This Cee’d is a dad-car with bite September 18, 2012 Fatherhood is far from dull, except when it comes to motoring. First, you have to get a car with at least four seats, rather than two. Then, your primary considerations are how much stuff it can carry and how economical it is. Perhaps the Volvo 240 epitomised this best: the squarest car of all time, [...]
Car Talk September 12, 2012 New Range Rover revealed Land Rover revealed its radically-new, ultra-lightweight new Range Rover at a star-studded event last week. The 2013 Range Rover has a new, more aerodynamic profile and is the world’s first SUV with an all-aluminium monocoque body. It’s a whopping 420kg lighter than its predecessor as a result and is faster and [...]
Australia’s AAA rating safe for now, says Moody’s September 12, 2012 Credit rating agency Moody’s said today it saw no reason to downgrade Australia’s prized AAA rating, despite tumbling commodity prices that have led to miners scrapping jobs in the country. Iron ore and coal prices have fallen over the past few weeks, prompting fears that Australia’s mining boom may be coming to an end. The [...]
Australian mining giants axe jobs as higher prices cut profit September 10, 2012 GLOBAL miners BHP Billiton and Xstrata have cut mining jobs in Australia as they fight against lower coal prices, higher costs and a strong Australian dollar. Takeover target Xstrata announced yesterday it is to cut 600 jobs across some of its Australian mines, the corporate headquarters in Sydney as well as some office-based jobs in [...]
BHP Billiton to close Australian mine September 10, 2012 Global miner BHP Billiton is to close one of its Australian mines as it battles weak prices and rising costs. It said today it would shut its Gregory mine, near Emerald in Australia, from 10 October, as it deemed production at the mine “no longer profitable in the current economic environment of falling prices, high [...]
The new Beetle is vastly improved September 4, 2012 MORE power. Less flower” is the marketing message for Volkswagen’s latest Beetle, a car that has been created to be more dynamic and exciting. And it is – more than the original Beetle ever was, and certainly a good deal better than the last one. The dashboard vase – a homage to the original Beetle [...]
Wall St treads water ahead of Jackson Hole August 30, 2012 US stocks fell yesterday after several days of muted trading as investors took a defensive posture before Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s much-awaited speech today. Bernanke, due to speak to central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, at 1400 GMT today, is expected to keep markets guessing about the timing of another round of bond purchases. [...]
Analyst Views | What do you think of Antofagasta’s results? August 29, 2012 CAILEY BARKER NUMIS SECURITIES Profits are down seven per cent year-on-year, and revenues up three per cent due to higher production offsetting lower copper prices. All in all it’s a good set of results, but they shouldn’t draw huge surprise. HELAL MIAH THE SHARE CENTRE Antofagasta has the potential to deliver strong results, however due [...]
The FF is a supermodel on steroids August 28, 2012 Ferrari doesn’t tend to do things by halves. When it launched its FF model – the first four-wheel-drive in its history – it did so by having its two F1 racing drivers drive it at the top of Plan De Corones in the Dolomites at 2,350 metres. It’s fair to say, then, that Ferrari is [...]
Car talk August 28, 2012 Bentley shows off its most powerful creation The fastest, most powerful road-going Bentley ever makes its debut at the Moscow Motor Show today. Capable of 205mph, the all-wheel-drive flagship Continental GT Speed is powered by a 6-litre twin-turbo W12 engine developing 616bhp, and can sprint from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds. Chassis, steering and brakes are [...]