Gold mining firms push FTSE higher despite fears over Spain and Greece June 13, 2012 BRITAIN’S benchmark share index closed higher yesterday as gains in heavyweight gold-mining companies enabled the market to outperform rival European bourses, which fell on persistent worries over the Greek and Spanish debt crises. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index ended up 10.07 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 5,483.81 points. However, trading volumes remained relatively thin [...]
CAR TALK June 12, 2012 Meet Rolls’ Phantom Series II Last week Rolls-Royce Motor Cars introduced 100 of its customers to the latest Phantom Series II by turning its Goodwood assembly line into a dining room. For the “dine on the line” event, guests arrived in chauffeured Rolls-Royce Phantoms or by helicopter, then tucked into a banquet in the red carpet-lined [...]
Banks and miners lead FTSE lower June 8, 2012 Miners and banks led the FTSE down in early trading as investors shunned riskier assets and ran for cover as global economic growth stutters. The fall tracked losses on Wall Street yesterday and Asia overnight despite an initial boost after China cut its interest rates in an attempt to accelerate its growth. But US Federal [...]
Dig into the miners to take gains from growth June 5, 2012 A BIG problem when it comes to day trading most retail equities is that sifting through balance sheets, analysing company performance and then taking a position based on your analysis isn’t the easiest thing in the world. But when trading mining equities, you often have the advantage of trading the macroeconomic news affecting the stock, [...]
Get in a Twizy over the greenest new motor June 5, 2012 IS IT A CAR or a motorcycle?,” asks a driver next to me. “You’re kidding me, is that a prototype?” says another as I pull up to the next set of lights. “It’s cool but what is it?” These are the first of 23 separate interactions I have with strangers asking about the Renault Twizy [...]
BHP wins approval for £6bn deal May 31, 2012 BHP Billiton yesterday cleared the last external hurdle for a planned $10bn (£6.46bn) expansion of its Port Hedland harbour in Western Australia that would help the world’s biggest miner double output of iron ore. The expansion is one of the top three projects BHP has outlined in an $80bn capital spending plan.
CAR TALK May 29, 2012 Is the new Ford Focus ST a tangerine dream? The Ford Focus ST will cost from £21,995 when it goes on sale in June. Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine, the new Focus ST develops 247bhp, yet can return 39.2mpg with CO2 emissions of 169g/km. The car has a unique suspension and upgraded steering [...]
FTSE edges up but Eurozone gloom continues May 24, 2012 The FTSE 100 staged a tentative recovery in early trading although an inconclusive meeting of Eurozone leaders offered little prospect of a plan to save Greece. Overnight the EU said it wanted Greece to stay in the fold but contingency plans are already underway for an exit from the euro for the debt laden country. [...]
FTSE down amid Eurozone gloom May 23, 2012 Miners led the FTSE down in early trading as a two-session rally hit the buffers. Fears that Eurozone leaders have lost control of the bloc’s fast unravelling finances sapped investor confidence. A summit in Brussels today will thrash out possible ways to tackle the latest phase of the crisis including France’s idea for the issuing [...]
Built for comfort as well as speed May 22, 2012 SO I’m supposed to entice you to keep reading this column until the end. But I’m just going to come right out and say it. The new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is very, very good. Surprisingly so. I couldn’t have predicted it. It may even be my ideal car. You see? Finished. You can [...]