RBS sounds out investment banks for Direct Line disposal August 30, 2010 STATE-OWNED Royal Bank of Scotland has begun sounding out advisers for the multi-billion pound disposal of its Direct Line business. RBS, 83 per cent backed by the taxpayer, has until the end of 2012 to offload the car and home insurance operation under European Union rules on accepting government aid. Sources said the Scottish lender [...]
Vodafone plans retreat from great call of China August 30, 2010 VODAFONE is on the brink of a £4bn sale of its Chinese assets. It will sound out strategic partners before deciding whether to place its stake in China Mobile on the open market in Hong Kong. A lock-up period preventing Vodafone from selling its stake recently ended and the value of the holding has more [...]
Lawyers are still taking home big salaries despite a dip in revenues August 30, 2010 REVENUES at the top law firms have declined dramatically since the boom years, but senior lawyers at the UK’s top 100 firms are still taking home record salaries. According to an annual survey for Legal Business magazine, released tomorrow, combined revenue at the UK’s top law firms came in at £14.18bn in 2009-10. That was [...]
Gladedale hit by £78m loss after crisis fix August 30, 2010 BRITAIN’S largest private housebuilder crashed to a £78m loss last year as a debt-for-equity swap and a group restructuring piled costs onto its struggling balance sheet. The Gladedale Group, whose projects include the luxury Quartermile housing development in Edinburgh, fell heavily into the red after a huge overhaul in the autumn that wiped out its [...]
Omitting Casey was a big call but I can see Monty’s logic August 30, 2010 WITH the number of top-class players he had at his disposal, there was always going to be controversy and the odd surprise in Colin Montgomerie’s three wildcard picks for the Ryder Cup. Indeed, the fact that the new world No8, Paul Casey, couldn’t force his way into Monty’s thoughts for Celtic Manor just goes to [...]
WINNERS & LOSERS August 30, 2010 WINNER LEWIS HAMILTON The McLaren ace roared back to the top of the drivers’ championship by three clear points after leading home title rival Mark Webber in a pulsating Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. STUART BROAD Irrespective of the allegations, the fourth Test won’t be an occasion this young man will forget in a hurry. [...]
Murray says he’s too hot to handle in stifling New York August 30, 2010 ANDY MURRAY insists the soaring New York heat will not stand in the way of his bid to break his Grand Slam duck at the US?Open. The British No1 kicks off his Flushing Meadows campaign against Slovakian Lukas Lacko in a match which has now been put back until tomorrow. Temperatures in New York are [...]
Open joy for Britain as Baltacha exacts revenge August 30, 2010 ELENA BALTACHA gave British tennis much-needed encouragement after storming into the second round of the US Open last night. The British No1 powered to a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Petra Martic – reversing her first-round defeat to the Croatian at Wimbledon. “I stayed really positive and I just kept putting her under pressure. I [...]
Wenger may swoop after Robin blow August 30, 2010 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger admits he could be tempted to make a last-ditch dip into the transfer market after Robin van Persie’s injury jinx struck again. The 27-year-old, who missed five months of last season after damaging ankle ligaments, is likely to be sidelined for “at least a few weeks” according to the Dutch Football [...]
Pakistan quartet warned: You won’t get away with it August 30, 2010 THE International Cricket Council last night warned the Pakistan cricketers locked in the centre of match-fixing allegations to expect “prompt and decisive” action if found guilty. As yet, the four players in question – captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal – have not been suspended amid an ICC probe and could [...]
