US EARNINGS WILL GIVE THE MARKET FRESH DIRECTION July 20, 2009 MARTIN SLANEYHEAD OF DERIVATIVES, GFT THE fate of the markets over the coming weeks hangs on the second-quarter results being announced daily by US companies. The market’s take so far has been positive – approximately 80 per cent of earnings have beaten or were on a par with consensus, and last Wednesday Intel was proof [...]
Savvy traders look to profit from surge in takeover deals July 20, 2009 FOLLOWING a dearth of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity during the depths of the financial crisis, upbeat figures released last Friday by Thomson Reuters showed that UK target M&A is up 39 per cent year-to-date compared to the same period last year. There has been a recent pick-up in global M&A activity with London dominating [...]
Contador leads, Wiggins third July 19, 2009 CYCLING: Spaniard Alberto Contador outgunned rival Lance Armstrong on the final climb to Verbier to win stage 15 of the Tour de France and reclaim the yellow jersey. He now leads seven-time champion Armstrong by 1min 37secs in the overall standings with six stages remaining, while Briton’s Bradley Wiggins, who finished fifth on the stage, [...]
Khan happy to fight ‘friend’ Ricky July 19, 2009 BOXING: Newly-crowned WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan says he would happily fight his “friend” Ricky Hatton in order to further his career.The 22-year-old is being lined-up to take on ‘The Hitman’ after easing to a unanimous points win over Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday night. “We’re good friends, but business is business. In Britain, I think [...]
City continue Terry courtship July 19, 2009 FOOTBALL: The Premier League last night confirmed it had received no official complaint from Chelsea over Manchester City’s public pursuit of John Terry, despite City boss Mark Hughes continuing the chase yesterday. Chelsea are angry with City’s courtship despite having a £30m offer turned down last week. And Hughes continued yesterday by saying: “He’s a [...]
Swann still confident despite Aussie fightback July 19, 2009 SPINNER Graeme Swann insists England remain favourites to clinch the second Test at Lord’s today, while preventing Australia from blasting their way into the record books. Chasing a first Ashes victory at Lord’s in 75 years, the hosts moved into cruise control after reducing the Australians to 128-5 at one stage – still 403 short [...]
Luck deserted Tom and Lee when they needed it most July 19, 2009 HAD Tom Watson holed that putt on 18 to reclaim the Claret Jug after 26 years, it would have, without doubt, been the greatest sporting achievement of all time. Driving home from Turnberry last night, the enormity of what Tom had achieved still hadn’t really hit home – and I’m sure the great man himself [...]
Cink sinks Watson fairytale July 19, 2009 WILY Tom Watson tried cheering up the downbeat Turnberry crowds after his Open heartache last night, by reminding them: “This ain’t a funeral you know.” The 59-year-old missed the chance to clinch a fairytale sixth Open title after missing an agonising six-foot putt on the final green. Clearly drained, he then wilted to a six-shot [...]
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside (with billionaires) July 19, 2009 IT’S mid-morning, and having got a crack-of-dawn BA flight from London City Airport, I am now in a helicopter flying from Nice to Monte Carlo. Out of the window, the warm sunshine and blue sea provide a stunning backdrop to the hotels and villas carved out of the white rocks. As a helicopter virgin I [...]
THE TIPSTER NEW SHARES PLACING LIFTS SAINSBURY’S July 19, 2009 PHARMACEUTICAL company GlaxoSmithKline will report its second quarter results on Wednesday and so far this year the stock has only risen 11 per cent since its March low of around £10, whereas the FTSE 100 has rallied some 24 per cent. Wednesday’s figures might give the drug maker the boost it so badly needs. Capital [...]
