S&P is set to finish higher for the year December 22, 2011 US stocks rose yesterday, putting the S&P 500 on the cusp of finishing out the year higher as another decline in jobless claims pointed to further improvement in the labour market. The S&P rose for a third day in seasonally light volume that has contributed to sharp swings recently. With the benchmark index near break-even [...]
Year-end portfolio reshuffles help to boost the FTSE 100 December 22, 2011 BANKS buoyed the FTSE 100 yesterday as Goldman Sachs analysts said the take-up by lenders of ECB loans should be seen as an “important positive” and market bulls attempted to push the index through important technical levels. London’s blue chips closed up 67.23 points, or 1.3 per cent, at 5,456.97, although the index failed to [...]
Test your wits with our quiz December 22, 2011 1. In a Which? magazine blind taste test of champagnes by experienced champagne tasters, Moet & Chandon’s Brut NV, priced at £30.99, received a score of 74%. But which of the following champagnes received the highest score of 85%? a. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV (£34.49) b. Lanson Black Label (£31.99) c. Morrisons Brut [...]
In dark days let Christmas spirit shine in the City December 22, 2011 JOYFUL and triumphant” are not the most appropriate words to describe the City at the end of 2011. It feels more like being “in the bleak mid-winter”. Yet the Christmas story is one that still inspires. It can lift us from the “woes of sin and strife”, dispel “the mighty dread” and renew a sense [...]
RAPID RESPONSES December 22, 2011 HMV fills a gap [Re: HMV’s last stand has new toys but not much future, Tuesday] The sale of CDs is engrained in the HMV brand and it has not moved on from this and did not move quickly enough to embrace the download age. Its HMVDigital website does not feel user-friendly and is somewhat [...]
ISLINGTON December 22, 2011 MILDMAY PARK Price: £2.95m A 3,800 square feet, five bedroom period townhouse. Hollywood A-listers have frequented the house for photo shoots and it has provided the backdrop for shoots for high-end high street retailers and fashion magazines such as Vogue. Contact Cluttons Islington office: 020 7354 6666 or www.cluttons.com BASIRE STREET Price: £450,000 A two [...]
SELL December 22, 2011 Managing Director of Kay & Co, central London estate agency Q. I have signed an eight week sole agency but have had a big falling out with my agent to the point that I do not want them even coming to my house. Is there any way I can get out of this? A. The [...]
PROPERTY NEWS December 22, 2011 SAVILE ROW LEASE SOLD TO JOINT VENTURE Great Portland Estates has exchanged contracts to sell the long leasehold interest in 28/29 Savile Row to a joint venture between Aerium Finance and Allied London for £16.25m. The deal, which works out at £1,017 a square foot, is for a basement, ground and five upper floors. The [...]
Long Run has to be the call in the King George December 22, 2011 KAUTO Star, the nation’s favourite racehorse, has the opportunity to make history at Kempton Park on Boxing Day in the William Hill King George VI Chase. Clive Smith’s brilliant chaser has won this famous race four times, exactly the same as Desert Orchid, and a fifth win on Monday would spark wild celebrations at the [...]
Toothless Wolves won’t worry Wenger’s boys at the Emirates December 22, 2011 INDUSTRIAL action by London Underground staff means Arsenal versus Wolves has been postponed 24 hours, but that shouldn’t stop the Gunners continuing the run which has saved their season from going down the tube. Arsene Wenger’s men have won eight of their last 10 Premier League outings, during which time Wolves have accumulated just eight [...]
