Obama looks to raise cash from the rich September 18, 2011 US President Barack Obama is expected to unveil plans for a new tax on millionaires today – but political rivals are already calling the proposal “class warfare”. Obama is preparing to set out an extra levy on those earning more than $1m a year, dubbed the Buffett Tax following billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s recent call [...]
Dixons cuts costs and vows to pay £150m bond on time September 7, 2011 DIXONS is cutting more costs and trimming investment plans to counter a drop in sales and profit margins as shoppers rein in spending. Europe’s second-largest electricals retailer and home to the Currys and PC World chains said it would cut an extra £10m of costs and limit capital spending to £100m, down from an original [...]
Dixons sales fall as shoppers cut back September 7, 2011 Dixons , Europe’s second-biggest electricals retailer, has posted a drop in first-quarter underlying sales and profit margins as shoppers reined in spending on discretionary items amid rising prices and austerity measures. The group, which owns the Currys and PC World chains, has said sales at stores open at least a year fell seven per cent [...]
Get smart for Autumn August 25, 2011 IT hasn’t been much of a summer, but with the cold and rain this week it definitely seems to be time to start thinking about that autumn wardrobe. This year’s autumn/winter trends are subtly inspired by the masculine side of 1970s fashion (as opposed to the pimped-up, checks ‘n’ flares side). “The trick is to [...]
Milking Cowes Week: How to get most out of world’s best regatta August 3, 2011 World-beating sailor lends her expertise ahead of the Isle of Wight extravaganza PREPARATION comes in all sorts of guises. As an Olympic Sailor I spent four years preparing for one event; our thoughts encompassed all possibilities and we prepared and practised for everything that was in our control. Walking around Cowes last weekend it was [...]
Rivers, Buddhas and temples: SE Asia minus the beaches July 31, 2011 SOUTH East Asia is intimidatingly rich in temptations, fascinations and possibilities. As someone who had never been, and had ten days for the inaugural journey, I had to make some tough decisions. The first one was to steer clear of the beaches and focus on culture and rivers. This may sound a bit unsexy. But [...]
Dixons wins deal with Harrods July 25, 2011 STRUGGLING electricals retailer Dixons – which has been trying to find a way to offset falling sales – has signed up to run the consumer electronics section at Harrods. The unlikely partnership comes after a spat in which Dixons directly tried to steal customers from Harrods by encouraging people to browse at the upmarket store [...]
Wetherspoon in revenue rise July 13, 2011 JD WETHERSPOON reported higher fourth-quarter sales and said an encouraging performance from its recently opened pubs should help it achieve a reasonable full-year outcome, despite rising costs and weaker consumer confidence. The pub company said its like-for-like sales for the 11 weeks to 10 July were 1.6 per cent up, with year to date sales [...]
Wetherspoon sales edge up July 13, 2011 Pubs firm JD Wetherspoon reported higher fourth-quarter sales and said an encouraging performance from its recently opened pubs should help it achieve a reasonable full-year outcome, despite rising costs and weaker consumer confidence. Wetherspoon on Wednesday said its like-for-like sales for the 11 weeks to 10 July were 1.6 per cent up, with year to [...]
Chipmaker fails to cash in on iPad boom June 27, 2011 WOLFSON Microelectronics is the government’s idea of a perfect British business. It is a manufacturer; it is high-tech; it is based in Scotland; and it was spun out of the University of Edinburgh. A business in the regions that actually makes stuff, all the while demonstrating the success of Britain’s education system. A great photo [...]