SAINSBURY’S FAIL TO DELIVER THIS CHRISTMAS December 22, 2011 UP TO one hundred Sainbury’s shoppers were disappointed when a website malfunction caused delivery slot bookings to be cancelled, resulting in lost Christmas orders. The UK’s third largest grocer said it has offered a gesture of goodwill – although it would not specify what – to the customers for whom a suitable alternative could not [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS December 22, 2011 BEAZLEY Nomura rates the insurance group as “neutral” with a target price of 135p, after it confirmed its interest in fellow Lloyd’s insurer Hardy on Wednesday. The broker notes that Beazley will probably need external financing if it pushes ahead with the deal, as an improving rate outlook and interest from other parties could push [...]
S&P is set to finish higher for the year December 22, 2011 US stocks rose yesterday, putting the S&P 500 on the cusp of finishing out the year higher as another decline in jobless claims pointed to further improvement in the labour market. The S&P rose for a third day in seasonally light volume that has contributed to sharp swings recently. With the benchmark index near break-even [...]
Year-end portfolio reshuffles help to boost the FTSE 100 December 22, 2011 BANKS buoyed the FTSE 100 yesterday as Goldman Sachs analysts said the take-up by lenders of ECB loans should be seen as an “important positive” and market bulls attempted to push the index through important technical levels. London’s blue chips closed up 67.23 points, or 1.3 per cent, at 5,456.97, although the index failed to [...]
In dark days let Christmas spirit shine in the City December 22, 2011 JOYFUL and triumphant” are not the most appropriate words to describe the City at the end of 2011. It feels more like being “in the bleak mid-winter”. Yet the Christmas story is one that still inspires. It can lift us from the “woes of sin and strife”, dispel “the mighty dread” and renew a sense [...]
Long Run has to be the call in the King George December 22, 2011 KAUTO Star, the nation’s favourite racehorse, has the opportunity to make history at Kempton Park on Boxing Day in the William Hill King George VI Chase. Clive Smith’s brilliant chaser has won this famous race four times, exactly the same as Desert Orchid, and a fifth win on Monday would spark wild celebrations at the [...]
WHAT’S ON THIS CHRISTMAS OUR GUIDE TO KEEPING BUSY UNTIL THE NEXT CITY A.M. December 22, 2011 Must-see shows • Slava’s Snowshow is the hottest ticket in town this Christmas. The Russian clowning show with a very big twist has been running for decades but it hasn’t been in London for 15 years. Children and adults alike will be moved and amused by the antics of the cheeky, silent actors with a [...]
City slickers ease past sorry Stoke December 21, 2011 MAN CITY 3 vs STOKE 0 MANCHESTER CITY maintained their 100 per cent home record in the Premier League this season with a comfortable victory over Stoke that ensured they lead the top flight at Christmas for the first time since 1929. Stoke boss Tony Pulis omitted his most creative players, Jermaine Pennant and Matthew [...]
Wellcome boost helps charities December 21, 2011 THE WELLCOME Trust, the prominent UK charity for health research, yesterday pledged to increase its donations by 30 per cent over the next five years, after its investment portfolio comfortably outperformed global stock markets. The fund, chaired by City stalwart Sir William Castell, reported a total return of two per cent on its investments this [...]
LATE BOOST FROM CHRISTMAS SHOPPING December 21, 2011 RETAIL sales jumped sharply last week, reversing the negative trend that has defined much of 2011, according to data out yesterday from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Sales rose 2.3 per cent on the week before, and 2.6 per cent on the same week of last year. Heavy promotions and discounts led to the jump, the [...]