US CAR MANUFACTURING JUMPS January 4, 2012 US CAR sales jumped in December, suggesting growth in consumer confidence. Chrysler’s sales are up 37 per cent, Ford’s rose by 10 per cent and Nissan’s increased by 7.7 per cent. Meanwhile, factory output rose in November, according to US commerce department data also released yesterday. New orders rose by 1.8 per cent to $459.2bn [...]
Indices hold gains even as euro falls January 4, 2012 MAJOR US stock indices were little changed in a low-volume session yesterday, but some investors were encouraged to see equities avoid a sell-off amid lingering Eurozone debt problems. Indices held on to the previous day’s large gains even as the euro dropped sharply against the dollar. Notably, US banks held up well, even though bad [...]
Techno couture January 4, 2012 Gadgets and fashion are uneasy bed-fellows. Top designers tend to shun technology in favour of tradition: natural fibres are still the go-to materials – despite the progress of nano fibres – and an expert eye is favoured over the laser precision of a computer. Tom Ford went as far as locking out bloggers and banning [...]
The five suits you need this spring January 4, 2012 Recent suit trends have been resolutely one-dimensional – slim. Collections from almost every major designer and Savile Row tailor have been overwhelmingly slanted towards this classic look. The spring/summer collections take this baton and run – but there is a more adventurous feel to the latest trends. Perhaps the most stand-out feature on the menswear [...]
Why 2012 will be Groundhog Year January 2, 2012 WELL good riddance to all that. Few would disagree that 2011 was truly an annus horribilis, a year defined by feckless politicians and unruly mobs. I, for one, felt a sense of relief when the chiming bells heralded the start of a new year; at certain times over the last twelve months, it felt as [...]
Wells and Ford depart RFU December 21, 2011 RUGBY UNION: Former England coaches John Wells and Mike Ford are to leave the Rugby Football Union with immediate effect. Both men were heavily criticised by England players in the leaked reports which were compiled following November’s World Cup debacle which ended with England exiting at the quarter-final stage following a series of off-field controversies.
20 of the world’s largest donors December 21, 2011 1 BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION US The William H Gates Foundation was created in 1994 to work to improve global health. Created with an original stock gift of $94m (£60.5m), the foundation merged with the Gates Learning Foundation in 2000 to create the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The largest philanthropic organisation in the [...]
RAPID RESPONSES December 19, 2011 US independence I greatly enjoyed Matt Ridley’s article on shale gas [In America, the shale gas revolution is creating jobs and growth. It can here too, last Thursday]. I believe it to be an important part of the USA’s strategy for becoming self sufficient in energy once more. The implications of America weaning itself off [...]
Ford brings back dividend December 8, 2011 Ford has turned the ignition on its dividend for the first time in five years, with a quarterly payout of five cents a share that the number two US automaker said it could maintain during any future downturn. The dividend, payable in March, will cost Ford about $760m (£485m) a year. The company last paid [...]
New England coach Lancaster ready to get tough December 8, 2011 Farrell and Rowntree also on board as new-look set-up aim to eradicate memories of dismal World Cup ENGLAND’S new interim head coach Stuart Lancaster intends to rule with an iron fist in an attempt to eradicate the disciplinary issues and laddish culture which undermined the Red Rose’s abysmal World Cup campaign. Lancaster, the England Saxons [...]