Vodafone to close final salary scheme November 25, 2009 VODAFONE is set to shut its £755m final salary pension scheme to 4,000 staff, in a fresh round of cost-cutting by chief executive Vittorio Colao. Colao is aiming to offset plummeting revenue at the mobile phone operator. The firm is following the lead of Barclays, Whitbread and Fujitsu, who are also blocking current workers from [...]
CITY VIEWS: WHEN DO YOU THINK THE ECONOMY WILL COME OUT OF RECESSION? November 25, 2009 SIMON DUKE LLOYD’S OF LONDON“I expect that by the end of next year we will see signs that the recession has ended, particularly because we’ve already hit bottom. It will take time for new jobs to surface and previous jobs to return, but I think the recovery process is underway.” MARK STOOP BEAZLEY“I think the [...]
BMI cuts jobs and routes in restructuring November 25, 2009 AILING airline BMI is slashing 600 jobs and axing five of its Heathrow routes as it strives to cut costs, it said yesterday. The carrier will also start handing back its leased aircraft, it said, blaming the recession and the fall-off in demand for travel. BMI will stop flying to Brussels, Tel Aviv, Kiev and [...]
CHRISTMAS AT TIFFANY’S November 25, 2009 LOWER costs and strong overseas sales helped upmarket jeweller Tiffany’s report earnings that fell just one per cent to $43.3m (£25.9m) in the third quarter. The company boosted its full-year profit outlook with the approach of the key Christmas season.
Best of British November 24, 2009 I’M CURRENTLY feeling like a WAG. To clarify, this is purely down to my current motor, and not because I’ve hooked up with a Chelsea striker. You see I’m driving around in a Bentley (times are hard). I haven’t been in one for a long time and I’ve always associated them with elder statesmen, people [...]
A HEFTY DOSE OF CRUNCH-BUSTING CHRISTMAS CHEER HITS THE CITY November 24, 2009 AFTER the appearance of the traditional annual Coca Cola advert on our television screens heralded the official start to the festive season, it appears the corporate Christmas is truly in full swing. Demand for Christmas crackers is up a whopping 21 per cent from last year as cheap ‘n’ cheerful celebrations take precedent over luxurious [...]
AT THE BORDERS EDGE November 24, 2009 BORDERS fuelled closure fears yesterday by halting orders on its website while the retailer is “in discussion with potential buyers”. The firm said existing orders will be delayed, but fulfilled. Some analysts believe Borders may not survive until Christmas, and unless a buyer is found is expected to go into administration.
THE TIPSTER November 24, 2009 THE dollar has been falling across the board, but against the Swiss franc it is now flirting with parity. The pair was seen at these levels in the first quarter of 2008, but the currency never managed to fall below SFr 0.9877, and a sustained break below parity would be moving towards uncharted territory. The [...]
Mercedes chiefs fuel Schumacher return talk November 23, 2009 MERCEDES GP chiefs have fuelled speculation they could tempt Michael Schumacher out of retirement after confirming Nico Rosberg will drive for them next year. Schumacher, 41, has not raced since calling time on his career in 2006 after winning seven world championships with Benetton and Ferrari. But the track legend has been linked with a [...]
Looking out for Santa November 23, 2009 BY all accounts UK households are digging in for a frugal Christmas this year. Surveys from research groups like retail specialist Verdict predict that, with the threat of rising mortgage rates and tax increases in 2010, shoppers won’t be feeling too jolly this festive season, and spending will drop year-on-year for the first time on [...]