The case for investing in the artistry of rare gold coins June 10, 2012 THE rare coin market encompasses over 2,500 years of history. It’s dominated by a backbone of collectors who offer stability as long-term holders with a passion for collecting. Growth is currently coming from both collectors and investors. It is a result of a combination of very low interest rates, extreme volatility within traditional investment markets [...]
Czech defender confirms racial abuse June 10, 2012 Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie has confirmed he suffered racist abuse during his team’s Euro 2012 defeat to Russia on Friday. The full-back, who is of Ethiopian descent, said his treatment from Russian fans was “nothing extreme”, while the Czechs said they would not submit an official complaint.
Russia’s biggest lender posts 13 per cent jump in earnings June 7, 2012 RUSSIA’S biggest bank, Sberbank, said yesterday that its net profit grew 13.1 per cent for the first five months of the year, driven by growth in loans to corporate and retail clients. The figures reported are under Russian accounting standards, which have various differences to international financial reporting standards (IFRS) in the way they account [...]
Portugal too big at 20/1 with Ronaldo in the line-up June 7, 2012 SPAIN once again go into a major tournament as favourites and victory at Euro 2012 will make them the first- ever European team to win three straight titles. That would be some achievement by a country branded perennial underachievers until four years ago. Vicente Del Bosque’s men always have to be feared, but the Spanish [...]
Madrid maestro can carry his superb club form over to the international stage June 7, 2012 I’M ASKING a lot of Cristiano Ronaldo here, but I think he has the ability to not only take Portugal to the latter stages, but be the tournament top scorer too. Free-kick, dribble, header – or a tap in – there is no goal, too simple or spectacular, that Ronaldo cannot score. He has it [...]
Polish promise hints at happy start for hosts June 7, 2012 NO host nation has won the European Championship since France in 1984, and while Poland are 50/1 shots to scratch that 28-year itch, they do look set for an extended involvement in their own backyard. They will be more encouraged by the fact that of the 15 countries to have held the previous 13 tournaments [...]
Bill Esdaile’s Top Weekend Racing Tips June 7, 2012 STARVED of competitive football for two-and-a-half years, Poland will be chomping at the bit and they can get the Euro 2012 party started with a win against Greece in Warsaw tonight, at 21/20 with BetVictor. They come into the fixture with three wins in the bag from their warm-up games against Latvia, Slovakia and Andorra [...]
Babcock rises to FTSE 100 as Man demoted June 6, 2012 HEDGE fund manager Man Group discovered last night that it will lose its coveted spot in the FTSE 100, following the index’s quarterly review. It will be replaced by services firm Babcock, which owns a variety of defence interests, including Plymouth’s Devonport Shipyard and a contract from the Ministry of Defence to support the development of [...]
Key BP papers may come out June 6, 2012 A CONFIDENTIAL document at the heart of BP’s disputes with its partners in Russian oil company TNK-BP may become public under legal amendments agreed by Russia’s competition watchdog, its deputy director said yesterday. BP and the AAR consortium of four Soviet-born tycoons, who share control of the Russian oil producer, have traded accusations of breaching [...]
Producers of whisky look to middle classes in the BRICs June 6, 2012 WHENEVER Scottish nationalists are selling the case for independence, they peddle the myth that some clapped-out oil fields in the North Sea will bring decades of guaranteed prosperity. They would be better pinning their flimsy economic arguments on a liquid that is being exported in ever greater quantities: Scotch whisky. Diageo’s decision to invest £1bn [...]