Say hello to the new lifestyle SUV April 13, 2010 ITS predecessor was undoubtedly ugly even for a 4×4, but there is no doubt about it: the first, most obvious element of the new Kia Sorento is how attractive it is. It’s one of the first Kia cars to be have been styled German design boss Peter Schreyer – the man who penned the Audi [...]
OUT OF OFFICE April 13, 2010 HAIR COMES TO THE WEST END Back in the age of flower power and the sexual revolution, James Rado and Gerome Ragni’s counter-culture musical was a defining cultural event. Its recent Broadway revival has been an award-laden smash hit and the production has now come to London with the full, tie-dyed Broadway cast. Until 25 [...]
Business slams Labour pledges April 12, 2010 BUSINESS leaders and economists rounded on Labour’s election manifesto yesterday, accusing the party of refusing to face up to the terrible state of the public finances. Gordon Brown, who unveiled the manifesto at a hospital in Birmingham, claimed an historic fourth term for Labour would lead to a “fairer, greener … and more prosperous” country. [...]
Jupiter to put back float plan April 12, 2010 JUPITER, the fund management group headed by Edward Bonham-Carter, has decided to put its flotation plans on hold following the crisis that has engulfed its rival Gartmore. Sources say the group recently decided on advisers for an “imminent” flotation of the firm on the stock market but events at Gartmore, where one of its star [...]
Labour manifesto rejects capitalism April 12, 2010 THERE was a time when manifestos were serious, thoughtful pieces of work, the fruit of lengthy policy debates within political parties. Those days are not just long gone but completely forgotten, at least if yesterday’s manifesto from the Labour Party is any guide. Many of its claims collapse as soon as one looks at them [...]
Greece tests bond waters as euro rises April 12, 2010 GREECE will dip its toe back into the European bond market today when it tries to raise €1.2bn (£1.1bn), days after politicians moved to calm investors’ nerves with details of a €30bn funding package on standby. Analysts expect the relatively small issue to get away smoothly following the announcement by eurozone ministers and the International [...]
WHAT DOES THE EU’S FLESHED-OUT SUPPORT OFFER MEAN FOR GREECE? April 12, 2010 PIERRE-OLIVIER BEFFY | EXANE BNP PARIBAS “Greece will now have to strictly implement its fiscal consolidation plan and Greek economic activity is likely to decline over the next two years. However, the Greek government will be able to finance its debt at relatively low rates compared to current levels. We expect the euro to appreciate.” [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING April 12, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES TOP CITY SKYSCRAPER FOR SALE Tower 42, the tallest occupied skyscraper in the City, will be put up for sale as booming prices return to London’s commercial property market. The 600ft former NatWest tower near the Bank of England is expected to fetch more than £300m ($461m) when its owners, Hermes Real Estate [...]
Early Easter boosts retail sales April 12, 2010 The early Easter helped boost retail sales figures for March. Sales were up by 4.4 per cent year-on-year, with food sales leading the march with a 6.6 per cent jump. But a direct comparison with last year is skewed because of earlier Easter egg sales. Retail administrations for the first quarter were also down by [...]
Geely: Volvo to break even soon April 12, 2010 Chinese carmaker Geely Automobile Holdings said Volvo, which it is in the process of buying, could break even as early as the fourth quarter, after posting a surprise drop in its own second-half earnings. Hong Kong-listed Geely shares fell six per cent in their biggest drop in more than two months, hitting a five-week low, [...]
