PM’S GAGS HAS HACKS ROLLING IN THE AISLES November 24, 2010 SEVERAL dozen political hacks were yesterday treated to an unusual dinner guest as David Cameron became the first serving Prime Minister to attend their regular parliamentary lunch club in 31 years. Asked about how he saw his role, he gave a concise summary of his prime ministerial style: “I see myself as more of a [...]
Vegging with M. Ducasse November 24, 2010 THE legendary chef settles into his plush chair in the Dorchester’s tea salon with his iPad tucked under his arm and some tissanes before him. He looks the picture of scary Gallic grandeur in his chef whites, his little round glasses perched on his nose, his mouth pursed. A pleasant feeling, then, knowing that we [...]
Brewing up a storm in SW11 November 24, 2010 AMID the gloom afflicting the pub industry right now, one chink of light has been the relative success of real ale. Perhaps due to the way its homely, hearty image seems more attractive in recessionary times, ale has increased its share of the beer market and grown its drinker base in the past year, according [...]
Christmas hampers for gourmets November 24, 2010 Fortnum & Mason The Classic Christmas Hamper (£150) is a veritable box of delights, containing a Christmas pudding, cognac butter, cognac marmalade, mulling spices, assorted English creams and, er, a musical biscuit tin (it plays Jingle Bells, natch). www.fortnumandmason.com British Fine Foods Online shop BFF takes the effort out of shopping for the big day [...]
Success of ETFs among private investors hangs on regulation November 24, 2010 GIVEN that exchange-traded products (ETP) have been available in the UK for just over a decade, the speed at which they have managed to penetrate the private investor market can only be described as glacial. Around 85 per cent of the European ETP market is still institutional. Yet there are signs that private investors are [...]
THE TIPSTER November 24, 2010 US LISTED Compass Minerals is the owner of Salt Union, Britain’s largest supplier of rock salt – used for gritting the country’s roads. With the news that Britain may be in for another cold and snowy winter, demand should be strong. After last year’s fiasco, even austerity won’t stop councils from stocking up. IG Index [...]
LISTED PRODUCT NEWS November 24, 2010 ETFS A ROUTE INTO NEW MARKETS According to a report from Blackrock, exchange traded funds (ETF) and products based on emerging market equities are seeing particularly impressive growth. At the end of August 2010, there were 450 ETFs providing exposure to emerging market indices with 869 listings, holding assets of $193.5bn (£122.4bn). In the year [...]
FTSE rises on strong financials November 24, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index closed higher yesterday, boosted by commodity stocks and banks which bounced back after hefty falls earlier in the week, as investors welcomed economic data from both the UK and the United States. The FTSE 100 ended up 75.82 points, or 1.4 per cent, at 5,657.10, having hit a seven-week low earlier [...]
Wall Street jumps on upbeat data November 24, 2010 Wall Street rallied as US stock investors put aside worries about swirling global problems yesterday, turning to improvement in the labour market and signs consumers are ready to open their wallets ahead of the biggest shopping day of the year. New claims for unemployment benefits hit their lowest level in more than two years last [...]
Sportingbet sees profits rise by a third November 24, 2010 Online gaming firm Sportingbet saw its first quarter profits soar by almost a third as it exceeded expectations in its European business. Pre-tax profit rose 31 per cent to £8.5m, compared with £6.5m last year. Net gaming revenue grew five per cent to £51.1m. Sportingbet, which has customers across Europe, Australia, Canada, South America and [...]
