Pienaar returns to Everton July 31, 2012 FOOTBALL: Everton have re-signed South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar from Tottenham for a fee of £4.5m. “There was no doubt in my mind that I would be back here,” said Pienaar. “At the end of the season I told the manager how I felt and I am happy now it is all done.”
Djokovic to face Hewitt July 31, 2012 TENNIS: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic yesterday defeated USA’s Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-1 to progress to the third round of the Olympics tennis tournament. The world No2 will meet Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt.
Welsh draw Stade Francais July 31, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Premiership side London Welsh have been drawn at home to French giants Stade Francais in their European Challenge Cup debut.
Fresnillo hit by faltering silver prices and costs July 31, 2012 MEXICAN miner Fresnillo, the world’s largest primary silver producer, said yesterday its first-half profit dipped nine per cent on the back of weaker average silver prices and rising costs. Core profit, or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), dropped to $684.4m (£436.4m), a better result than some analysts had expected, while attributable profit [...]
Copper volumes tumble but Xstrata stays upbeat on year July 31, 2012 MINER Xstrata reported an 18 per cent drop in copper volumes in the first six months of 2012 yesterday, as it replaces ageing operations and undertakes expansion that will boost production in the second half. Xstrata is in the throes of a merger with commodities trader Glencore, which made a $26bn (£16.57bn) takeover bid for [...]
Polymetal may raise outlook July 31, 2012 PRECIOUS metals miner Polymetal may raise its 2012 production target to reflect the stronger-than-planned performance of its Russian mines, it said yesterday. Polymetal, which joined London’s FTSE 100 index last year, said it was firmly on track to deliver on its 2012 production guidance of more than 1m troy ounces of gold equivalent. Updated guidance [...]
Luxury cars drive GKN July 31, 2012 BRITISH car and plane parts maker GKN said first-half profit rose by a third, driven by strong growth at its automotive business on the back of robust luxury car sales. The group’s Driveline unit, which makes products such as driveshafts, chassis and axles, reported a 29 per cent rise in profit in the six months [...]
Vedanta lifted by power sales July 31, 2012 INDIA-FOCUSED miner Vedanta posted a 27 per cent rise in first-quarter core earnings yesterday, as strong growth in power sales offset the impact of lower metal prices and zinc volumes. The London-listed firm said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) rose 27 per cent year-on-year to $1.34bn (£853.6m) in the three months to [...]
Anglo ups De Beers stake July 31, 2012 BOTSWANA said yesterday it had declined an option to lift its stake in diamond giant De Beers, leaving miner Anglo American with the full $5.1bn (£3.25bn) price tag for a buy-out of the remaining shares owned by the Oppenheimer family. Anglo formally offered the Botswana government a pro-rata share of the Oppenheimer family’s 40 per [...]
EDF gets boost from renewables July 31, 2012 French utility Electricite de France (EDF) posted a 4.6 per cent rise in its first-half core earnings yesterday as increased hydroelectric output and other renewable energies offset longer-than-expected outputs. First-half core earnings reached €9.1bn (£7.1bn) on sales up 8.2 per cent at €36.2bn. EDF is expanding its portfolio by developing in coal, hydropower and renewables.
