How Britain can unlock private capital for infrastructure April 8, 2014 WALK into China’s state planning agency in Beijing and you can pick up a 40-page guide to potential investment opportunities in the UK. That may seem like a small thing in itself, but it's yet another smart move by a commercially-savvy Treasury team bent on banging the drum for inward investment. Chinese investors have never [...]
Sarries ordered to sharpen up for Saints clash April 6, 2014 SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall admits his side must work on their frailties ahead of next Sunday’s crunch Aviva Premiership clash with Northampton Saints after riding their luck against 14-man Ulster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final. Sarries booked their place in the last-four – where they will play Clermont Auvergne at Twickenham – but [...]
Vunipola warns Sarries to expect Ulster backlash April 3, 2014 ENGLAND prop Mako Vunipola anticipates Ulster will be out for revenge when Saracens arrive at Ravenhill for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup quarter-final. Sarries, who defeated Ulster 27-16 at the same stage in last year’s competition, are seven points clear at the top of the Aviva Premiership and have guaranteed a place in the end of season [...]
Sports Direct shareholders revolt over Ashley’s £70m bonus scheme April 2, 2014 SPORTS Direct shareholders have rejected plans to introduce a bonus scheme that would have awarded founder Mike Ashley a £70m windfall, after revolting over a similar scheme two years ago. The retail giant said yesterday that it has cancelled a general meeting that was due to take place tomorrow after the board realised there was [...]
Annuities sales set to plummet April 2, 2014 RATINGS agency Moody’s has adjusted its outlook on the annuities industry from stable to negative and warned that sales of the insurance products could fall by as much as 75 per cent in the wake of changes announced by the chancellor in his recent Budget. Moody’s downgraded the outlook for six of the major industry [...]
Blinkx hits back at professor’s damning blog March 31, 2014 Chief exec Brian Mukherjee tells Oliver Smith that accusations about the tech company’s past are unfounded BLINKX, the online video advertising firm that saw its share price plummet in January on the back of a critical blog post, was attacked by an “infamous professor” using the “bully pulpit” of Harvard University for personal gain, its [...]
Saracens must claim top-two spot, says McCall March 30, 2014 AFTER Saracens secured their place in the Aviva Premiership play-offs on Saturday, director of rugby Mark McCall was insisting they swiftly wrap up a home semi-final too. Sarries ensured they will remain in the top four for the rest of the regular season with a 32-20 defeat of London rivals Wasps – their 16th victory [...]
What you need to know before the open March 28, 2014 European markets are expected higher this morning, with resources predicted to gain on growing confidence that China will act to increase stimuli to boost the economy. Weaker-than-expected economic data has prompted premier Li Keqiang to suggest authorities are ready to press on with infrastructure investment. That’ll mean a focus on miners, as the moves have [...]
Aviva sells US equity manager River Road March 28, 2014 Insurer Aviva’s announced that Aviva Investors, its asset management business, has reached a deal to sell equity manager River Road Asset Management. They've found a buyer in the form of Affiliated Managers Group, a Massachusetts-based investment firm. The move comes as the group looks to simplify its business, making it “more focused”, with an integrated operating [...]
Trailing Harlequins aim to salvage season with five consecutive wins March 27, 2014 HARLEQUINS prop Kyle Sinckler insists his team are capable of overcoming the odds to secure an unlikely Aviva Premiership play-off place with five rounds to go. Sinckler made his third top-flight start last weekend as defeat to Saracens at Wembley left Quins sixth in the table, nine points adrift of fourth-placed Leicester Tigers ahead of [...]