Premier Foods profits fall as costs rise August 5, 2011 Food manufacturer Premier Foods said it was seeing an improving trend in its second half as it posted an expected 29 per cent fall in first-half profit, hit by higher commodity costs and a depressed consumer environment. The maker of Branston pickle, Bisto gravy and Hovis bread said Friday it made a trading profit for [...]
Triple A rating still in doubt August 1, 2011 THE US could still be downgraded by ratings agencies despite passing its deficit reduction plan yesterday, say economists, leaving debt markets under a cloud of uncertainty. The deal to cut US spending by $2.4 trillion over the next decade falls far short of S&P’s stated requirement that Washington would have to produce some $4 trillion [...]
When good news turns out to be bad July 28, 2011 SOMETIMES, it is hard not to be a glass half empty kind of person, even though I always try to see the bright side of life. Take the news yesterday that Britain’s borrowing costs fell below equivalent American rates for the first time in almost two years. The reason, of course, was the US debt [...]
The exec who introduced the iPod generation to the BBC July 28, 2011 AS the executive responsible for introducing the BBC’s iPlayer service, Ashley Highfield has a track record that most can only dream of. Launched on Christmas Day 2007, the BBC’s online catch-up TV service was an instant hit and has gone from strength to strength ever since. In the first fortnight, viewers downloaded more than 3.5m shows, smashing [...]
ARM warns of a light Christmas July 26, 2011 ARM Holdings, the Cambridge-based maker of chips that power the Apple iPhone and other smartphones, has reported a 25 per cent profit rise this quarter, but warned it is not counting on a Christmas sales boom. The firm’s technology, used by firms such as Samsung, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments, helped lift pre-tax profit to £54.2m, [...]
Strong results nudge FTSE up in spite of US debt stalemate July 26, 2011 BRITAIN’S top shares managed modest gains yesterday as solid results from blue-chips including drugmaking group GlaxoSmithKline and energy firm BG Group more than offset an earnings miss from heavyweight BP. Volume on the FTSE 100 was thin, however, as investors waited for clarity from US debt ceiling talks. The UK benchmark index ended up 4.47 [...]
Big City Climb a good excuse to get super fit July 25, 2011 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT NEED a new fitness goal? Whether you’re trying to banish your summer barbecue belly, or getting in early for your Christmas LBD, we might have just the fitness event for you… The Lord Mayor’s Appeal is after “daredevil contenders” to take part in a unique climbing event this autumn when participants [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING July 24, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES CHINA EYES BARTER PLAN TO BYPASS US SANCTIONS ON IRAN PAYMENTS Tehran and Beijing are in talks about using a barter system to exchange Iranian oil for Chinese goods and services, as US financial sanctions have blocked China from paying at least $20bn for oil exports. The US sanctions against Iran, which make [...]
Why I might ditch my iPhone for Windows. No, really. I’m serious. July 11, 2011 This could be the year I swap my iPhone for a Windows Phone. Really. No, really. Seriously. Wait, hear me out. Fine. What? Just get out. Go. Last week I got my hands on the latest version of WP7, codenamed Mango. And it’s good. It’s very good. Its predecessor was nice – it avoided the [...]
NO PLAN B FOR BRITAIN SAY TORY BELIEVERS July 7, 2011 DON’T have a business card on you? No problem – just write your name on the back of a £50 note and drop that in the hat for the City lunchtime raffle instead. Yes, it could only be the annual fundraising gathering of The Cities of London & Westminster Conservative Association, where the Tory body’s [...]