RUBENS AND CHARLES I WATCH LUXURY GONGS November 15, 2010 THE great and good of the British luxury brands industry gathered for one of the biggest events of the year last night, as its lobbying group, Walpole, held its annual awards. In Whitehall’s Banqueting Hall, under the glow of a delicately lit ceiling of Rubens masterpieces and near the site where King Charles I was [...]
WHAT HAS ENABLED MAJESTIC TO BUCK THE TOUGH CONSUMER TREND? November 15, 2010 KEITH BOWMAN | HARGREAVES LANSDOWN The half-year performance has been underwritten by a management decision to reduce the minimum order from twelve to six bottles, with the initiative proving popular with both existing and new customers. KATHARINE WYNNE | INVESTEC Majestic’s move to the six-bottle minimum appears to have added another gear to what was [...]
Flybe gears up for a stock market debut November 14, 2010 BUDGET airline Flybe is close to announcing an initial public offering (IPO) on the London stock market, sources familiar with the matter confirmed yesterday. Europe’s largest domestic airline by passenger numbers has hired Investec and Merrill Lynch to advise on the float, which could value the company at £200m according to a Sunday newspaper. Flybe [...]
Businesses withdraw savings November 14, 2010 One in three businesses with an annual turnover of £1m or more have withdrawn £2.43bn from their savings to help pay the higher interest rates on their debt, according to research from Investec bank. The average withdrawal made by companies who have done this was £35,270, but some 4 per cent of businesses of this [...]
JJB issues warning as promotions fail November 11, 2010 STRUGGLING sportswear retailer JJB yesterday warned that full-year results would not meet its hopes after poor recent trading, increasing the chances of the company having to raise additional cash. Shares in JJB, which came close to administration last year, lost up to 29 per cent of their value after the retailer said sales over the [...]
Foden wants England to be film stars against Australia November 10, 2010 ENGLAND full-back Ben Foden may have close links with the world of pop music, but video is his preferred form of entertainment. Well, one recording in particular: that of the landmark victory over Australia in Sydney in June. Foden – currently dating a member of girl band The Saturdays – admits he has pored over [...]
FTSE 100 falls after gloomy import data and debt worries November 10, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index fell to a one-week closing low yesterday, pressured by miners on fears over softening demand from China after downbeat import data, with worries about Ireland’s debt also darkening the mood. The FTSE 100 closed down 58.25 points, or one per cent, at 5,816.94. The index ended up 0.4 per cent on [...]
Gartmore on the block as star resigns November 8, 2010 GARTMORE yesterday said its star manager Roger Guy had resigned and the firm put itself up for sale, firing the starting gun for rivals to cut a deal before heavy outflows damage the group irrevocably. Goldman Sachs has been appointed to examine the options for the firm, which chief executive Jeffrey Meyer said would include [...]
WHAT WILL THIS WEEK’S INFLATION REPORT SIGNIFY? November 7, 2010 PETER DIXON | COMMERZBANK If the Bank’s growth forecasts are to be believed, the MPC ought logically to be more disposed towards the views of Andrew Sentance than Adam Posen, ie, raise interest rates. MICHAEL SAUNDERS | CITIGROUP Now that the policy rate is anchored close to zero, the release of the Inflation Report has [...]
England can impress in Investec Series opener November 5, 2010 ENGLAND vs NEW ZEALAND TOMORROW, 2.00PM, SKY SPORTS Martin Johnson gets the chance to show how his England team have progressed since their excellent 21-20 victory over Australia in June, as the autumn internationals get underway tomorrow at Twickenham. England face the toughest possible opener against the All Blacks, who will be seething after they [...]