Enel sees hike in core earnings February 4, 2010 Italy’s dominant utility Enel posted an above-expectations rise in core earnings in 2009 despite unfavourable market conditions, boosted by the contribution of its Spanish unit Endesa. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation last year were up 11.9 per cent at around €16bn (£14bn).
Hitachi beats expectations February 4, 2010 Hitachi, Japan’s biggest electronics maker, yesterday exceeded market expectations by swinging to its first quarterly net profit in six quarters. The company, eyeing a recovery in demand from the auto industry and further restructuring, lifted its forecast to a net loss of 210bn yen (£1.5bn)) for the year ending in March, from a previous forecast [...]
Buffett vehicle raises $8bn February 4, 2010 Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway firm yesterday sold $8bn of debt to help pay for its $26bn acquisition of railroad operator Burlington Northern Santa Fe, in the 11th largest US corporate bond sale ever. The sale came as Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services stripped its top triple-A rating from Berkshire Hathaway and various units, citing the [...]
We have no-one to fear, claims Wales coach Gatland February 4, 2010 WALES head coach Warren Gatland says his side fear no-one in their quest to reclaim the Six Nations Championship. Gatland’s men meet England at Twickenham tomorrow looking to recreate their start of two years ago when victory in south-west London launched their Grand Slam campaign. The Welsh suffered heartbreak last season when Stephen Jones’ missed [...]
Mancini fury at ‘incredible decision’ to deny Kenya star Mariga a work permit February 4, 2010 MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini has slammed the Home Office for scuppering his deadline-day move to sign Kenyan midfielder McDonald Mariga. City agreed a fee with Parma and terms with the player but could not complete the signing because Mariga was refused a work permit on the basis of Kenya’s low world ranking. Mariga, 22, [...]
Housing market rebound starts to run out of steam February 4, 2010 HOUSE PRICES continued to rise in January but the pace of growth fell to its slowest level in six months, mortgage lender Halifax said yesterday, reiterating its view that UK property prices would remain flat in 2010. The monthly survey showed that house prices rose 0.6 per cent on the month in January, taking the [...]
Bruce predicts curtains for the transfer window February 4, 2010 SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce believes the transfer window will be scrapped when a player eventually challenges the system in court as a restraint of trade. Bruce succeeded in pushing through a loan deal for Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari despite missing the Monday deadline, but said the episode might otherwise have provided a test case. [...]
Britain crash to Austrians February 4, 2010 TENNIS: Great Britain’s Fed Cup team saw their promotion hopes dented as Austria opened up an unassailable 2-0 lead in their Group D tie in Portugal. Anne Keothavong’s first match back after six months out with a knee injury ended in a 6-2, 6-2 defeat by Patricia Mayr, while Elena Baltacha lost 6-3, 6-3 to [...]
Mayweather to take on Mosley February 4, 2010 BOXING: Undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr will take on WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley in a Las Vegas showdown on 1 May. Both fighters will undertake Olympic-style drug testing before the fight – similar to the conditions which scuppered Mayweather’s bout with Manny Pacquiao earlier this year. Mayweather said: “This is for the fans as I [...]
Hiedfeld named reserve driver February 4, 2010 FORMULA ONE: Nick Heidfeld has been named as reserve/test driver for the all-German Mercedes team. Hiedfeld, 32, steps down from racing after 10 years with the Prost, Sauber, Jordan, Williams and BMW Sauber teams. He lines up as back-up to Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg and said: “While I would of course have preferred a [...]
