TRAVEL NOTES October 30, 2011 Grand boutique hotel in Quito Old Town Ecuador is South America’s hot new destination for the luxury traveller – and has the prices to go with. Old Town Quito now boasts a hotel in the vein of a mini-Ritz: Casa Gangotena, a newly restored historic mansion overlooking the cobbled Plaza San Francisco, with 31 rooms [...]
Why crisis-hit Nintendo was my first real love October 30, 2011 It has been a mixed week for Nintendo. On Tuesday it hosted the last of three concerts to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of its most successful and enduring franchises: The Legend of Zelda. Two days later it announced the first annual loss in its 122-year history, sending the company into crisis mode. Its [...]
FTSE extends rally after Eurozone deal October 28, 2011 THE FTSE 100 resumed its rally in early trading but gains were modest compared with yesterday when the Eurozone’s debt plan breathed new life into flagging global markets. World stocks headed for their best week in over two years bolstered by EU leaders’ efforts to contain the Eurozone debt crisis by increasing the bailout fund [...]
Legal action launched to move St Paul’s protesters October 28, 2011 The Corporation of London will be taken to evict protesters camped outside St Paul’s Cathedral, it said. The corporation’s planning and transport committee voted to proceed with court action to remove tents from the public highways by the cathedral. It came as the cathedral doors reopened after being closed for a week. The Occupy London [...]
Banks still failing to lend to small businesses October 28, 2011 British small businesses suffered a dramatic drop in successful loan applications between 2007 and 2010. Successful applications from the fast-growing young companies known as gazelles fell the most, dropping from 90 per cent to just 50 per cent in 2010, according to the Office for National Statistics. The decrease in funding for these companies will [...]
Shire reports strong third quarter growth October 28, 2011 Drug company Shire has reported third quarter growth of 24 per cent, boosted by demand for its hyperactivity drugs and medicines for rare diseases. Britain’s third-largest pharmaceuticals company beat analysts’ predictions to record revenue of $1.09bn (£0.67bn) for the three months to September. Predicted full-year profit figures have been rising, and the company is confident [...]
Total’s profits rise on oil price increase October 28, 2011 French oil firm Total increased profits by 13 per cent in the three months to September. Higher prices and improved profitability in its refining business contributed to the rise. The company, France’s largest, expressed optimism for future growth after three major discoveries in the quarter in Azerbaijan, French Guyana and Norway. However, its underlying result [...]
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 [...]
