UK manufacturing activity at two-year low September 1, 2011 Manufacturing activity shrank at its fastest pace in over two years in August, hurt by a sharp drop in demand for exports, data showed on Thursday, in a further sign that the economic recovery is stalling. The Markit/CIPS manufacturing PMI headline activity index fell to 49.0 in August from an upwardly revised 49.4 in July. [...]
Charter opens books as Melrose sweetens offer September 1, 2011 Manufacturing buyout firm Melrose sweetened its £1.4bn offer for reluctant takeover target Charter International, securing access to the toolmaker’s books but not a recommendation from its board. Melrose said on Thursday that it had upped the value of its approach by two per cent, offering 850 pence a share versus 840 pence previously and proposing [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown weathers market turmoil September 1, 2011 Wealth manager Hargreaves Lansdown said it is bucking the market turmoil of recent weeks and new business in July and August are a third ahead of the same period last year. The company said in an earnings statement for the year to June 30 on Thursday, that while markets have proved weak since the reporting [...]
Spirit lifts sales but Punch still struggling September 1, 2011 Spirit Pub Company reported strong sales growth in the fourth quarter and said it was on track to meet full-year expectations as it gave its first trading update since demerging from Punch Taverns in August. The company, which owns around 900 pubs that it manages directly, said on Thursday sales at pubs open more than [...]
International growth drives Hayes profits up by 50pc September 1, 2011 Recruiter Hays said it would continue to focus on international markets, where strong demand helped deliver a 50 per cent rise in its full-year profit, in the face of slowing growth in the UK’s private sector. Hays, which specialises in placing office workers such as accountants and secretaries, on Thursday posted pretax profit before exceptional [...]
Deadline day drama August 31, 2011 Chelsea swoop to sign Meireles from Liverpool in £12m deal with just minutes to spare after failing to persuade Tottenham to let Modric join Crouch and host of others in leaving the Lane £10m Arteta finally leaves Everton for Arsenal after a day of haggling as Gunners move to replace Fabregas and Nasri with Spaniard [...]
Benayoun and Arteta arrive at Arsenal August 31, 2011 London clubs leave it late to buy ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger underlined his new-found appreciation of experience when he finally completed late deadline day swoops for midfielders Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun last night. Neither are the superstars that some fans might have hoped for after seeing captain Cesc Fabregas and midfield starlet Samir Nasri [...]
Spurs keep Modric but miss out on Cahill August 31, 2011 London clubs leave it late to buy TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp revealed his club succeeded in their summer long battle to keep hold of midfielder Luka Modric but only after Chelsea submitted a last ditch £40m bid. The Croatia international agitated for a move across London as soon as it became apparent Chelsea were interested [...]
Allardyce’s window shopping boosts Hammers promotion bid August 31, 2011 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce attempted to compensate for the loss of the inspirational Scott Parker with a flurry of deadline day signings. The Hammers, who have made an encouraging start to life in the Championship, signed Senegalese powerhouse Papa Bouba Diop on Tuesday and bolstered their midfield last night with the loan signings of [...]
Patel and England pile more misery on India August 31, 2011 ENGLAND all-rounder Stuart Broad celebrated the first win of his reign as Twenty20 captain after Samit Patel ensured India’s miserable tour continued at Old Trafford. After a nine-wicket hammering at the hands of Sri Lanka earlier this summer, Broad handed debuts to youngsters Alex Hales and Jos Butler, but it was Patel who put the [...]
