French debt less than expected March 31, 2011 The French public deficit diminished more than expected in 2010, according to INSEE’s official data released yesterday. The final deficit was seven per cent of GDP, while the revised target was 7.7 per cent. The public debt ratio, 81.7 per cent, was also less than the expected target of 82.9 per cent.
High street sales down in Greece March 31, 2011 The volume of retail sales in Greece plummeted another 16 per cent in January, compared to the same time in 2010, official data said yesterday.
More working mothers in the UK March 31, 2011 The proportion of mothers in full-time employment rose from 23 per cent in 1996 to 29 per cent by the final quarter of 2010, said the Office of National Statistics yesterday.
Rate hike on the cards for June March 31, 2011 Most people expect interest rates to start rising from June, according to research by Travelex released yesterday.
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS March 31, 2011 GMT Partners The former BBC executive who launched the iPlayer, Ashley Highfield, has been appointed to the Industry Council of GMT Communications Partners, the European telecoms, media and technology-focused private equity group. Highfield is currently UK managing director and vice-president, consumer and online, at Microsoft. Prior to Microsoft, he spent eight years at the BBC, [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS March 31, 2011 SAFESTORE Citi initiates coverage of Safestore with a “buy” rating. It forecasts that the self-storage company will provide investors with a three-year earnings compound annual growth rate of 15 per cent, and sees further potential for an earnings boost from its conversion to a real estate investment trust. Citi sets a 185p target price for [...]
FTSE ends six-day rally after Irish bank stress test results March 31, 2011 BRITISH bank shares fell on further concerns about the state of finances in the peripheral Eurozone countries, dragging the country’s top shares lower by the close yesterday and ending a six-day winning run. Ireland said its four remaining banks require another €24bn ($34.1bn) to enable them to withstand potential losses from a worsening of the [...]
US treads water ahead of jobs data March 31, 2011 US stocks ended a solid quarter with the barest of moves yesterday, as investors looked ahead to Friday’s US jobs report to provide a catalyst to push indexes to new highs for the year. After gaining 5.4 per cent in the first quarter, the benchmark S&P 500 hovered near 1,330, a level the index has [...]
Desert dreaming: a second home in the sun March 31, 2011 BUSTLING markets, scorching heat, exotic dress and fantastic food. It is hard to believe that the almost otherworldliness of Marrakesh is just three and 35 minutes away from London. Charl Ackerman, a London-based property developer with Aylesford International, uses his home in Marrakesh like many do their country home: “I often fly out on weekends. [...]
SELLING March 31, 2011 Martin Bikhit MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PRIME CENTRAL LONDON ESTATE AGENCY KAY & CO. Q. I have had three agents value my home. Two were around the same level but one was much higher. What shall I do? A. It is always very tempting to go for the highest valuation. However, it might not be the [...]
