Unions ready for return to 1970s strikes January 16, 2011 UNIONS are preparing to plunge Britain into a period of 1970s-style industrial unrest with a spring general strike. The general secretaries of Britain’s unions will attend a Trade Union Congress (TUC) meeting on 28 January to discuss the possibility and mechanics of bringing Britain to a halt through coordinated industrial action. The unions hope to [...]
London is still at forefront of business world January 16, 2011 THERE is no doubt in my mind that despite the uncertainty surrounding taxation and regulation and despite the continuing public anger, unfavourable media reports and a degree of political point-scoring, the City of London remains – in the eyes of the international business community at least – one of the most attractive financial centres in [...]
UK and Cuba in renewable energy deal January 16, 2011 HAVANA Energy has signed the UK’s first renewable energy partnership with Cuba, committing £250m to a joint venture with Cuban company Zerus to develop biomass power plants in the country. The power plants are part of the Cuban government’s efforts to promote renewable energy production, and will be built 400 miles outside of Havana close [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS January 16, 2011 AllianceBernstein The global investment manager has appointed Wolfgang Kostner (pictured) to its distribution team. Having worked in London for Goldman Sachs Asset Management for nearly ten years in international marketing strategy, Kostner will now be based in Munich in his new role as vice president of strategic marketing and research. He will be concentrating on [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 16, 2011 DIXONS Seymour Pierce rates the retailer a “buy”, despite a weak Christmas sales performance and a computer glitch which wiped £15m off sales. The broker remains confident Dixons can recover in the long-term, despite a possible fall in sales in a difficult retail trading climate. It placed Dixons’ target price at 21p per share. TED [...]
Fiat agrees deal on strikes and absence January 16, 2011 CARMAKER Fiat won narrow backing from its workers for a groundbreaking contract that limits strikes and absenteeism in exchange for investment in Italy, unions said yesterday. Workers in a referendum at Fiat’s historic but loss-making Mirafiori factory in Turin voted 54 per cent in favour of the new contract, a spokesman for the FIM union [...]
Kirsh ruled out of bid talks with Minerva January 16, 2011 LONDON property developer Minerva revealed it is holding preliminary takeover talks with an unnamed potential buyer, which has already propelled its shares upwards and is set to do the same this morning. The identity of the predator remained a mystery yesterday, with Minerva’s advisers remaining tight-lipped about the ongoing talks. However, industry sources ruled out [...]
International Monetary Fund visit to Spain sparks fresh finance fears January 16, 2011 A MISSION from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit Spain today to carry out a routine study of the country’s financial system, as part of an annual global report, a government official said yesterday. Concerns over Spanish banks’ exposure to the collapsed property market remain acute and are major reasons behind market distrust of [...]
CITY FEAST FOR TROOPS AT SQUARE MILE SALUTE January 16, 2011 CITY A.M. is proud to announce its backing for a City-wide initiative to support a trio of veterans’ charities this week. The campaign, which will raise money for Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and ABF THe Soldiers’ Charity, will culminate in a spectacular five-course banquet in Guildhall on 10 February, with 12 world-class chefs [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK January 16, 2011 A HAPPY couple took to the skies over the Thames recently, followed by a sumptuous meal in a restaurant adjoining London’s only heliport, Patrisey Restaurant. After their 20-minute tour of the capital’s air-ways, they sat down to a feast of caviar, foie gras, chateaubriand and lobster. And there was no skimping on desserts, as our diners [...]
