The practical Yaris lacks X factor November 8, 2011 Design *** Performance *** Practicality *** Value for money *** SURE, the Toyota Yaris has sold well. It has never been offensive to look at. And I’m certain it has happily transported the majority of its owners around in the quiet satisfaction that they had purchased a reliable, reasonably economical and completely adequate, possibly cheery [...]
CAR TALK November 8, 2011 PEUGEOT 208 Available next spring with three and five doors, this is Peugeot’s new 208, a descendent of the iconic 205, which was a great little driver’s car. Peugeot claim the 208 will be lighter, more agile and more efficient than its predecessor – the 207 – and roomier and more luxurious inside too. Lets [...]
Berlusconi wins budget vote but loses majority November 8, 2011 Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has lost his majority in the lower house of parliament. Berlusconi won a vote on the budget, but received less than half the votes in the chamber. Allies including the powerful Northern League had urged him to quit, and money markets no longer believe he can deal with the country’s [...]
Credit Suisse asked to hand over client data November 8, 2011 Credit Suisse will hand over details of wealthy Americans with hidden Swiss accounts to the Swiss government, bringing US authorities one step closer to obtaining names of alleged tax cheats. The bank said on Tuesday it was complying with a request from the Swiss government for account information after U.S. authorities requested Switzerland’s help in [...]
IHG profits surge fuelled by US and China November 8, 2011 Hotelier InterContinental Hotels Group reported a 33 per cent increase in third-quarter operating profit, at the top end of expectations, driven by strong growth in China and the United States. InterContinental, which owns the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, said operating profit rose to $153m (£95m) in the quarter to end September, from $115m [...]
Vodafone edges up forecast after strong first half November 8, 2011 Vodafone edged its full-year outlook higher as growth in emerging markets and robust trading in northern Europe helped the world’s largest mobile operator to post first-half results ahead of forecasts. The results were boosted by strong growth in India and robust performances in Germany and Britain. Growth in Turkey inevitably slowed but remained solid. However [...]
M&S profits fall by 10pc November 8, 2011 Marks & Spencer posted a 10 per cent drop in first-half profit after second-quarter underlying sales fell for the first time in two years, underscoring the pressure on UK consumers. The 127-year-old group, Britain’s biggest clothing retailer which also sells homewares and upmarket food, said on Tuesday it made a profit before tax and one-off [...]
Lloyds reports £3.8bn loss November 8, 2011 Lloyds Banking Group , the part-nationalised lender which has been hit by its chief executive’s temporary absence due to health issues, reported a nine-month loss and said it may have to put back some financial targets due to the economic turmoil. Lloyds, which is 41 per cent owned by the government after being bailed out [...]
Berlusconi: On the brink November 7, 2011 A defiant Silvio Berlusconi clung on to power last night, dismissing calls for his resignation as bond yields rocketed to euro-era records and markets see-sawed on rumours he was set to resign. Yields on Italian bonds soared to 6.68 per cent, higher than the levels seen in August, when the European Central Bank restarted buying [...]
MPs say Bank must cede power November 7, 2011 THE government should use its overhaul of regulation to bring about a radical shift of power from the Bank of England back to the Treasury, an influential committee of MPs has recommended. The Treasury Select Committee, headed by Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie, says that the Bank’s “antiquated” governance means it is not transparent or accountable [...]
