Flintoff fit to play his part in England’s perfect storm August 19, 2009 FIT-AGAIN Andrew Flintoff will return to the England side for today’s deciding Ashes Test, and captain Andrew Strauss is backing the iconic all-rounder to inspire them to a famous victory and reclaim the urn. Flintoff, who was forced to sit out the fourth Test drubbing at Headingley, has convinced medics his chronic knee injury will [...]
Blake stuns United as Burnley end 33-year wait August 19, 2009 BURNLEY (1) vs MANCHESTER UTD (0) MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson was aghast after Burnley stunned the champions and recorded their first top-flight win for 33 years. Veteran Robbie Blake volleyed the decisive goal but the Premier League newcomers were equally indebted to goalkeeper Brian Jensen for saving Michael Carrick’s penalty. “We’re disappointed,” said [...]
Defoe treble keeps up flying start and sends Spurs to top August 19, 2009 HULL (1) vs TOTTENHAM (5) ENGLAND hero Jermain Defoe scored the first Premier League hat-trick of the season as Tottenham ensured there was no repeat of last season’s horror start. Spurs bagged just two points from their first eight games of last season, but have enjoyed a storming start to this campaign by following up [...]
Gender controversy teen claims world 800m gold August 19, 2009 SOUTH AFRICAN teenager Caster Semenya put the controversy surrounding her true gender to one side and stormed to World Championship gold in the 800m last night. Britain’s Jenny Meadows finished brilliantly to take bronze, but all eyes were on Semenya, who has been asked by world chiefs to take a test to prove she is [...]
HEATHROW TOP DOGS READY FOR A GRILLING August 18, 2009 YESTERDAY marked the first working day at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 for philosopher Alain de Botton, who’s spending a week as “writer-in-residence” at the airport while scouting for fuel for a new book. The tome, “A Week At The Airport: A Heathrow Diary”, is due to be published in September and will feature conversations with passengers, [...]
CITY EYE August 18, 2009 THE imposing ceiling of the Grand Hall at the Old Bailey, featuring murals by Victorian painter Gerald Moira. Run by the City of London Corporation, the court opened in 1907 on the site of the notorious Newgate Jail and has witnessed the trials of Dr Crippen, the Krays, Ruth Ellis and the Yorkshire Ripper.
LCG’s profits fall but client numbers rise August 18, 2009 SPREAD betting firm London Capital Group (LCG) yesterday reported its first drop in profits since it listed in 2005, as lower interest income, higher costs and tough trading conditions took their toll. For the six months to the end of June its pre-tax profit fell 37 per cent to £3.8m from a year ago on [...]
Knight Frank sees upturn in property August 18, 2009 THE property downturn has now reached the bottom, according to Knight Frank derivatives head Richard White. Property derivatives are investments that allow investors to speculate on rising or falling values without having to purchase the asset. The UK commercial property market has fallen by 44 per cent since its peak in Summer 2007 to July [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS August 18, 2009 REGUSPanmure Gordon downgraded its recommendation from “buy” to “hold” as the firm’s shares inch towards the broker’s target price of 81p after a strong run. The company will come into focus next week when it reports its interim results and Panmure expects pressures to emerge in occupancy and pricing, and is tempted to lock in [...]
CITY MOVES Who’s switching jobs August 18, 2009 RBC Capital MarketsThe corporate and investment banking arm of the Royal Bank of Canada has hired Phil Halper as a director in its Scandinavian rates trading team, based in London. Halper joins the firm with 15 years of market experience, having most recently worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland, where he was a senior [...]
