The need for returns is still driving investors into equities February 5, 2013 MARKETS finally saw a sell off this week, as investors decided that discretion was possibly the better part of valour, and concluded that booking profits might be the thing to do. On the basis that nobody ever got sacked for taking a profit, it is understandable that funds, which have generally had a tough time [...]
The sustainable food argument is flawed – we just need more variety February 5, 2013 Head chef, Paternoster Chop House The recent news that the Marine Conservation Society has removed mackerel and gurnard from its list of “sustainable” fish is an ironic sign of the times. Responsible diners avoid some foods in a bid to protect a species, only to find that everyone else has done the same and now [...]
Celebrate Chinese new year in real style February 5, 2013 1. HKK HKK is the ultimate destination for Chinese aficionados. The restaurant, which is one of the most recent openings of the Hakkasan group, is already gaining a reputation for offering some of the best Chinese food in the City. Michelin-starred chef Tong Chee Hwee has created an impressive eight- and 15-course banqueting menu that’s [...]
Chablis is one of the toughest wines to get right – choose wisely February 5, 2013 Chablis is a pretty but inconsequential looking town just over 100km north of Burgundy. There are none of the great chateaux or domaines of Bordeaux or Burgundy here. Spend half an hour loitering in the town square and it is hard to believe this is the epicentre of one of the world’s most famous wine [...]
From January mocktails to a real Bloody Mary February 5, 2013 City A.M.’s cocktail expert Alcohol’s value goes beyond its simple price-tag. Over the Christmas period it was no doubt used by plenty to ease family tensions, as well as to smooth the passage from 2012 into 2013. Alcohol is so ingrained within our social experiences that human guinea pigs exhibit the effects of drunkenness, even [...]
Dell in $24.4bn buyout deal February 5, 2013 Dell founder Michael Dell and global technology investment firm Silver Lake are to take the computer maker private in a deal worth $24.4bn (£15.5bn). Under the agreement, Dell stakeholders will receive $13.65 in cash for each Dell share, representing a 25 per cent premium over Dell’s closing price of $10.88 on 11 January. The deal [...]
ARM tops FTSE 100 February 5, 2013 The leading share index shrugged off its losses yesterday to jump 0.5 per cent in early deals, helped by strong corporate earnings updates. Chip maker ARM Holdings topped the FTSE 100 leader board in early deals, rising almost 4.5 per cent. This morning it posted a better-than-expected 16 per cent rise in fourth-quarter pre-tax profit. [...]
Virgin Media confirms Liberty Global talks February 5, 2013 Virgin Media this morning confirmed it was in discussions with cable group Liberty Group over a possible deal. Virgin Media is the UK’s number two pay-TV operator after BSkyB. In a brief statement it confirmed it was in talks, but added that “any transaction would be subject to regulatory and other conditions”. Liberty Global, owned [...]
Full-year profit slumps at BP February 5, 2013 Oil giant BP posted a fall in full-year profits this morning, as it continued to count the cost of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Full-year underlying replacement cost profit at the oil company fell to $17.6bn (£11.2bn), compared to $21.7bn over 2011. Profits for the fourth quarter came in above expectations though, at [...]
BG Group warns on 2015 production target February 5, 2013 Energy firm BG Group said this morning that it would not hit its 2015 production target of more than 1m barrels of oil equivalent a day. In November, shares in the FTSE 100 explorer plummeted as it warned that this year’s output would be flat, largely due to delays to projects. New chief executive Chris [...]
