Federer makes Karlovic look small to set up Haas meeting July 1, 2009 FIVE-TIME champion Roger Federer admitted his sights were already trained on a sixth title after beating Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic to reach the semi-finals. Federer booked his 21st consecutive Grand Slam last four place with a comfortable 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) win over the 6ft 10in ace machine. And the world No2, who will meet [...]
Aggression the key to our domination, says Venus July 1, 2009 DEFENDING champion Venus Williams believes her and sister Serena’s monopolisation of Wimbledon is down to one trait: aggression. Between them they have won the title in seven of the last nine years and are firmly on course to improve that record this weekend. Defeat for either of the Californians in today’s semi-finals would constitute one [...]
BISCHOFF TO CHAIR LLOYDS June 30, 2009 SIR Win Bischoff, the ex-Citigroup chairman and veteran banker, is set to be named the next chairman of Lloyds Banking Group, it emerged last night. UK Financial Investments has asked the 67-year-old, who stepped down from Citi in February, to take the reins at the bank and lead it through the integration of HBOS, the [...]
INVESTMENT BANK PROFITS BOUNCE BACK June 30, 2009 THE WORLD’S best investment banks have clocked up bumper second quarter profits, reaping the benefits of a renewed focus on trading and capital markets underwriting, as well as the implosion of many rivals. While many institutions – such as RBS and Citigroup – are still finding conditions tough, a group of six is emerging as [...]
US consumer cheer dives June 30, 2009 CONFIDENCE among US consumers dived unexpectedly low in June, despite encouraging signs the worst of the housing slump may be over. The Conference Board’s sentiment index fell to 49.3 in June from 54.8 in May, suggesting the economy is still firmly in the grip of recession. The lack of consumer confidence reflects a weak labour [...]
Let’s celebrate a better second quarter June 30, 2009 IT is now clear that the first quarter of this year was utterly, devastatingly bad for the British economy. Revised figures yesterday showed that it shrank by 2.4 per cent between 1 January and 31 March. At an annualised rate, that was a drop of 10 per cent, the sort of implosion last seen during [...]
Arcandor to get bailout June 30, 2009 ARCANDOR, the biggest shareholder in tour operator Thomas Cook, is set to receive €50m (£40m) of state aid, it emerged yesterday. The German government agreed with state ministers from Bavaria and Saxony to provide the bailout for the Quelle mail order unit of the company, which will see €25m come from the federal government, and [...]
Tesco Finance linked to bid for Northern Rock June 30, 2009 TESCO has emerged as a potential bidder for nationalised bank Northern Rock. Britain’s biggest retailer has shown provisional interest alongside private equity funds and Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. Tesco is eager to cash in on growing disillusionment with traditional banks and in March announced plans to open bank branches in 30 of its stores. Buying [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 30, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES EON WARNS ON EU EMISSION COSTSThe European Union risks driving industry out of the region if it continues to push for deeper cuts in carbon dioxide emissions than other economies, according to the chief executive of Eon, one of the world’s biggest renewable energy companies. Wulf Bernotat, Eon’s chief executive, told the Financial [...]
Bowker quits as National Express boss June 30, 2009 RICHARD BOWKER, the chairman of bus and rail operator National Express, stood down last night after a tumultuous month for the company, City A.M. can confirm. Bowker, once group commercial director of Virgin Group and co-chairman of Virgin Rail, quit ahead of today’s update regarding the operating terms on the east coast main line, which [...]
