American service sector still growing yet employment figures remain mixed October 5, 2011 GROWTH in America’s service sector held up in September, yet mixed news on jobs dampened sentiment across the pond yesterday. While the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) non-manufacturing survey came in at 53 — indicating growth — employment activity contracted for the first time since August last year. The drop in services employment was, however, [...]
A Prime Minister on auto-cue blind to the big picture October 5, 2011 THE joke doing the rounds in the Manchester conference hall yesterday was this: is David Cameron following Plan C or Plan D? The wags weren’t referring to the government’s deficit reduction strategy, but rather the fact that the Prime Minister was forced to rewrite his speech after early extracts, released to the press on Tuesday [...]
Overseas sales boost Walker Greenback October 4, 2011 LUXURY wallpaper and soft furnishings group Walker Greenbank yesterday reported a 13 per cent rise in profits thanks to expanding international sales. The group held two big launches early in the year for Morris & Co and the Harlequin Momentum collection, which fuelled a rise in sales. Group revenues rose 11 per cent to £37.4m, [...]
Gold-related groups might bring markets to life October 3, 2011 GOLD has been one of the few winners of the recent downturn because of its safe haven status, so it should come as no surprise that companies involved in the production of the precious metal should be first in the queue to bring a ray of sunshine to the nearly dormant new issues markets. Polymetal, [...]
Brisbane: still surfing, sun, and lots of fun October 2, 2011 NOT so long ago, Brisbane was little more than the country cousin to Sydney and Melbourne, and the gateway to Surfers Paradise and Noosa. However, this city, the third largest in Australia, and the capital of Queensland, is transforming into a fast-paced modern metropolis. Brisvegas, as it is affectionately known, is making a name for [...]
TRAVEL NOTES October 2, 2011 Celebratory cocktails with Dorchester Last chance to see out 2012 fashion weeks in style by sipping specially-created fashion season cocktails at the Dorchester and 45 Park Lane. Or if you’re still in Paris, pop into the Hôtel Plaza Athénée (pictured above) for a Mexican mescal-based number. Available until 5 October. www.dorchestercollection.com All aboard for some [...]
Nokia to axe 3,500 jobs as cost cuts bite September 29, 2011 EMBATTLED phonemaker Nokia yesterday announced it will slash 3,500 more jobs, including the closure of a major factory in Romania. The cuts are on top of at least 4,000 job losses announced earlier this year. Chief executive Stephen Elop is desperately trying to spin the wheel of the Titanic in the face of falling profits and [...]
Sales increase at Theo Fennell September 29, 2011 THEO Fennell, the Aim-listed jeweller worn by Naomi Campbell and Elton John, has posted a nine per cent rise in sales in the first half of 2011, but remains cautious ahead of its peak trading period. The company has launched a number of new collections in preparation for the peak Christmas sales period, but said [...]
Shops braced for rent D-Day September 28, 2011 THE HIGH street is braced for a fresh blow as quarterly rent demands are due today and hard pressed retailers must pay their landlords. Thousands of firms will have to fork out three months’ rent in one go, with many already struggling to make ends meet in the tough consumer climate. The payments total £3.4bn [...]
Game looks to Christmas as losses rise September 27, 2011 GAME Group is pinning its hopes on a bumper Christmas after seeing its first half losses double to £51m. The video games retailer has suffered from a lack of blockbuster releases this year as well as the economic maelstrom keeping people away from the high street. It reported a pre-tax loss of £51m in the first [...]