BA in winter of discontent December 14, 2009 BRITISH AIRWAYS (BA) is facing hundreds of thousands of pounds of losses after its cabin crew voted overwhelmingly in favour of a 12-day strike, threatening to paralyse the airline over the peak Christmas and New Year period. A bitter row over jobs, pay and working conditions escalated yesterday, when more than 12,000 BA members of [...]
CITY VIEWS: ARE BRITISH AIRWAYS’ STAFF RIGHT TO STRIKE? December 14, 2009 BOB AYERS | BULLIVANT & PARTNERS “The timing to strike over the Christmas period could not be more cruel. I really can’t understand why the staff have decided to strike bearing in mind BA’s dismal performance. It will damage the company, no doubt, and striking staff are unlikely to achieve much.” STUART PHILLIMORE | ROYAL [...]
BAH, HUMBUG December 14, 2009 Despite reports of strong trading on the high street, a leading stockbroker has predicted that spending on Christmas presents this year is likely to take a significant knock thanks to the muted economic environment. Responses to Execution’s November “spend trend” survey suggest that consumers expect to spend an average of £373 on Christmas presents this [...]
We need characters to save us, insists Carragher December 14, 2009 LIVERPOOL defender Jamie Carragher has issued a rallying call to his team-mates, insisting they need to show character to bounce back from their recent slump in form. The Reds crashed to their sixth league defeat of the season at home to Arsenal on Sunday – a result which sees them languish in seventh spot in [...]
It’s all Gold for Hammers as ex-City duo lodge £50m bid December 14, 2009 FORMER Birmingham City co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan stepped up their expected takeover of struggling West Ham last night by lodging a formal £50m bid. The Hammers are seeking new owners following the bankruptcy of Icelandic chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, while shirt sponsors, the XL holiday company, also went out of business. Gold, meanwhile, has [...]
Why fizz is good for you December 14, 2009 JOHN Mortimer, the author who created the scuzzy lawyer Rumpole of the Bailey, used to say that champagne was the secret to a long life. Mortimer drank a glass of fizz every morning, before settling down to work on his plays and novels. He lived to a sprightly and active 85, and was publishing books [...]
TRAVEL NOTES December 14, 2009 A winter wonderland break in Prague Try a visit to central Europe’s most beautiful city for New Year’s, where fairytale gothic spires, golden rooftops and plenty of beer are sure to delight when the clock strikes 12. Stay at the four-star Casa Marcello in the Josefov district for £696 per person for three nights over [...]
OUT OF OFFICE December 14, 2009 BOO SAVILLE British artist Boo Saville has created a collection of prints that should be unsettling but are actually calming and contemplative – and quite beautiful. Her Ghost series works from images of dead bodies that Saville has found in books and the internet, but she lifts and changes the images through drawing and burning [...]
THE TIPSTER December 14, 2009 SPORTS retailer Sports Direct is continuing to do well, rising to as high as 110p last week after opening Monday’s trading session at 102p. The stock lost some ground towards the end of the week, but there could be another recovery to come in the run up to Christmas. ShortsandLongs.com has a rolling spread of [...]
Christmas is half time in liquidity vs worry match December 13, 2009 It’s half time in the match and just before the Christmas break “Liquidity and Earnings” have strolled to a three goal lead against the “Wall of Worry”. But how to bet in the second half? Will we see a re-run of the last six months in the next six, or just like Liverpool FC in [...]