Ex-Ford boss named as the new chairman of BHP Billiton August 4, 2009 BHP Billiton, the world’s largest miner, yesterday said that ex-Ford chief executive Jac Nasser would be its new chairman. Nasser, who has been a non-executive director at BHP since 2006, will step into incumbent Don Argus’ shoes when he steps down next year after a decade at the helm. He beat off competition from John [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS August 3, 2009 COOKSONDeutsche Bank has upgraded its forecast in metal products supplier Cookson from “Hold” to “Buy”. Despite previous cuts, due to the brokers’ belief that Cookson may breach its covenants on its debt in December. It says it still regards the firm as a high-risk recovery play but has upped its target price to 500p, from [...]
St Lucia’s most spectacular retreat is taking luxury to new levels August 2, 2009 ONE OF THE remaining signs of St Lucia’s colonial past (and Commonwealth present) is the fact that, by law, the first 40 feet inland of every stretch of coastline belongs to the Queen. That doesn’t mean sunbathing is restricted to Her Maj and Philip, should they deign to drop anchor in these parts, but it [...]
KICK OFF AT ESPN UK August 2, 2009 ESPN will today become the first non-UK channel to show Premier League football in the UK, as it launches its ESPN UK channel on Sky and Virgin Media. The channel will show 46 live Barclays Premier League matches – which it bought the rights to after Setanta UK went into administration – plus a selection [...]
High definition lifts earnings at BSkyB July 30, 2009 SHARES in BSkyB rose yesterday after the broadcaster posted a surge in full-year pre-tax profit, driven by record levels of new subscriptions as cash-strapped customers stayed at home. The dominant pay-TV firm said that its customer base had grown at its fastest rate for five years – with the addition of 462,000 subscribers over the [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: HAS BSKYB IMPRESSED THE MARKET WITH ITS FULL-YEAR RESULTS? July 30, 2009 RICHARD HUNTER HARGREAVES LANSDOWNBSkyB has again confounded its doubters by posting numbers which belie the current environment. The spectres of fierce competition and rising unemployment both drag on prospects, but Sky continues to deliver in a marketplace in which it has pre-eminent experience, and the share price performance has reflected this. PAUL RICHARDS NUMIS SECURITIESWe [...]
Weather could have biggest say in the pivotal third Test July 29, 2009 ENGLAND vs AUSTRALIATODAY 11AM – SKY SPORTS 1 AFTER a thrilling Test in the capital the series is Birmingham-bound, returning to the scene of perhaps the most memorable Ashes encounter of all time. Unfortunately the key protagonists from Edgbaston 2005 – as captured in one of the most iconic sporting images ever – look unlikely [...]
Virgin nets a key deal with Disney’s ESPN July 29, 2009 ESPN, the Disney-owned media group that has picked up live Premier League football rights from the defunct Setanta, yesterday agreed a carriage deal with Virgin Media, the cable company. The deal is similar to Virgin’s previous deal with Setanta, whereby Virgin customers paying for the highest television package will get the channel, which will show [...]
SPREAD BETTING PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW July 23, 2009 THE BIG question for any football punter prior to this season is ‘can Man City break into the Big Four?’. Mark Hughes has spent millions and although it looks like he’s been unsuccessful in his bid for John Terry, people are starting to sit up and take notice. Sporting Index are predicting that City will [...]
Ashes blow for England as Pietersen is ruled out July 22, 2009 ENGLAND’S sky-high hopes of reclaiming the Ashes plummeted yesterday when star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out of the rest of the series. The decision came after the Hampshire player underwent surgery on a long-standing Achilles injury that deteriorated during the first two Tests against Australia. Pietersen, who will be sidelined for six weeks, had [...]