THE WALL STREET WEEK AHEAD November 28, 2010 THERE is no sign that investors’ headaches from Europe are going away, but early indications of strong holiday spending and an improving labour market could soothe Wall Street this week. Fears that Europe’s debt crisis could spiral out of control have pushed stocks off two-year highs hit earlier this month. Since 5 November, the S&P [...]
Culture, sand and sun: a day in Oman just isn’t enough November 28, 2010 MUSCAT in the Sultanate of Oman is set on the edge of rough desert landscapes overlooking sparkling emerald seas. Today it’s a sought-after holiday spot for those in search of pristine diving waters, year-round sunshine and an authentic Arabian experience. Nothing like its glitzy neighbour, Dubai. It’s my third visit in a decade and is [...]
Real estate shares surge as bid for CSC sparks appetite November 25, 2010 BRITAIN’S leading shares pushed higher yesterday, buoyed by strength in heavyweight miners and banks, and by gains from real estate issues as Capital Shopping Centres bounced on bid interest. At the close, the FTSE 100 was up 41.83 points, or 0.7 per cent, at 5,698.93, dipping back in the closing auction after hitting a late-afternoon [...]
THE WALL STREET WEEK AHEAD November 21, 2010 Expectations about Black Friday, when Americans traditionally get serious about holiday shopping, could sway stocks this week if it looks like the economy will get a pop from consumer spending. The outcome of talks to shape a bailout for Ireland could also move stocks, analysts said, but they cautioned that other highly indebted Eurozone countries [...]
Let’s all go out shopping: US retailers are back in vogue November 15, 2010 WE USED to build civilisations. Now we build shopping malls”. So said Bill Bryson about his native land. For the last two years, however, America has not been building shopping malls. American retailers have been at the bottom of a deep pit and struggling to get out. They may well have just found a ladder, [...]
Caledon shares soar on sale November 8, 2010 CALEDON Resources has agreed in principle to be bought by a subsidiary of Chinese investment group Guangdong Rising Assets Management (GRAM), sending the coking coal producer’s London-listed shares to their highest level in more than two years. The possible offer, which is subject to certain conditions including the recommendation of Caledon’s board and Chinese regulatory [...]
BA back in the black October 29, 2010 British Airways expects to deliver further growth in 2011 after posting its first profit in two years, helped by cost cutting and improved demand for premium class travel in the first half. BA, whose merger with Spain’s Iberia completes in January, on Friday reported a pretax profit of £158m for the six months to September [...]
Betfair heads for the FTSE 250 as float expected to hit top end of price range October 19, 2010 BETFAIR’S £1.5bn float is expected to hit the top end of the firm’s price range, according to City figures. Sources close to the negotiations said the float is already oversubscribed by top institutional investors within its £11 to £14 price range. It is understood at least one major investor has increased its offer from £12.50 [...]
INSIDE THE MISCHIEVOUS MIND OF A FIXED INCOME BONDS ANALYST October 10, 2010 EVER wondered about the fantasies of a bonds analyst? Well, no, we can’t say we did either, until Evolution Securities’ Gary Jenkins decided to bare all in his column for Credit Matters. Fresh from his promotion to head of fixed income, Jenkins’ megalomaniacal ambitions know no limit: he imagines himself in a new role as [...]
Captain Moody faces race to be fit for All Blacks clash October 6, 2010 ENGLAND captain Lewis Moody faces a race against time to be fit for the first autumn Test against New Zealand at Twickenham after picking up a facial injury playing for Bath at the weekend. The 32-year-old is likely to be out for four weeks after suffering bruising to his eye following a collision with Gloucester [...]