ALL WORK AND NO PLAY February 1, 2011 IT used to be the case that big cars were expensive and little cars were cheap. But BMW knocked that convention into a cocked hat with its absurdly successful Mini which saw droves of bright young things buy into the MINI concept and spend lots more “personalising” their cars at overly themed dealerships. Now Audi [...]
What the other papers say this morning January 31, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES WARNING AS BRIBERY LAW DELAYED British companies have been warned that they could be put on an export “blacklist” by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development if the government continues to delay tough new anti-corruption laws. The warning came after Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, signalled on Monday that the implementation of [...]
BHP and Rio investors go cool on deals January 30, 2011 INVESTORS have written to BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto to say the miners should ditch ambitions for mega deals in favour of multi-billion pound share buyback schemes or higher dividends. The shareholders have asked for commitments from the group’s boards that they use their strong balance sheets to return cash to investors. The investors are [...]
Analysts say Glencore could be worth $60bn January 26, 2011 GLENCORE, the world’s biggest commodities trader, has enjoyed a surge in value and is now worth some $60bn (£38bn) as it contemplates an initial public offering (IPO), according to leading team of mining analysts. That value placed on it by Liberum Capital would place it among the 15 biggest FTSE-listed companies if it were to [...]
An SUV with a conscience January 25, 2011 Here’s Kia’s new Sportage, an SUV crossover that confirms the massive changes that SUVs have undergone over the last five years. An ugly, boxy, polluting gas guzzler this ain’t. In fact it’s not even a 4×4 (though there is an All-Wheel-Drive version). This one is 2WD and has Kia’s all new 1.7 CRDi 114bhp diesel [...]
FTSE mining and auto stocks hit by China tightening fears January 20, 2011 BRITAIN’S top share index sank to its lowest closing level in more than five weeks yesterday, weighed down by mining stocks on concerns over potential further monetary tightening by China and its impact on demand. The FTSE 100 closed down 108.79 points, or 1.8 per cent, at 5,867.91, its lowest close since December 13. Miners [...]
Floods dampen BHP coal output January 19, 2011 BHP Billiton, the world’s biggest mining company, said its coal production tumbled 30 per cent this quarter compared to the previous three months, after catastrophic flooding in Australia badly hit output. The London-listed group said its coal output faces long-term disruption, echoing a similar warning from Rio Tinto earlier in the week. BHP’s iron ore [...]
BHP eyed as potash bidder January 18, 2011 MINING giant BHP Billiton might finally get its chance to buy part of a major potash producer after agribusiness Cargill yesterday signed a deal to sell off its majority stake in fertiliser producer Mosaic. Cargill plans to offload its 64 per cent stake in Mosaic, valued at about $24bn (£15bn), to free up cash for the [...]
CAR TALK January 18, 2011 ORLA KIELY CITROEN COLLECTION British designer Orla Kiely has created a limited edition version of Citroen’s DS3. Known for her distinctive prints that usually adorn purses and mugs, the Orla Kiely Collection DS3 features her trademark acorn and stem patterns on the cars’ roof, floor carpets, headrests, windows and tailgate. Just 500 of the cars [...]
Your car, sir January 11, 2011 HAVING a baby has turned me into a chauffeur. As my wife embeds in the back in a pre-emptive strike against impending infant in-car seat boredom meltdowns, I invariably sit alone in the front like a sort of North London Jeeves, taking radio station requests and having to grudgingly take sole responsibility for figuring out [...]