Brazil hero Socrates dies December 4, 2011 Former Brazil captain Socrates died yesterday, aged 57, after an intestinal infection. The elegant midfielder, who played in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a Sao Paulo hospital on Friday. The ex-Corinthians, Botafogo, Fiorentina, Flamengo and Santos player suffered a stomach haemorrhage in August caused by alcohol [...]
Blatter aims fire at English December 4, 2011 Fifa president Sepp Blatter has renewed his attack on his English critics, claiming they are bitter at the failed bid to stage the 2018 World Cup. “They thought that football should have come home; the World Cup was theirs by right,” Blatter said. “When they came with David Beckham, Prince William and Prime Minister Cameron, [...]
O’Sullivan knocks out Davis December 4, 2011 Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Steve Davis 6-1 in a first-round clash of former champions at the UK Championships in York. World No1 Mark Selby eased into round two with a 6-0 drubbing of Ryan Day and will play Marco Fu next, after he beat Stuart Bingham 6-4.
Pattinson shines on Test debut December 4, 2011 Seamer James Pattinson took 5-27 on his debut as Australia beat New Zealand by nine wickets in the first Test in Brisbane. Pattinson, younger brother of former England bowler Darren, claimed a triple-wicket maiden as the tourists slumped to 28-5, and although Dean Brownlie’s 43 hauled them to 150 all out, Australia reached their target [...]
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.
