Merkel backs European for top IMF job May 19, 2011 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will back a European candidate to lead the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She said it was important as the eurozone debt pile needed to be urgently addressed Germany is Europe’s biggest economy and so Ms Merkel’s voice carries considerable weight. Developing nations have said they want more of [...]
Moss bros in sales rise May 19, 2011 Moss Bros reported annual like-for-like sales growth of 8.2 per cent for the 15 weeks to 14 May. The company said that its benefitting from the cost reduction programme introduced in the second half of the 2010/11 financial year as well as the strengthening its product range. Moss Bros recently sold off its Boss franchise [...]
Royal Wedding and sunny weather boost retail sales May 19, 2011 Retail sales climbed more than expected in April, boosted by the extra holiday for the Royal Wedding and record temperatures, official data showed. The Office for National Statistics said sales volumes including automotive fuel rose 1.1 percent last month, well above analysts forecasts for an increase of 0.8 per cent, and the biggest rise for [...]
IMF chief quits over sex charges May 19, 2011 International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has resigned following allegations he sexually assaulted a hotel maid in New York. In a statement, Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, said he had already informed the executive board of his intention to step down “with immediate effect”. He again firmly denied the criminal charges against him. Strauss-Kahn – who is [...]
Bank of Ireland sees rise in deposits May 19, 2011 Bank of Ireland’s profit margins will continue to suffer from weak loan demand and high funding costs but a marginal rise in deposits has helped ease its reliance on emergency central bank funding, it said. Ireland’s largest lender said its loan to deposit ratio had improved by around 10 percentage points since the end of [...]
Takeda in $13bn deal for Nycomed May 19, 2011 Takeda Pharmaceutical, Japan’s largest drugmaker, said it would buy privately held Swiss rival Nycomed for 9.6 billion euros ($13.6bn) as it seeks to expand in Europe and emerging markets. The deal marks the biggest overseas purchase by a Japanese company since Japan Tobacco paid $19bn (£11bn) for Britain’s Gallaher and is Takeda’s second major deal [...]
Quake sends Japan into recession May 19, 2011 Japan’s economy shrank much more than expected in the first quarter and slipped into recession after the triple blow of the March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis hit business and consumer spending and tore apart supply chains. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) expects the economy to resume growing in the second half of the year, [...]
West Ham need Premier League boss, says Venables May 18, 2011 FORMER England boss Terry Venables has urged West Ham to choose a manager with Premier League experience to fill the vacancy at Upton Park, despite their drop into the Championship. The Hammers hope to recruit a permanent replacement for Avram Grant, who was sacked after Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Wigan confirmed their relegation, by the [...]
Dallaglio cheered that RFU flip-flop has not deterred Woodward from job May 18, 2011 FORMER England captain Lawrence Dallaglio believes it is “positive news for English rugby” that Sir Clive Woodward has not ruled himself out of the race to become performance director, despite the Rugby Football Union’s handling of the recruitment process. The RFU have been criticised for last week’s flip-flopping, in which they drastically downgraded the role [...]
Holloway: Premier League want Blackpool relegated May 18, 2011 BLACKPOOL manager Ian Holloway has accused the Premier League of insulting his team and wanting them relegated. The Tangerines go into Sunday’s final fixture of the campaign at Manchester United desperately hoping for a result that could hoist them out of the bottom three. But Holloway has been angered by suggestions United could be fined [...]
