US unemployment falls December 2, 2011 US unemployment fell to its lowest for 2 ½ years in November and the number of jobs rose by 120,000, the US Department of Labor reported, adding to signs the US economy is recovering. The monthly non-farm payroll figure, which excludes farm employees, employees of non-profit organisations, private household employees and general government employees, showed [...]
UK construction growth slows December 2, 2011 The construction sector continued to grow in November, but at a slower rate than October, according to a survey of industry participants. The Markit/CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index scored 52.3 for the month, on a scale where any figure over 50 represents growth. The modest number represents a slight worsening of conditions from October, when [...]
Barclays wealth to expand in Asia, US December 2, 2011 Barclays Wealth plans to add experienced bankers to its teams in Asia and the US as it aims to grow its worldwide assets by 70 per cent. The wealth management unit of Barclays hopes to take advantage of the increasing number of super-rich individuals in Asia, which is enjoying higher economic growth than the West. [...]
Banks fuel FTSE gains as investors eye US jobs data December 2, 2011 Banks helped lift the FTSE 100 this morning as a concerted effort by central banks to trigger easier credit among lenders continued to bolster investor sentiment. Despite grim manufacturing data from across the globe yesterday — and a bleak outlook given by Bank of England Governor Mervyn King — markets overall have responded positively to [...]
Ladbrokes seals £540m debt deal with banks December 2, 2011 Ladbrokes, Britain’s second-biggest bookmaker, said it had agreed a new five-year, £540m debt facility with its banks. Ladbrokes, which has 2,100 betting shops in the UK, said the new facility would mature in 2016 and replaces its existing £560m facility that was due to mature in 2013. The company estimates that the new blended rate [...]
RBS sells pubs business to Heineken for £422m December 2, 2011 Royal Bank of Scotland said it had sold its tenanted pub business to Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company, a unit of the world’s third-largest brewer Heineken, for £422m. The business, which comprises 918 pubs across Britain, has been operated by Scottish & Newcastle since 1999 under a management agreement.
Greenwood: RFU right to wait for boss December 1, 2011 FORMER England centre Will Greenwood believes the Rugby Football Union is right to delay naming a permanent successor to Martin Johnson until after the Six Nations. The RFU confirmed on Wednesday its intention to appoint a caretaker manager, which would seemingly pave the way for former Italy head coach Nick Mallett to take over ahead [...]
TRAIN-ING | Rugby stars play at City station December 1, 2011 PREMIERSHIP champions Saracens stunned onlookers at Liverpool Street Station yesterday by practising at the busy City terminal. Players Mouritz Botha (with ball), Jacques Burger and Kelly Brown put on line-out demonstrations and even roped in curious passers-by for some impromptu training as part of the build-up to their Heineken Cup clash with Ospreys at Wembley [...]
Late goal and red card dash Fulham hopes of easy route December 1, 2011 FC TWENTE 1 vs FULHAM 0 FULHAM manager Martin Jol refused to blame striker Andy Johnson after his stoppage-time red card completed a miserable Europa League night in Holland for the Cottagers. An 89th-minute winner from Marc Janko condemned the west Londoners to a defeat that leaves them needing to win their final group fixture [...]
FA hints at U-turn over Capello as England prepare to discover Euro 2012 opponents December 1, 2011 ENGLAND chiefs have paved the way for a spectacular U-turn over manager Fabio Capello after admitting he could stay on beyond next summer’s European Championships. The backtracking comes as England today prepare to discover who they will face at Euro 2012, when the draw is made in Kiev this afternoon. Both the Football Association and [...]
