Micro Focus stabilises after year of bid talks with profits jump June 21, 2012 MICRO Focus yesterday reported a 30.4 per cent jump in annual pre-tax profits, sending its shares up by almost six per cent. Executive chairman Kevin Loosemore said: “The year ended 30 April 2012 was a period of stabilisation of Micro Focus’ business after the disappointments of the previous year and the opportunistic approaches from private [...]
Windows 8 on new Huawei phone June 21, 2012 Chinese phone maker Huawei yesterday confirmed it will launch a smartphone later this year on the new Windows 8 platform, competing with Windows 8 handsets made by Nokia, Samsung and HTC. Huawei, which makes cheaper smartphones, is pushing into the high-end market.
Apple fined for false advertising June 21, 2012 Apple was fined A$2.25m (£1.45m) by an Australian court yesterday for misleading advertising of its latest iPad. The tech giant said its new iPad is compatible with 4G, which is not the case outside of the US. Apple is facing an investigation by the British advertising watchdog for the same incorrect claims about 4G.
MEPs reject anti-piracy measure June 21, 2012 European lawmakers rejected the global Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) yesterday, which aims to crack down on piracy. The European Commission has backed the treaty, but opponents argue it would censor free expression and criminalise people unnecessarily.
Chelsea property goes for £147m June 21, 2012 Moore House, part of the Grosvenor Waterside Development in SW1, has been snapped up by London & Stamford Property’s new joint venture for £147m. The residential building – bought from Qatari Diar subsidiary Project Red – comprises 149 units, with a lettable area of 117,090 square feet.
Rising demand pushes capital’s rents up to highest ever level June 21, 2012 LONDON’S rents hit a new record high in May, according to industry data published today, while prices in the south east also recorded rapid growth. The average renting Londoner now pays £1,038 per month, up 0.6 per cent on the month to May and 4.2 per cent on the year, LSL Property Services’ buy to [...]
Plaza Centers in $1.4bn US shopping centres sale June 21, 2012 PLAZA CENTERS, the London-Warsaw listed property developer yesterday said it has sold off 47 of its 49 US shopping centres in a deal worth around $1.43bn. The group sold the assets via its US joint venture EPN to a joint venture between private equity firm Blackstone and DDR. The deal – first announced in January [...]
Mortgage loans rebound from collapse in April June 21, 2012 MORTGAGE lending jumped sharply in May, rebounding from a weak figure in April and showing solid growth on the year, according to industry data published yesterday. However, analysts warned the overall level of lending is still well below that seen in the pre-crisis years, and said banks are facing regulatory pressures holding back the market. [...]
UK property millionaires on the increase June 21, 2012 MORE THAN 245,790 Britons own a property worth in excess of £1m, a new survey shows, up 12 per cent on last year. Despite stagnant house prices across most of the UK, there are more than 6,682 streets with properties valued over £1m. More than a third of these million pound streets are located in [...]
Ashtead gains as more builders rent equipment June 21, 2012 INDUSTRIAL equipment hire firm Ashtead more than quadrupled its annual profit and upgraded expectations for this year as slow construction markets push a growing number of cash-strapped customers to rent rather than buy equipment. The British firm, which makes over 80 per cent of revenue from its US business Sunbelt, yesterday posted a pre-tax profit [...]
