Higher prices hurt Gazprom November 9, 2009 GAZPROM, the state-owned Russian energy giant, yesterday said its profits for the first six months of the year had halved, even as the cost of gas soared. Profits in the period tumbled to 305.8bn roubles (£6.3bn) from 609.4bn roubles in the first half. The company blamed the price of buying gas from central Asia, which [...]
It’s the joy of six for king Murray November 8, 2009 ANDY MURRAY signalled his return from injury by securing a sixth title of the season at the Valencia Open. Top seed Murray, playing in his first tournament for six weeks after recovering from a wrist injury, swept aside Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 for a 14th career title and his first since the Montreal Masters [...]
Champion Haye eyes dream showdown with Klitschko November 8, 2009 NEW WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye has his sights set on a “mega showdown” with WBC king Vitali Klitschko next year. The 29-year-old won a majority decision over 7ft 2in Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg on Saturday night to become only Britain’s first heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003. Haye now [...]
GM will stick with plan to cut Opel costs November 8, 2009 General Motors (GM) will probably stick to a plan to cut costs at Opel by 30 percent after deciding to restructure the European subsidiary itself rather than sell it, Bob Lutz, a GM executive set to become Opel’s chairman, said yesterday. “The restructuring plan developed at the end of last year is still the basis [...]
Obama in GM trade row November 5, 2009 US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has stepped into the row about the future of Vauxhall and Opel as anger about General Motors’ decision to keep its European arm threatens to harm future business deals. Obama is believed to have made an agreement with German chancellor Angela Merkel that she would co-ordinate with the US leader on [...]
Eubank’s fear for Haye day of reckoning November 5, 2009 FORMER world champion Chris Eubank fears British heavyweight hopeful David Haye has not had adequate sparring practice for his career-defining showdown with Nikolai Valuev. The south Londoner meets Valuev in Nuremberg tomorrow night for the 7ft 2in Russian’s WBA title in one of the most eagerly anticipated heavyweight clashes in years. Ex-cruiserweight champion Haye, who [...]
SocGen posts near doubling of earnings November 4, 2009 FRENCH bank Societe Generale (SocGen) has more than doubled its profits thanks to a good investment banking performance, although the numbers failed to hit market hopes, sparking takeover talk. SocGen posted a 133 per cent rise in net profit to €426m (£381m) from €183m a year earlier, mainly due to the fact that the bank’s [...]
Wenger hails Gunners after Alkmaar rout November 4, 2009 ARSENAL vs AZ ALKMAAR (1) ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger hailed his free-flowing side after they all but booked their place in the Champions League last 16 with a stylish display. Two goals from Cesc Fabregas and strikes from Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby ensured the Gunners crept ever closer to reaching the knockout stages for [...]
Haye: I’m more than a mouthy Englishman November 4, 2009 DAVID HAYE says he will prove he is more than a “mouthy little Englishman” when he locks horns with Nikolay Valuev for the WBA world heavyweight crown. The Londoner has taunted the 7ft 2in Russian throughout the build-up to the Nuremberg showdown on Saturday, but plans to back up his words with a champion performance [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 3, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES INDIA SOLD ON GOLDGold surged to an all-time high after India bought 200 tonnes of the precious metal, swapping dollars for bullion as the finance minister warned the economies of the US and Europe had ‘collapsed’. India’s decision to exchange $6.7bn for gold equivalent to eight per cent of world annual mine production [...]