FTSE has a rollercoaster day as US data undoes debt rally August 1, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index shed 0.7 per cent yesterday after a rollercoaster session, with early strong gains on relief over a debt deal in Washington wiped out later by weak ISM data which threw the spotlight back on a faltering US economy. At the close, the FTSE 100 index was down 40.76 points, or 0.7 [...]
Wall Street slides on manufacturing August 1, 2011 THE S&P 500 fell for a sixth day yesterday as time runs out for the government to pass a deal to avoid default and the economy showed further signs of stalling. The market pared losses late in the day before Congress was expected to vote on a debt deal backed by the White House, which [...]
Gold hasn’t hit the top as debt remains a risk August 1, 2011 PRESIDENT Obama’s deal on debt pushed gold off its record high, but it bounced back sharply. Now is not the time to sell, as over the foreseeable future the ongoing US and Eurozone debt crises will see it break new highs. BOUNCING BACK On Friday, gold hit a record high of $1,632.30/oz, but on Monday [...]
AMERICA MAY SAIL ON THE QE3 THIS FALL August 1, 2011 WE HAD a first look at UK and US second quarter GDP numbers last week. The US was a shocker, coming in at 1.3 per cent on expectations of 1.7 per cent. Worse than that, the first quarter of 2011 and the fourth quarter of last year were both revised down sharply. This means the [...]
Where the nail buffs go pre-hols August 1, 2011 PAYOT: “PRECIOUS FEET RITUAL” The French skincare brand is just the one to turn to if you want nourished, hydrated skin as well as pretty nails. The Precious Feet Ritual starts with the eyes – a firming mask rehydrates bags and plumps the brow area while the therapist goes to work on your feet. First, [...]
Episode 21: Talking new business over several bottles of ‘03 Bordeaux August 1, 2011 SIR Roderick leans across and whispers, “Are you trying to tell me something David?” “Excuse me Roderick?” “Only that desiccated scalper Carmichael uses this damned place.” “Oh,” I reply. “Actually, Sandy brought me here,” I lie. Sir Roderick harrumphs theatrically. The sommelier approaches. Sir Roderick has delegated the task of ordering wine to me. It’s [...]
FIT IN THE CITY August 1, 2011 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT RUN FREE Parkour or free running is the art of leaping around town – the idea is to get between two points as efficiently as possible, which usually involves lots of leaping and jumping, preferably with a bit of street furniture thrown in for good measure. Visit www.parkouruk.org for more info [...]
From hotels to hearty, classy bistros August 1, 2011 Bistro du Vin 40 St John Street, EC1M 4DL www.bistroduvinandbar.com FOOD *** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost per person without wine: £35 IT’S hard to get excited about the name. If I didn’t know better, I’d bracket “Bistro du Vin” along with generic, naff, budget chains like Bella Pasta and Café Rouge, particularly upon learning [...]
THREE RESTAURANTS WITH SPIN-OFF VERSIONS August 1, 2011 POLPO Soho’s popular “Venetian tapas” destination Polpo has so far produced three offspring in remarkably short time: Polpetto and Spuntino, both also in Soho, and Da Polpo in Covent Garden. They reproduce Polpo’s winning formula of delicious small plate food, perfect cocktails and cosy, shabby-chic interiors, while each maintains its individual appeal too. www.polpo.co.uk PIZZA [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS August 1, 2011 WINE DINNERS AT PALM Palm Restaurant, the smart American steakhouse in Belgravia that’s built up quite a following since it opened on Pont Street two years ago, is holding a series of wine tasting dinners over the next year. Things kick off next month with a dinner celebrating Taittinger champagne on 16 September, with four [...]
