Workspace rises on higher NAV June 8, 2009 Workspace Group, the small business landlord, reported a wider full-year pre-tax loss on a decline in commercial property values, but shares of the company rose as its net asset value per share came in ahead of market estimates. The firm posted a pre-tax loss of £360.4m for the year to the end of March, compared [...]
BRC: retail upturn slows June 8, 2009 RECOVERY in the UK retail sector slowed in May, as sales volumes returned to normal following a stellar April, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and accountancy firm KPMG. Retail sales in May fell 0.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis and rose just 0.8 per cent on a total [...]
Boris gets ready for Tube strike June 8, 2009 BORIS Johnson yesterday revealed plans to keep London rolling, even if tonight’s proposed 48-hour tube strike goes ahead. The industrial action on London Underground (LU), which comes after a pay dispute between union RMT and LU, is due to begin at 7pm this evening. Both parties were last night locked in talks. If the strike [...]
BATTERED BROWN QUELLS REBELLION June 8, 2009 PRIME Minister Gordon Brown last night appeared to have staved off a full-blown rebellion, despite a stormy meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) where he faced calls to stand aside. Speaking just hours after Labour suffered its worst humiliation in a national election for decades, with its share of the popular vote dwindling to [...]
Keydata falls into administration June 8, 2009 Investment firm Keydata Services has gone bust, leaving its 85,000 clients uncertain about the future of its £2.8bn of funds. City watchdog the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has placed the firm into administration with Pricewaterhouse-Coopers (PwC). PwC is now hunting for a buyer for the firm’s assets but a liquidation of the company remains a [...]
Accountancy training firm BPP agrees 304m takeover June 8, 2009 LEGAL and financial training group BPP said yesterday it had agreed an all-cash takeover offer from rival Apollo Global which values the business at £303.5m, ir 620p-a-share BPP – the UK’s only for-profit business college with the power to award degrees – said that the offer represents a 70 per cent premium to its closing [...]
APPLE LAUNCHES NEW iPHONE June 8, 2009 APPLE yesterday unveiled the iPhone 3GS, a new version of the hit product, which has 100 new features and the ability to shoot video. The phone is expected to hit stores on 19 June in the US and costs between $199 (£124) to $299 for customers who sign up to a two-year contract. The existing [...]
PartyGaming and Channel Five launch bingo and casino service June 8, 2009 PartyGaming, the world’s biggest listed online gaming company, said yesterday it had signed an exclusive deal with broadcaster Channel 5 to create “Five” branded bingo and casino gaming services. The online service, which will be operated by PartyGaming and promoted by Five, will launch in the second half of 2009. PartyGaming chief executive Jim Ryan [...]
Further signs of strength for UK’s house market, says RICS June 8, 2009 THERE was further evidence earlier today that the UK housing market is beginning to recover, according to data from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The balance of surveyors reporting falling rather than rising prices narrowed in May to -44.1, due to increased demand and tighter supply in the housing market. New buyer enquiries [...]
Qatar eyes a Porsche stake June 8, 2009 PORSCHE is in advanced talks with the Gulf state of Qatar about selling a substantial stake which could ease the debt-laden carmaker’s problems and give it the upper hand in its ongoing negotiations with Volkswagen (VW). Wendelin Wiedeking, Porsche’s chief executive, is in negotiations which could see the Quatar Investment Authority (QIA) take a stake [...]
