Banks to boost business loans October 4, 2010 BRITAIN’S banks are set to propose a collection of measures to help boost lending to small businesses in a bid to persuade ministers they are prepared to aid long-term economic growth. A task force consisting of chief executives from every major British bank, reported by Sky News, was set up three months ago and will [...]
Big banks top High Court appearances October 3, 2010 THE UK’S largest four banks were repeatedly in court last year as the number of High Court cases involving FTSE 100 companies jumped by 16 per cent. Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HSBC collectively made up 43 per cent of all High Court appearances by the UK’s largest companies, [...]
BSkyB braces for crunch EU sports ruling October 3, 2010 BSKYB is braced for a high court hearing this week that could change the football rights landscape. A pub landlady has taken a case to the European Court of Justice claiming Sky is breaching European free-trade rules with the way it sells its commercial Sky Sports packages. Portsmouth-based Karen Murphy was fined after an enforcement [...]
How to live the Polynesian dream October 3, 2010 IT’S a hot and humid afternoon in Nadi on the Fijian mainland as we squash into the rather intimate 14-seater plane that is to deliver us to Taveuni in the north-east of the archipelago. Known as Fiji’s Garden Island for its pristine tropical rainforests and ridiculously beautiful beaches, Taveuni is to be the starting point [...]
Cameron ready to announce his panel of business advisers today September 30, 2010 TWO MORE business figureheads were named as part of David Cameron’s panel of business advisors, Sky News reported yesterday. Indian businessman Ratan Tata and Sony president and chief executive Sir Howard Stringer are set to join a raft of hand-picked industry heads in the government’s business interest group. Also in the frame are Centrica chief [...]
Chelsea can get back on track at the Bridge September 30, 2010 CHELSEA vs ARSENAL SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS IT isn’t often that Chelsea and Arsenal meet each other having both lost their previous league game but that’s exactly what will happen on Sunday. Chelsea were a little lacklustre at Eastlands against Manchester City last Saturday but, in fairness, Roberto Mancini’s side put in a very [...]
Cameron collects City stalwarts for his business panel September 29, 2010 BOSSES at several of the country’s largest companies are to join David Cameron’s panel of business gurus, it emerged yesterday. A source close to Centrica said its chief executive Sam Laidlaw would take a role on the committee, while Sky News named Andy Street, managing director of John Lewis, 3i Group chief Michael Queen and [...]
Government to meet suppliers to discuss cuts September 29, 2010 FRANCIS Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, will hold discussions on Friday with major defence, IT and other equipment suppliers aimed at shaving billions of pounds from its annual procurement bill. Companies such as Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Cisco Systems, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Slaughter & May and Tata Consultancy Services are expected to be at [...]
Monty’s men ready to reclaim Ryder Cup September 29, 2010 ANTICIPATION for golf’s biennial battle has never been higher on this side of the Atlantic. After a hugely successful year for European golfers, expectation is also sky-high and it’s no surprise that Team Europe are listed as 4/6 favourites on Betdaq. Indeed, Paddy Power have already paid out on a European victory before a ball [...]
The Ryder Cup is special, it’s in the blood September 29, 2010 OUR MAN AT CELTIC MANOR WINNING the Ryder Cup as captain at the Belfry in 2002 was quite simply the best feeling I have ever experienced on a golf course. Nothing comes close. I didn’t think anything could top sinking the winning putt to win it as a player in 1985, but taking the trophy [...]