October 28, 2011 WPP, the world’s largest advertising company, cut its outlook for the full year on Friday due to slowing growth in the US and concerns in the Eurozone, but reassured the market with signs of improving margins. Martin Sorrell’s WPP said preliminary forecasts for the full-year indicated like-for-like revenue growth of 5 percent, compared with a [...]
Chelsea defated in bid to buy back pitch to pave way for move October 27, 2011 Chelsea have been defeated in their bid to buy back the freehold of home ground Stamford Bridge following a general meeting of Chelsea Pitch Owners shareholders. Chelsea failed to convince the holders of 75 per cent or more of the shares in CPO to support their proposal. The move would open the way for a [...]
US GDP in fastest growth for a year October 27, 2011 The US economy grew at its fastest pace in a year in the third quarter as consumers and businesses stepped up spending, creating momentum that could carry into the final three months of the year. Though part of the increase in output came from the reversal of temporary factors that had restrained growth, the expansion [...]
Fall in UK retail sales eases October 27, 2011 The decline in retail sales eased off in October, but the underlying trend remains weak despite and expected pre-Christmas pick-up, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed. The CBI distributive trades survey’s reported sales balance rose to -11 from September’s -15, which economists had forecast to see repeated. Analysts had forecast a steady [...]
Santander: We can meet capital requirements without cutting divi October 27, 2011 Spanish bank Santander saidit would meet new Europe-wide capital requirements without carrying out a capital increase and without cutting dividends. The euro zone’s largest bank said it aimed to reach 10 percent core capital by June 2012, up from 9.42 per cent at the end of the third quarter. A mark to market of its [...]
Eurozone debt deal unveiled October 27, 2011 European leaders have hammered out a “three-pronged” deal aimed at resolving the region’s crippling debt crisis. The leaders said private banks holding Greek debt had accepted a loss – or haircut – of 50 per cent. Banks must also raise more capital to protect them against losses resulting from any future government defaults. The deal is [...]
