House prices continue to tread water in August, says Halifax September 6, 2012 HOUSE PRICES looked like they were beginning to slip in August, as they dropped slightly compared both to July and August last year, Halifax’s house price index revealed yesterday. Prices were down 0.4 per cent on the month, 0.3 per cent on the quarter, and 0.9 per cent on the year, the index showed, putting [...]
Freesat turns up competition with launch of catch-up TV without a monthly subscription September 3, 2012 FREESAT, the free-to-air digital satellite television service, is ramping up competition with subscription products with the launch today of catch-up television. Its new hi-tech boxes will allow viewers to watch programmes up to eight days after broadcast – a service that has until now been offered by subscription services such as Virgin Media and YouView. [...]
Bulls pin hope on ECB despite negative data September 3, 2012 EUROPEAN stocks ended higher yesterday, extending the previous session’s rally as investors’ hopes of further stimulus from central banks overshadowed grim manufacturing data from China and Europe. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.8 per cent higher at 1,091.61 points, with the index experiencing its lowest trading volumes since last December’s Christmas [...]
Barnes & Noble names retailers August 30, 2012 US BOOKSELLER Barnes & Noble yesterday said it has struck up partnerships with three more British retailers to sell its Nook ereader, after high street giant John Lewis emerged as the first UK retail partner earlier this week. Foyles, Blackwells and Argos have signed up to sell the two devices – Nook Simple Touch and [...]
Need to know August 29, 2012 Samsung last night released the hotly anticipated successor to its genre defining “phablet” the Galaxy Note, catchily dubbed the Galaxy Note II. The Korean firm is still reeling from the ruling that could yet halt sales of some of its most popular smartphones. The Note, though, is not on Apple’s hit-list – and that makes [...]
Pop-ups are everywhere but The Seagrass shines August 27, 2012 RESTAURANT THE SEAGRASS 74 Chapel Market, Islington, N1 9ER Tel: 020 7837 5270 FOOD **** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost per person without wine: £30 POP-UPS. They’ve become a thing, haven’t they? If it’s not located in the loft of an abandoned Victorian insane asylum, it isn’t worth a dime. You can’t move for the [...]
Rapid Responses August 22, 2012 Football antics [Re: An Olympian defends football stars – at least off the pitch, yesterday] My interest in football has declined over the years, as I’ve been forced to watch almost daily nonsense from overpaid footballers and their yobbish behaviour. Please don’t make excuses for these bad examples. It’s disgraceful. Team GB demonstrated a commendable [...]
Inflation’s long squeeze on UK finances eases August 19, 2012 HOUSEHOLDS’ inflation expectations fell to a six-month low in August as the squeeze on finances eased to its lowest level in almost two years, according to a report out today from Markit. The decline in finances almost came to a halt in the private sector, recording a score of 47.2. On Markit’s index a reading [...]
MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR August 6, 2012 A SUCCESSFUL campaign has the power to become one with the company it advertises, to end up as iconic as the brand it represents. The final shortlist for City A.M.’s marketing campaign of the year award attempts to portray a snapshot of advertising in the last year, showcasing a range of themes, designs, products and [...]
Portmeirion sales boosted by Jubilee china collection August 2, 2012 PORTMEIRION said demand for its Jubilee ranges of fine china helped boost profits in the first half of the year, despite tough global conditions. The company behind the Spode and Royal Worcester crockery brands reported a six per cent rise in profit before tax to £1.5m while sales rose two per cent to £22.8m on [...]