UK trade deficit rises from 2-year low March 13, 2012 The UK’s goods trade deficit widened less than expected in January, keeping hopes alive that the economy is rebalancing. Total goods exports to non-EU countries rose to a record high, helped by car sales to the United States, Russia and China. Total oil exports also hit a record peak due to higher oil prices, though [...]
Vodka with a twist of family history March 12, 2012 ZOROKOVICH 1917 vodka looks very cool with its retro Soviet-meets-pop-art label. And let me tell you, this £30-per-bottle spirit also slides down rather well, a fact on which Selfridges, Skylon, Jerry’s in Soho and China Tang at the Dorchester – stockists of Zorokovich 1917 – agree. But what is unique about Zorokovich is its history, [...]
UN presses for Syrian ceasefire March 11, 2012 UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan said yesterday it would be hard to reach a deal to halt bloodshed in Syria, but expressed optimism after meeting President Bashar al-Assad for a second day. “I am optimistic for several reasons,” Annan said. “The situation is so bad and so dangerous that all of us cannot afford to [...]
Aviation groups call for delay to EU carbon rules March 11, 2012 LEADING European aviation companies have warned that European Union plans to charge airlines for carbon pollution could jeopardise jobs and huge trade deals with China. The group of major airlines and plane makers – including Airbus, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Air Berlin and Iberia – said the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) for [...]
Heathrow’s retail sales are booming March 7, 2012 RETAILERS at Heathrow are bucking the gloom in the high street with an 8.8 per cent rise in gross turnover in 2011, fuelled by a growing number of shoppers from the BRIC nations, the airport said yesterday. Heathrow reported record annual traffic last month, and its shops are cashing in on this jump by offering [...]
Greek nerves dent markets March 6, 2012 PRE-BAILOUT nerves set global markets tumbling yesterday, as investors fretted about the prospect of Greece’s looming bond swap failing as well as the broader health of the Eurozone’s economy. The FTSE 100 lost 1.9 per cent to close at 5,765.80 points yesterday, suffering its biggest one-day fall in nearly three months, while Paris’s CAC 40 [...]
Russia criticised over vote March 5, 2012 RUSSIAN police arrested hundreds of protesters yesterday as Vladimir Putin faced questions over the legitimacy of his election as president. Putin was criticised by international election observers a day after claiming victory on 64 per cent of the vote. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) raised serious questions about the election’s validity [...]
Putin triumphs in Russia vote March 4, 2012 But elections are marred by claims of widespread fraud VLADIMIR Putin laid claim to a dramatic victory in Russia’s presidential elections last night despite allegations of vote rigging by his opponents. With counting mostly complete, Putin was on course to claim between 58 per cent and 65 per cent of the vote last night and [...]
Taxing homes more isn’t the answer March 4, 2012 HERE is my factoid of the day: Italians have just replaced Russians as the top foreign buyers of prime central London properties, ending years of oligarch dominance, according to Knight Frank. The only reason the Greeks aren’t ranked higher is that there are too few of them. Analysts interested in predicting financial crises and unrest [...]
BACK IN THE SADDLE FOR PROPERTY’S EPIC CYCLE March 4, 2012 AS MEMBERS of the property world flock into Cannes today for a week of networking at the industry’s MIPIM conference, 86 of their peers are taking a slower route through the French countryside by taking part in the six-day Aedas Cycle to Cannes charity ride. Executives from firms including Land Securities, Capital and Counties, and [...]