What you need to know before the US open April 25, 2014 US stocks futures suggest a lower open for markets, following Amazon and Ford falling in pre-market trading, on the back of their quarterly earnings reports. More optimistic numbers from Microsoft failed to outweigh the slightly more negative sentiment, which has been reinforced by escalating tensions in Ukraine. Corporate news Nokia has confirmed its delayed deal [...]
Beaten Higgins fears for future April 22, 2014 SNOOKER: Four-time world champion John Higgins fears he can no longer regularly compete for top honours, following yesterday’s first-round exit to Alan McManus at the Crucible. Higgins, seeded 11th, lost 10-7 to his Scottish compatriot ranked 35th in the world. Higgins, 38, who has won just one ranking tournament in three seasons, said: “I’m maybe [...]
Incest is best in this Cheek By Jowl production April 21, 2014 THEATRE ‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE Barbican Four Stars CHEEK By Jowl’s production of John Ford’s 1633 play ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore rips some of the flesh from the original but preserves its darkly beating heart. Condensed into an intense interval-less two hours, it’s a bloody collision of taboos lit up by a sparkling [...]
Analyst Views: What did you make of BHP Billiton’s operational review? April 16, 2014 RICHARD KNIGHTS | LIBERUM They’ve upgraded their iron ore and coal production targets, which is a slight positive. BHP is doing what most companies are doing in the face of low prices – increasing output to reduce unit costs. I expect the firm will announce an iron ore expansion programme at the end of the year. [...]
Ford Mustang sent to the tower April 16, 2014 Ford Motors will attempt to get its latest model, the 2015 Ford Mustang, up to the top of the Empire State Building in New York today to celebrate the 50th birthday of the model. The publicity stunt is designed to mimic the launch event for the original Ford Mustang, which rolled off the production line [...]
Nissan nets footie deal April 7, 2014 CAR MAKER Nissan has emerged victorious in a multi-million pound battle to sponsor Europe’s biggest football competition, dislodging current sponsor Ford after more than 20 years. The Japanese giant has swept in to take the coveted sponsorship rights to the UEFA Champions League in an agreement market sources suggest is worth up to £60m a [...]
Caffe Nero brews up a plan to open 225 new stores in the UK April 7, 2014 COFFEE shop chain Caffe Nero is set to open another 225 outlets across the UK over the next five years, creating an extra 1,700 jobs. The London-headquartered firm, which was founded in 1997, will open 40 to 45 stores in the UK each year and the same number overseas, at the same expansion pace as [...]
UK car registrations see strongest month in 10 years April 4, 2014 Car registrations are picking up speed, according to the latest SMMT data. They rose to 464,825 in March, a rise of 17.7 per cent on last month. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes says that's "a surprisingly strong level of growth and a reflection of intensifying consumer confidence". No surprise that March saw a lot of [...]
Sales of used cars in UK rise to a five-year high April 2, 2014 MORE than 6.8m used cars changed hands in the UK last year with the second-hand market reaching its highest level since 2008, according to new research. Data giant Experian found that the total number grew despite a 1.18 per cent drop in Greater London. Sales of new cars have boomed in recent years in the UK, [...]
New York Report: Factory figures help S&P 500 to record close April 1, 2014 US STOCKS rose for a third straight session yesterday, with the S&P 500 ending at a record close, after positive data on factory activity indicated economic growth was gaining traction following a harsh winter. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index of national factory activity rose to 53.7 in March, its second straight [...]