Mortgage lending falls in January March 11, 2011 UK mortgage lending fell 29 per cent in January from December’s level, new data has shown. Just 28,500 loans were extended to property buyers, a fall of 12 per cent on January 2010, a report from the Council of Mortgage Lenders found. The fall is being attributed to “an unusual combination of factors” including public [...]
Cineworld looks for 3D boost March 10, 2011 Cineworld said yesterday new blockbusters should lift business this year as its profit was hit by the poor weather before Christmas. The group said 2011 promised to be a big year with a schedule which includes new Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes films and a number of 3D movies, following the success of Avatar. Cineworld [...]
John Lewis profit up 20pc – but warns of tough 2011 March 9, 2011 Retailer John Lewis said it would pay over 73,000 staff, known as partners, a bonus of 18 per cent of salary as it posted a 20 per cent rise in year profit after winning market share from rivals. But the 147-year-old employee-owned group, which owns 28 department stores, four John Lewis “at home” stores, 244 [...]
Whose title is it anyway? March 2, 2011 FRANK LAMPARD’S winner on Tuesday could prove the turning point of the season, although I fancy there may be a few more over the next four weeks. We’re entering the decisive phase of the campaign for anyone with title aspirations, and every point gained or dropped now is vital. Results in other competitions could also [...]
Need to boost office morale? Just set up a bar in the boardroom March 2, 2011 IT’S 6 o’clock and it’s been a long day at work. You’re not quite finished yet – but lord could you do with a drink. Suddenly, your wildest dream becomes reality.? We’re talking about an actual, zippy bar setting up shop in the conference room or kitchen, with a couple of cute and enthusiastic barmen [...]
Caution rules on high street as borrowers look to repay debts March 1, 2011 APPETITE for borrowing has dropped in 2011, data from the Bank of England revealed yesterday. Consumer credit showed a net repayment of £333m in January, appearing to reflect caution on the high street, and people’s desire to reduce personal debts. Net borrowing had averaged around £200m over the previous six months, while in December credit [...]
Bloomsbury predicts year of the e-book February 28, 2011 PUBLISHER Bloomsbury yesterday heralded the year of the e-book as it unveiled an 18 per cent increase in electronic sales. The firm reported overall revenues of £90.7m, up four per cent year-on-year, while profits excluding one-off items rose to £8.4m from £7.7m. E-book sales now account for 10 per cent of Bloomsbury sales. Nigel Newton [...]
HMV in talks with Russian billionaire over sale of bookseller Waterstone’s February 27, 2011 HIGH street bookseller Waterstone’s could be sold to a Russian billionaire by its owner HMV. The retailer is said to be holding talks over a potential sale to oligarch Alexander Mamut, a wealthy businessmen best known in Britain as the backer of blogging website LiveJournal. Mamut has already built a 6.1 per cent stake in [...]
Making interiors more fashionable February 24, 2011 BLACK leather rock and roll was certainly a feature of this year’s London Fashion Week. Kate Moss was slapped across yesterday’s papers for finishing the week in a floor length leather dress. But she wasn’t the only one to be upping the ante and embracing cow skin. The German twins, Daniela and Annette Felder, behind [...]
BAA narrows annual losses despite snow February 22, 2011 HEATHROW and Stansted owner BAA narrowed its losses to £316.6m in 2010, it announced yesterday, as a rise in retail spending at its airports made up for some of the £58m hit from snow, ash and strike disruption. BAA, owned by Spain’s Ferrovial, said revenue rose 4.9 per cent to £2.07bn last year. Losses were [...]