WINNERS & LOSERS July 18, 2010 A WEEKEND is a long time in sport, as this lot will attest. But while for some it was a few days to remember, others may wish they had never set foot out of the house. WINNER – PAUL THE OCTOPUS So popular is the psychic cephalopod that his German keepers have snubbed a cash-plus-animals bid [...]
Virgin close to legal action over media JV July 15, 2010 VIRGIN?Media is almost certain to take legal action over a controversial video-on-demand venture backed by the BBC. Project Canvas is a joint venture between media giants including BT, TalkTalk and ITV that will offer video streamed over users’ broadband connections. It has come under fierce criticism by Virgin and Sky, who say it is bad [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS July 15, 2010 BP: ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY At last, some good news for BP. Its stock has sunk so low – closing yesterday at 401.75p – that investors are jumping at the chance to snap up cheap stakes in the oil giant. Clients of Barclays Stockbrokers have been piling into the stock – a third of [...]
The rising star of online retail July 15, 2010 YOU’VE just given birth and one of the first things your husband asks you to do is to sign a cheque for your new boutique (Powder, based in Crouch End. ) That was Sarah Curran’s experience of the first hours of motherhood to son Jake, now seven-years old. It is no surprise that Curran says [...]
Ocado reels as rival IPO fails July 14, 2010 OIL and gas group Fairfield Energy last night pulled its upcoming stock market flotation in a move that further undermines the chances of online grocer Ocado floating at a sky-high valuation of £1bn. Fairfield was hoping to raise £330m as part of its flotation but on Tuesday it became clear that the group’s advisers were [...]
Pru director could step down soon July 14, 2010 PRUDENTIAL’S senior independent director has told colleagues he will step down from the board once a replacement is found, according to reports last night. James Ross, a director at the Pru since 2004, may retire and trigger a larger board shake-up at the insurer following its failed £23.5bn bid for AIA. A spokesperson for Prudential [...]
BSkyB in talks to launch Arabic news channel with private Abu Dhabi investor July 14, 2010 BRITISH pay-TV company BSkyB is in talks with a private Abu Dhabi investor to launch a round-the-clock Arabic language news channel under the Sky News brand. The new channel, which could launched within 24 months, would be run as a 50-50 joint venture, providing coverage of news across the Middle East and North Africa and [...]
Sky and Virgin finish TV deal July 13, 2010 British Sky Broadcasting and Virgin Media yesterday announced Sky has completed the acquisition of its rival’s television unit VMtv, following regulatory approval in Ireland. VMtv has now been re-named the Living TV Group. Sky has paid Virgin Media an initial £105m, with up to £55m extra to be paid after it gains UK regulatory clearance. [...]
In-form Rose can bloom on the Fife links July 13, 2010 ST ANDREWS is the finest golf course in the world. With its demanding links and a backdrop steeped in tradition, the course is looking as beautiful as ever and provides the perfect setting for this week’s Open Championship. Winning the Open at the Home of Golf is the crowning glory for any golfer, and, for [...]
Wiggins’ Tour chances rocked July 13, 2010 TEAM Sky’s Bradley Wiggins has admitted he may have to settle for a top-10 spot in the Tour de France after losing major ground on the leaders in yesterday’s ninth stage. The Englishman finished almost five minutes behind stage winner Sandy Casal and now lies more than seven minutes behind new race leader Andy Schleck. [...]