‘BIGOTGATE’ GAFFE HITS GRINNING GORDON WHERE IT HURTS MOST April 28, 2010 SPREAD betting firms always pride themselves on having a finger on the pulse, so it’s a bleak lookout for Gordon Brown if general election seat spreads yesterday were anything to go by. Brown (as even strictly cloistered Martians will know by now) yesterday committed a political gaffe of monolithic proportions, simpering to the UK’s newest [...]
Virgin Media’s sales rise but losses widen April 28, 2010 VIRGIN Media continued its roaring run of form with its fastest ever customer growth last quarter. It surpassed analyst expectations as it added 38,300 net cable customers to solidify its position as the UK’s second biggest pay-TV provider. Chief executive Neil Berkett said the firm had benefited from both record new customers and the lowest [...]
Red Devils to pile the pressure on Chelsea April 22, 2010 MANCHESTER UNITED v/s TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Saturday – 12.45pm, Sky Sports IF Sir Alex Ferguson goes on to make history by becoming the first ever manager to win four straight top flight titles, he will forever be indebted to Paul Scholes after his injury time header won the Manchester derby. It’s highly doubtful that he will [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS April 22, 2010 PUBLICIS Execution Noble reaffirms its “buy” rating on Publicis after the advertising group reported organic revenue growth of 3.1 per cent for the first quarter, a strong improvement from the 5.4 per cent decline in the last quarter of 2009. It expects modest margin expansion, after adjusting for charges due to the acquisition of Razorfish. [...]
Volcanic ash shows need to pick the right travel policy April 22, 2010 AEROPLANES might be returning to the skies once again, but for many business travellers and holidaymakers who have been stranded abroad or had their plans disrupted, the fallout is only just beginning as they start the process of claiming back their money. While the volcanic eruption was an unprecedented event, it has brought home the [...]
Repatriation costs deemed a benefit in kind April 21, 2010 LAWYERS warned yesterday that tax bills for both employees and employers associated with the disruptions caused by the Icelandic volcano are to sky rocket as the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) takes a hardline on repatriation costs. Commercial law firm EMW Picton Howell said yesterday that the HMRC will demand tax payments on any expenses [...]
GOLDMAN AND GORDON HAVE SEEN BETTER DAYS April 21, 2010 GORDON Brown’s savage attack on Goldman Sachs for being “morally bankrupt” must have come as a surprise to those who can recall a time when the Prime Minister’s attitude to the bank was rather different. BGC’s veteran market commentator David Buik yesterday reminisced about a fundraising gala dinner he attended years ago in aid of [...]
ELECTION2010 April 21, 2010 IMF hurts Brown with forecast The International Monetary Fund yesterday slashed its 2011 UK growth forecast, delivering a pre-election blow to the government. The Washington-based fund cut its growth forecast for next year from 2.7 per cent to 2.5 per cent. It maintained its 2010 forecast. Its forecast is signficantly lower than that of chancellor [...]
CITY EYE April 21, 2010 JUBILATION reigned in the City yesterday as an airborne passenger jet streaked through the skies, a sight which has become all too rare over the past week
Sky ready for round one with Ofcom April 21, 2010 SKY and Ofcom will tomorrow begin what promises to be a long and tortuous legal battle over the future of pay TV. Sky will appear before the Competition Appeal Tribunal to request a stay of implementation on Ofcom’s new rules forcing the broadcaster to slash the prices it can charge rivals for Premier League football. [...]