Lookers bullish on 2011 outlook March 9, 2011 LOOKERS yesterday reported a better-then-expected full-year profit, driven by a strong performance from its motor and car parts businesses and a reduction in costs, and the British car dealer said it was well-placed for further growth. The 124-outlet firm, which sells cars from manufacturers including Ford, Vauxhall, Nissan and Toyota, said January to December adjusted [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING March 8, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES MOVE TO SYNTHETIC US JUNK BONDS Demand is growing for “synthetic” financial instruments that enable investors to take positions in the US junk bond market without owning the underlying securities. The instruments, created by using credit derivatives on junk bond or high-yield indices, resemble transactions linked to US mortgages that proliferated before the [...]
SDL pays maiden dividend March 7, 2011 Translation software firm SDL posted a profit rise for 2010 and said it would pay a maiden dividend to reflect its confidence going forward. SDL, which provides translation software and services for multinationals including Dell, Canon and Ford, said demand for its services looked solid going into 2011. Pre-tax profit rose 20 per cent to [...]
Old school glam, new designers March 7, 2011 THE doors close at the E Tautz men’s fashion show during London Fashion Week, and the hustle and bustle of outdoor crowds immediately fades. There’s no bank of spotlights in the Royal Opera House’s opulent room, only a small group of photographers, no standing crowd of students and hangers on, just a few fashion writers [...]
What the other papers say this morning February 28, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES ITALIAN BANKS GO FOR GOLD IN MOVE TO TRANSFORM CORE CAPITAL RATIOS Italian banks think they may have struck gold as they seek to add lustre to balance sheets ahead of the summer stress tests. The lenders, which are shareholders in the central bank, are lobbying for their stakes to be marked to [...]
CSR hits targets but lags in smartphone market February 9, 2011 CHIPMAKER CSR posted fourth-quarter results at the top end of its guidance yesterday and said it would grow revenue in 2011. It was bolstered by new products targeting phone makers and auto companies. The maker of GPS, bluetooth and wi-fi chips posted fourth-quarter revenue of $184.8m (£131m) , ahead of consensus forecasts, but down from [...]
Ford recalls trucks in US February 3, 2011 Ford is recalling nearly 281,000 F-150 pickup trucks in the US because of a potential problem with the door handles not working properly, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said yesterday. Model years 2009 and 2010 F-150 trucks produced from January 2008 to November 2009 are being recalled.
THE FAMOUS FIVE – ENGLAND’S FOES February 2, 2011 Italy NICK MALLETT’S Italy remain a work in progress, and will have their work cut out again to not collect the wooden spoon, as they have done for the past three years. But there are some positives, and the Azzurri are becoming more competitive, thanks in part to domestic powerhouses Benetton Treviso and Aironi Rugby’s [...]
US car sales surge 18pc in January February 1, 2011 US car sales jumped by about 18 per cent in January, led by gains for General Motors and Chrysler as the two Detroit carmakers restructured by the US government took share from rivals. GM posted a 22 per cent sales gain, pushing its market share above 20 per cent. Chrysler, which is pushing toward an [...]
Slasher flick with added pliés January 20, 2011 Film BLACK SWAN Cert: 15 NATATLIE Portman plays ballet dancer Nina in this psychological thriller from director Darren Aronofsky (the Wrestler). She’s just landed the lead role in Swan Lake: it’s The Biggie. Notorious for being mentally and physically exacting, the challenge is made even tougher when the talented Lily (Mila Kunis) joins the company. [...]