SSL excites the City as profits grow November 24, 2009 ASHARES in SSL jumped to record highs yesterday after the condom-to-foot-deodorant maker said first half profits were up 59 per cent. SSL said that pre-tax profits rose to £51.9m from £32.5m in the six months ending 30 September, driven by a strong performance at its Durex Play business that makes lubricants and vibrators, and its [...]
Gunners win dampened by injury worry November 24, 2009 ARSENAL (2) Vs STANDARD LIEGE (0) ARSENAL secured top spot in Group H and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a smooth attacking display, but their satisfaction was soured by a serious injury to full-back Kieran Gibbs. The outstanding Samir Nasri capitalised on a defensive slip to tuck the opening [...]
Nadal rocked by early loss November 23, 2009 WORLD No2 Rafael Nadal’s ATP World Tour Finals in London got off to the worst possible start with a straight-sets loss to Sweden’s Robin Soderling. The Spaniard, who has not won a tournament since May following a series of injuries, went down 6-4, 6-4 in the Group B match at the O2 Arena. Defeat was [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS November 22, 2009 Legal & General PropertyThe property investment group has hired Simon Russian as senior fund manager of retail development.Russian was previously head of retail and development director at Wilson Bowden Developments, which he joined in 1995. In his new role, he will be responsible for strategically managing the firm’s retail development projects and working with the [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 19, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES VODAFONE?VEXED BY VERIZON STANCEThe chief executive of Vodafone yesterday said that the question of dividend payments from Verizon Wireless, its US joint venture, was one of the most pressing items on the company’s agenda. Speaking at a MorganStanley investor conference in Barcelona, Vittorio Colao said: “We need to solve the US situation.” EUROPEAN [...]
TNK-BP’s new boss unveiled November 19, 2009 OIL giant BP said the candidate proposed by its oligarch partners to lead their Russian joint venture, TNK-BP, had won out over BP’s candidate and that oligarch Mikhail Fridman would stay at the helm until 2011. BP and AAR, a consortium representing the billionaire co-owners, said Maxim Barsky, currently TNK-BP’s executive vice president for strategy [...]
ROMA MOVE IN FOR ROMAN November 19, 2009 ITALIAN side Roma took the lead the race to sign Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko last night after club director Daniele Prade flew into London to discuss a possible transfer. The £13.8m Russian has fallen out of favour under Harry Redknapp this season, prompting Prade to push a deal through. Pavlyuchenko’s representative Oliver Wendt said: “It’s [...]
M&S and ITV brighten up dull day of trading for FTSE November 18, 2009 THE UK’s main market ticked down slightly yesterday, as an unexpected drop in US housing figures spooked investors and weakness in food retailers and tobacco firms outpaced gains in miners and energy companies. The FTSE100 closed 0.1 per cent lower at 5,342.13 with Cable & Wireless, Unilever, Vodafone and HSBC going ex-dividend. Marks & Spencer [...]
Fresh blow to BP over TNK November 18, 2009 TNK-BP is likely to stay under the effective control of Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman until 2011. The chief executive’s post at the joint venture between oil giant BP and four Russian tycoons will soon pass to Maxim Barsky, the candidate agreed by both sides several months ago. But Fridman will stay at the helm of [...]
Central bank slows rocky rouble’s rally November 17, 2009 WHILE its Bric counterparts of Brazil, India and China have been relatively unaffected by the global downturn, the Russian economy has suffered more than most. With approximately 60 per cent of its exports dependent on oil, a slump in the crude price during the second half of 2008 proved disastrous. But a recovering oil price [...]