Oversupply will dictate crude’s price far more than sentiment May 18, 2009 LAST week, oil prices touched the $60-a-barrel mark, almost double the low of $32 that they were in February. A reason to be cheerful? The International Energy Agency (IEA) clearly thought so last Tuesday, when its executive director Nobuo Tanaka indicated that the IEA was unlikely to reduce its demand forecast for 2009. But that opinion [...]
Beware green shoots: the bears will still beat the bulls May 17, 2009 THE rally in global stock markets appears to have hit a lull, with the Dow falling over 3.5 per cent last week and the FTSE taking a hit on the week for the first time in a month, down nearly 100 points. We’ve a week ahead of earnings news for UK companies and any disappointment [...]
Cavendish victory will not count May 17, 2009 CYCLING: Britain’s Mark Cavendish claimed victory in yesterday’s ninth stage of the Giro d’Italia – but his time will not count towards the overall classification due to a rider’s protest. Riders were unhappy with the city centre course in Milan after Spain’s Pedro Horrillo Munoz was seriously hurt in a crash on Saturday. Race leader [...]
Torquay back in Football League May 17, 2009 FOOTBALL: Torquay United returned to the Football League after a two-year absence thanks to a 2-0 play-off final victory over Cambridge United at Wembley. Captain Chris Hargreaves put the Gulls in front with a sweet 18-yard strike before Cambridge were reduced to 10 men when Phil Bolland was sent off for a second bookable offence. [...]
Amateur Lowry claims Irish Open May 17, 2009 GOLF: Irishman Shane Lowry became only the third amateur in history to win a European Tour event after clinching the Irish Open. The 22-year-old home favourite shot a final round 71 to finish on 17-under-par – level with England’s Robert Rock. Lowry shook off some nerves to win at the fourth extra hole with a [...]
Lorenzo goes top of the pile May 17, 2009 MOTOGP: Jorge Lorenzo moved one point clear at the top of the world championship standings after winning a rain-lashed French GP. The Spaniard finished ahead of Marco Melandri and Dani Pedrosa to take the top podium spot, although reigning champion Valentino Rossi finished last and out of the points after crashing shortly after changing bikes. [...]
Crusaders break League duck May 17, 2009 RUGBY LEAGUE: Celtic Crusaders recorded their first Super League victory at the 12th attempt with a shock 30-24 victory at Bradford Bulls. Luke Dyer’s two late tries ensured the Welsh outfit broke their duck in their inaugural Super League season. Meanwhile, Harlequins climbed to fourth in the table after a 24-17 victory over Wakefield, while [...]
Centre Court raises the roof May 17, 2009 TENNIS: A capacity crowd packed Wimbledon’s Centre Court to watch a star-studded event to test the new retractable roof at SW19. Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf took on Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters in a series of mixed doubles and singles exhibition matches watched by around 15,000 fans. Agassi, the 1992 champion, beat Henman [...]
Lightning Bolt wows crowds with record run May 17, 2009 TRIPLE Olympic sprint gold-medallist Usain Bolt achieved the fastest 150m of all time to cruise to victory in the Manchester street race last night. The Jamaican, 22, stormed home in 14.35sec to beat the 26-year-old record of 14.8sec, set by Italian Pietro Mennea. It was Bolt’s first run since being involved in a car crash [...]
Nadal’s clay dominance is ended by clinical Federer May 17, 2009 WORLD No2 Roger Federer finally ended Rafael Nadal’s clay court dominance to win the Madrid Open yesterday – his first title since last October. The Swiss ace claimed a rare 6-4, 6-4 success over his biggest rival to subject Nadal to a first defeat on the surface in 33 matches. Indeed, Nadal has only lost [...]