Lovefilm leads on streaming March 22, 2012 Online streaming overtook DVD rental for the first time last month at Lovefilm, the Amazon-owned film subscription service which has over two million members. Movies and TV shows streamed via the internet exceeded the number of physical rentals by 20 per cent – despite a 25 per cent rise in DVD rentals – showing a growth of [...]
Profit growth for BrainJuicer March 22, 2012 BrainJuicer grew its pre-tax profits 24 per cent to £2.76m last year as revenues jumped 27 per cent to £20.7m. The online market researcher pointed to strong growth in the US, Germany and Switzerland and said the UK, which accounts for 42 per cent of revenues, grew operating profit 11.7 per cent to £4.54m. BrainJuicer ended the [...]
Jump in sales boosts United Utilities stock March 22, 2012 UNITED Utilities saw its share price climb yesterday after it indicated that both sales and profit were on track for the full-year. The FTSE-100 water company said full-year sales would increase by between three and four per cent, in line with analyst forecasts. “This increase is slightly below the allowed regulated price rise, principally reflecting [...]
Randgold rocked as Mali coup threatens production March 22, 2012 SHARES in gold miner Randgold plummeted yesterday after fears over production in Mali where renegade soldiers claimed to have grabbed power in a coup. Two-thirds of the group’s production is in the west African country, with Randgold working closely with the government. Chief executive Mark Bristow said “Malians respect laws and I don’t believe this [...]
Energy Assets shares drop on market debut March 22, 2012 SHARES in Energy Assets Group, a provider of gas metering equipment to Corona Energy and British Gas, fell in their debut on the London Stock Exchange yesterday. The Livingston-based company’s shares closed down 7.6 per cent lower at 194p. The company, which was acquired by Australian investment bank Macquarie Group in 2008, had priced the [...]
North Sea tax break is bonus for Premier March 22, 2012 BRITISH oil explorer Premier Oil said it will benefit from new tax breaks unveiled in the Budget which will enable it to expand operations and target acquisitions. The company said annual profit after tax jumped 32 per cent to $171.2m (£108.3m) beating a consensus forecast of $165m from a company-supplied poll of analysts. Premier reiterated [...]
London 2012 IMAGE OF THE WEEK March 22, 2012 This week the London 2012 Organising Committee confirmed the 7,300 people who will carry the Olympic flame during its 8,000 mile journey across the UK. Dinah Gould, pictured here with Dominic MacGowan, will be the oldest torchbearer – a centenarian by the time she walks her 300 metre leg. Photo: GETTY Between now and the [...]
PLAYING TO WIN IN THE WINE TASTING LEAGUE March 22, 2012 SOME of the City’s young bucks like to sweat it out after work with a game of five-a-side football at the Old Street pitches. But those with more refined tastes might prefer a new “wine league” coming to the Square Mile, giving them a chance to channel some of that professional competitive spirit. The mastermind [...]
TED BAKER MAN’S GETTING HITCHED March 22, 2012 THE EBULLIENT Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin couldn’t care less how many dips there are in the recession and will not be giving a second thought to the Greek debt crisis – he jokes it’s all “taramasalata and hummus” to him (double dip – get it?). Because he is getting married tomorrow, he proudly told [...]
Shell is set to share China’s shale work March 22, 2012 ROYAL Dutch Shell has signed the first ever shale gas production sharing deal with China, it announced yesterday, as the country tries to tap into its potentially lucrative energy assets. Shell has already done some exploration works on the 3,500 square kilometer Fushun-Yongchuan block, and will now work with state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation on [...]
