What to drink this Christmas December 6, 2009 Champagne As chosen by Esme Johnston, director of www.fromvineyardsdirect.comPerrier JouetBelle EpoqueCream and honey, brioche and lingering nutmeg notes make this special edition bubbly a delightful classic that’s wonderful with food or on its own. £86.95 at www.thedrinkshop.com Serge Mathieu Superb grower’s champagne, it’s nutty and golden with creamy richness and a light, punchy mousse. Great [...]
Tesco takes the gloves off as Christmas price war hots up December 6, 2009 Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco has launched its most aggressive Christmas discount drive, designed to blow its upmarket rivals out of the water. The supermarket giant is slashing the prices of more than 200 products in its Finest range in a bid to stop shoppers defecting to Waitrose and Marks & Spencer for luxury food treats. [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS December 6, 2009 WM MORRISONGalvan Research says that plenty of time has now elapsed at Wm Morrison to allow the shares to absorb any doubts over a possible like-for-like sales slowdown, and the surprise departure of Marc Bolland. It says the stock is holding up well within striking distance of year highs, and there is every likelihood the [...]
THE TIPSTER TESCO COMES UNDER SELLING PRESSURE December 6, 2009 THERE’S no doubting supermarket Tesco’s market dominance nor its ability to make billions of pounds worth of profit. But its share prices has come in for a little profit taking ahead of its third quarter sales, which are due tomorrow. From a technical point of a view, the chart suggests that a head and shoulders [...]
What’s in the box? Not very much December 3, 2009 FilmTHE BOXCert: 12A WHAT would you do if a stranger with half a face offered you a box, and explained that if you pressed the button inside it you could win $1m but a stranger would die? Probably send him packing and check what you’d been drinking, but if you were Cameron Diaz and James [...]
Banks hired by NewLook December 2, 2009 FASHION chain New Look yesterday edged closer to a possible £1.7bn stock market flotation by handpicking banks to work on the deal. The budget fashion chain, owned by private equity firms Apax and Permira, has chosen to work with JP Morgan Cazenove, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse. Lazard has acted as an adviser to the [...]
Dell forecasts a strong Xmas December 2, 2009 US computer maker Dell sees potential rises in consumer and commercial demand over the coming year, as well as a “moderately good” Christmas season, Dell chief financial officer Brian Gladden said yesterday. “I think the consumer cycle has been surprisingly positive this year,” Gladden said at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference. He added: “It certainly [...]
Keep your eyes on the pies December 2, 2009 CHRISTMAS without mince pies would be like a British summer without rain – simply not possible. We love our mince pies – at least before a month of over-eating them makes us a stone heavier and permanently nausceous. But they can vary in quality. At their best, they are a combination of sweet, sour, gooey [...]
…AND WINES TO MATCH December 2, 2009 CROFT’S PARTICULAR A rich Amontillado-style cream sherry like this one works well for your more traditional pie – and traditional pie eater. It’s an unusually pale sherry, which uses fino instead of oloroso as the base wine, lightening up the style overall, and adding the interesting nuances. £10.06 at Waitrose. H&H VERDELHO MADEIRASometimes, nothing beats [...]
Free agent Campbell set to spark Christmas rush December 2, 2009 SOL CAMPBELL is set to spark a Christmas transfer scramble after finally settling his contract dispute with Notts County last night. The 35-year-old had been prevented from joining another club after leaving County less than a month into a five-year deal back in September. But players’ union chief Gordon Taylor has confirmed the League Two [...]