Wall St inches higher despite Apple’s plunge January 24, 2013 THE smallest of gains gave the Standard & Poor’s 500 its seventh straight winning day yesterday, but the index failed to hold above the 1,500 line, restrained by Apple’s worst day in more than four years. Apple slid 12.4 per cent to $450.50 a day after it posted revenue that missed Wall Street’s forecast as [...]
Chinese freeze waters down SABMiller sales January 22, 2013 AN exceptionally cold Chinese winter drove down beer sales in the country and hit growth at SABMiller. The FTSE 100 brewing giant, which makes Peroni, Grolsch and Pilsner Urquell, said it had sold three per cent less beer in China in the final quarter of 2012 than in the same period last year, when acquisitions [...]
Huawei posts a 33pc surge in its earnings January 21, 2013 CHINESE telecoms giant Huawei saw profits rise by a third in 2012, as it was buoyed by strong growth in Europe and Japan despite facing a US security investigation. The company said it anticipates further growth in 2013, as it expands its smartphone business into more developed markets. Huawei’s main presence outside of east Asia is [...]
The eurosceptic case for renegotiating EU trade relationships with caution January 21, 2013 OECD secretary-general Angel Gurría summarised succinctly, last week, the extent to which globalisation has led to the interconnectedness of countries through trade. In a speech in Paris, he said: “A good produced in the EU and exported to the US includes components from China and Japan, using raw materials and services from Australia, Russia or [...]
Japan hopes to stimulate itself back to prosperity January 21, 2013 SINCE taking office in December, the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been determined to throw everything he can at his economy to try to get it moving again. As well as a massive ¥10.3 trillion (£72bn) government stimulus package, the newly-installed Japanese government has fixed the strong yen in its sights, and has made [...]
What the other papers say this morning January 20, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES AllianzGI to launch UK building fund Allianz Global Investors is to launch a pioneering infrastructure debt fund in the UK – the first of its kind – to help build schools, hospitals and roads in a landmark initiative designed to create jobs and stimulate the faltering economy. Tax crackdown to target middle class [...]
The protectionist beast is back in a subtly fresh form January 20, 2013 IT’S a classic: during every recession, protectionism resurfaces. After four years of economic turmoil, unemployment is critical in the US (7.7 per cent) and Europe (11.7 per cent). Obviously, governments want to protect national companies and jobs, especially if they want to be re-elected. But if protectionism is back, it’s also more subtle. Gone are [...]
Volvo details dramatic cost cuts in bid to be profitable by 2014 January 17, 2013 SWEDISH car maker Volvo, owned by Chinese group Geely, detailed dramatic cost cuts yesterday as part of its bid to become profitable again within the next two years. Chief executive Hakan Samuelsson, said the firm would need to slash costs by over 1bn Swedish kronor (£95.6m) to enable it to break even. Earlier this month, [...]
What the other papers say this morning January 16, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Apple rolls out China credit facility Apple is to allow Chinese consumers to buy its gadgets on credit – a move that could help boost sales in the world’s largest smartphone market by unit shipments, where it has lost share to cheaper brands. HP arms become focus of M&A talk Reports that Dell [...]
Burberry bounces back after customers splash out on gifts January 15, 2013 SHARES in Burberry yesterday bounced back from their September crash after the luxury goods maker said a pick-up in the Chinese market helped boost third quarter sales. The fashion brand sent shock waves through the luxury sector last year by warning of a global slowdown in spending – particularly in China. But yesterday finance director [...]