Games you shouldn’t miss in 2013 January 23, 2013 The LIFESPAN of the current crop of consoles is almost over, with Nintendo’s next generation Wii U already on shelves and Microsoft and Sony preparing to launch an updated Xbox and PlayStation, respectively. But there is life in the old dogs yet, and 2013 looks set to be another milestone year in terms of industry [...]
Lloyds Banking Group axes 940 jobs January 23, 2013 Lloyds Banking Group said today it cutting 940 jobs, bringing the total axed since the takeover of HBOS in 2009 to more than 31,000. The jobs will go from the group operations, insurance, retail, wealth and international and commercial divisions, and Lloyds said they form part of the previously-announced strategic review. The bank said it [...]
Unilever boosts FTSE 100 as it edges towards 6,200 January 23, 2013 The leading share index edged up towards the 6,200 level this morning, led by consumer goods group Unilever. The stock was the strongest riser on the FTSE 100 this morning, on the back of a buoyant trading statement. Turnover jumped 10.5 per cent in 2012, boosted by growth in emerging markets. Martin Deboo at Investec [...]
UK unemployment total drops to 2.49m January 23, 2013 The number of unemployed people fell by 37,000 to 2.49m over the three months to November 2012, a drop of 185,000 on the previous year. The figure is the lowest since the three months to May in 2011. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics this morning showed that the number of people on [...]
WH Smith upbeat despite drop in sales January 23, 2013 WH Smith this morning posted a drop in sales over the Christmas period, although it said improved margins helped to underpin profits. The stationery and books retailer posted a five per cent drop in like for like sales over the 20 weeks to 20 January. In its high street stores, like for like sales fell [...]
Flybe axes 300 jobs in turnaround plan January 23, 2013 Airline Flybe is to cut around 300 jobs, or 10 per cent of its UK business, in a bid to cut costs. The job cuts, as part of a wider turnaround plan, will include a 20 per cent reduction in management headcount and a 10 per cent reduction in overhead and production headcount. The cost [...]
Unilever sales propelled by emerging markets January 23, 2013 Consumer giant Unilever this morning posted a 10.5 per cent jump in turnover, boosted by growth in emerging markets. The Anglo-Dutch group said sales for the full year came in at €51.3bn (£43bn), in line with forecasts. Emerging markets sales, which represent 55 per cent of turnover, soared 11.4 per cent, Unilever said. “These results [...]
New cuts as debt hits £1.1 trillion January 22, 2013 GOVERNMENT borrowing jumped again in December despite George Osborne’s efforts to bring the deficit down, as the chancellor yesterday ordered Whitehall to prepare for deeper spending cuts after the 2015 general election. Economists believe Osborne is now likely to overshoot his earlier borrowing forecasts by as much as £10bn, with many suggesting these latest figures [...]
King: keep UK’s target for inflation January 22, 2013 BANK of England chief Sir Mervyn King last night welcomed new ideas over the role of central banks in the post-crisis era, but warned against scrapping Threadneedle Street’s inflation-targeting remit. Incoming governor Mark Carney has floated the possibility of switching to a nominal GDP target, but Sir Mervyn – who steps down in June – [...]
Cameron pledges to deliver in-out referendum on the EU by 2017 January 22, 2013 DAVID Cameron will today promise an in-out referendum on Britain’s continued membership of the European Union by the end of 2017. “It is time for the British people to have their say. It is time to settle this European question,” he will say in his much-delayed speech on the EU, which will be delivered this [...]
