Howden up as DIY dwindles July 21, 2011 KITCHEN supplier Howden Joinery is benefiting from a growing trend for consumers to shy away from do-it-yourself projects, it said on reporting a rise in first-half revenues and profits yesterday. The firm, which supplies kitchen units and joinery to over 200,000 small builders posted a near nine per cent rise in its first-half pre-tax profit [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: CAN KINGFISHER TURN AROUND ITS FLAGGING UK SALES? July 21, 2011 RAMONA TIPNIS | SHORE CAPITAL Whilst the UK performance is much worse than we had expected, it is understandable given the pull through of summer ranges into quarter one and the closure of Focus with its promotional activity. The encouraging point is that gross margins are up for the quarter despite tough comparatives. We say [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS July 21, 2011 BNY Mellon Michael Cole-Fontayn has been appointed as the new chairman of EMEA at BNY Mellon, retaining his existing responsibilities as chief executive of the depositary receipts division. Cole-Fontayn succeeds Tim Keaney, chief executive of BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, who is relocating to New York. Cole-Fontayn joined BNY Mellon in 1984 and has worked in [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS July 21, 2011 ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT Singer Capital rates the fund manager a “buy” with a 275p target price ahead of its third-quarter results, which are expected to show a one per cent rise in assets under management and a strong upward trend in revenue margins as its asset mix shifts towards higher margin equity pooled funds. Singer [...]
Nervous FTSE ends higher as EU solution for Greece looms July 21, 2011 FINANCIALS drove gains on Britain’s top share index yesterday, as hopes a solution could be found to Europe’s sovereign debt crisis boosted investor sentiment. The UK’s benchmark index closed up 46.07 points or 0.8 per cent at 5,899.89, having endured a choppy session, trading in a 137 point range as nervous investors jostled positions awaiting [...]
US debt discussion boosts Wall Street July 21, 2011 US stocks climbed yesterday as signs of progress on the US debt talks and concrete action from Europe on its own debt crisis heartened investors. Unexpectedly robust earnings results from Morgan Stanley, whose shares rose 11 per cent to $24.20, extended a relief rally in bank stocks after Goldman Sachs’ dismal trading profits stunned the [...]
Man bags that cut a stylish dash July 21, 2011 WE have style-savvy chaps from Naples to thank for the existence of the man bag. Back in the day, the Neapolitan sharp-dressers took to using handbags to avoid spoiling the line of their suits by carrying anything in their pockets, and thus a new accessory genre came into being. The foppish – okay, effeminate – [...]
HOW TO GET DRESSED July 21, 2011 FOUNDERS OF ROUS ILAND MEMBERS’ BOUTIQUE Q. One minute it’s sunshine, the next it’s pouring down. I’m so confused about what to wear I don’t know whether to salvage my summer wardrobe or opt for an early winter? A. Summer in England is unpredictable at the best of times. It would be a real shame [...]
FASHION NEWS IN BRIEF July 21, 2011 OLYMPIC FASHION, ARMANI STYLE One thing you can rely on with the Italians is that they’ll always look stylish. Georgio Armani himself is to kit out the Italian Olympic team in 2012 with a range of sporting and formal wear. Giorgio will create the official outfit for the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium as [...]
Bromantic comedy for the office July 21, 2011 Film HORRIBLE BOSSES Cert: 15 HORRIBLE Bosses is a hybrid: part bromance, part adventure, part moral exploration. Ok, it’s mostly bromance. After all, despite a vague attempt to divide the promotional posters between the film’s three evil bosses, it’s Jennifer Aniston’s stripping, nympho dentist that’s the film’s true draw. Three decent guys: Dale (Charlie Day), [...]
