Volvo at its heart-warming best August 30, 2011 THE current Volvo V70 is the descendant of the big, cumbersome boxy Volvo estates of my childhood. Which is one reason why I’m keen to test this DRIVe model, the most eco-friendly version of Volvo’s big estate. The engine capacity is just 1.6 litres – albeit a 115PS turbodiesel – so I don’t expect much [...]
CAR TALK August 30, 2011 BENTLEY’S CONTINENTAL Bentley has released the first images of its new Continental GTC ahead of its Frankfurt motor show introduction. The second generation GTC is sportier than its predecessor; is lighter in weight, has a wider track and engine power is increased too. A new six-speed transmission means gear shifting times have been halved and [...]
Eurozone business confidence plunges August 30, 2011 Eurozone economic confidence is plummeting at the fastest rate since late 2008, according to the European Commission. A survey from the commission adds to evidence that growth across the 17-country bloc has stalled, triggering fears of a lurch back into recession. Business and consumer confidence had dropped far more than expected in August adding to [...]
Mortgage approvals up but borrowing weak August 30, 2011 Lenders approved the highest number of mortgages since May 2010 last month, but unsecured consumer borrowing was unexpectedly weak, Bank of England figures showed. Separate figures showed the Bank’s preferred money supply gauge – M4 excluding intermediate other financial corporations – picked up to show growth of 0.6 per cent on the month, after a [...]
Bovis sees profits double August 30, 2011 Housebuilder Bovis Homes expects to deliver further improvements to investors after strong trading in 2011 enabled it to post a 19 per cent increase in private home reservations. Bovis said revenue during the first half of 2011 was up 16 per cent to £134m, with operating profit at £10m with an operating margin of 7.5 [...]
Computacenter half year profits up 25pc August 30, 2011 IT firm Computacenter said it was on track for the year after product sales in Germany and France and continued overall demand for IT services delivered a 25 per cent rise in first-half pretax profit. The company, which counts Lloyds Banking Group as a customer, posted adjusted pretax profit of £26.6n on group revenue, including [...]
Bunzl beats forecasts after acquisition boost August 30, 2011 Distributor Bunzl posted an 11 per cent rise in first half pretax profit, ahead of market expectations, benefiting from acquisitions and an improved operating margin. FTSE-100 listed Bunzl, which supplies carrier bags, take-away boxes and healthcare products, said pre-tax profit rose to 138.8 million pounds, ahead of a company-supplied consensus forecast of £132.8m. Sales rose [...]
Regus profits up as sales grow August 30, 2011 Office space supplier Regus expects further improvements in its sales after it posted a 34 per cent rise in first-half adjusted pre-tax profit on a pick up in demand from big businesses for temporary space amid economic uncertainties. Luxembourg-headquartered Regus, which offers ready-to-use offices for rentals as short as half a day, said on Tuesday [...]
City backs Eurozone break up and voices disapproval of leaders August 30, 2011 EU leaders trying to dig Europe out of its debt crisis should be planning an orderly break up of the single currency, according to almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of City A.M’s Voice of the City panel, run in association with PoliticsHome.com. Thirty-eight per cent said they “strongly approve” of a Eurozone break-up, with a [...]
UK bosses agree pay clawbacks August 29, 2011 MORE than half of the UK’s top firms will soon be tied into schemes where the pay of top executives can be recouped if decisions they make adversely affect the business. A third of companies say they will introduce so-called clawback schemes next year, adding to the 25 per cent who brought one in over [...]
