When it comes to the crunch, this is too trite October 8, 2009 TheatreTHE POWER OF YESThe National Theatre*** “THIS is not a play,” the narrator announces ominously as the curtains open. Instead it is a “story” of the credit crunch conducted through interviews with key financial figures, including mathematician Myron Scholes (Malcolm Sinclair) co-father of the Scholes-Black option-pricing model which underpinned much financial wizardry, FSA head Adair [...]
Heskey’s role is up for grabs October 7, 2009 ENGLAND may well have already booked their place in the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer, but Saturday’s qualifier against Ukraine in Kiev remains a big game for Fabio Capello. While it would normally be an ideal time to experiment, Capello strikes me as the kind of man who believes in keeping the [...]
Davis says no to ITV chair October 7, 2009 EX-REED Elsevier chief executive Sir Crispin Davis has walked away from the opportunity to become ITV’s chairman, dealing another blow to the troubled broadcaster. Davis – who was the board’s favourite to replace Michael Grade – is said to have felt the job was too high profile for his first time as a company chairman. [...]
Finsbury spins another healthy profits increase October 6, 2009 CADBURY’S financial public relations adviser Finsbury has increased profits despite the downturn in the economy, according to documents filed at Companies House. Profits have reached £8.8m against £8.75m last year and founder Roland Rudd has seen his pay package reach £2.9m against £2.25m the year before. Rudd, a former financial journalist with the Financial Times, [...]
Osborne’s cuts are merely the first step October 6, 2009 IT was Philip Hammond, the Tory shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, who put it best last night. He readily explained that the package of spending cuts and reforms outlined by his party yesterday were only a start and that there would be more to come. His frankness came as something of a relief after [...]
Virgin and BT join forces in BSkyB attack October 4, 2009 Virgin Media and BT have hit out at BSkyB’s pricing mechanism for its premium channels, saying that its “near monopoly” restricts consumer choice and keeps prices high. The attack came in a joint submission to Ofcom, which is consulting over its proposals to control the wholesale pay-TV market, that would mean BSkyB having to sell [...]
Going on safari is even better when you do it by balloon October 4, 2009 E ARLY morning in Kenya, Kilimanjaro is on the horizon, and we were driving across the dusty plains past the red-robed herdsmen on our way to begin our dawn safari. But this was no ordinary game drive, as we’d swapped the safety of our safari truck for a wide wicker basket, and were about to [...]
THE TIPSTER BAINTERIMS WILL CLARIFY ITS POSITION October 4, 2009 SHARES in Legal & General fell by more than 5 per cent on Friday after National Australia Bank moved to dampen talk of a takeover bid. The firm’s share price had risen to highs of the year of more than 95p before the fall. Will the price drop lower? ShortsandLongs.com has a rolling spread of [...]
OPEN SKIES October 1, 2009 LUFTHANSA is buying a 20 per cent stake in BMI from Scandinavian group SAS, it said yesterday. Lufthansa, which already owns most of BMI, is paying £38m for the shares. The takeover will happen on 1 November. Ownership of BMI gives Lufthansa access to several much-coveted takeoff and landing slots at Heathrow airport.
Virtue signs Deal or No Deal September 30, 2009 Endemol UK has signed an exclusive deal with global online bingo licensor Virtue Fusion to create a game based on the popular TV show Deal or No Deal. Mecca, Paddy Power, bet365 and Sky have already confirmed they will host the game, with more operators to be announced in due course. Virtue also signed a [...]