Automatic for the people? June 30, 2009 THE best high-performance cars come with a manual gearbox, right? Well, not according to Mercedes-Benz. On the evidence of this car, their stance appears to be that machines can change gear more efficiently than humans. But where’s the fun in that? Having driven this car in automatic form, I was yearning to feel how it [...]
ALL HAIL THE CITY’S HUNKIEST GENTS June 22, 2009 1. JOSHUA RAYMOND CITY INDEXIt was a tough job, picking just one of the City’s most strapping gentlemen to grace the top spot, but someone had to do it – and City A.M.’s discerning judging panel were unanimous in their vote for the lovely Joshua Raymond, market strategist at spreadbetter City Index. Joshua started breaking [...]
Stoute mare is Heaven Sent in Windsor Forest June 16, 2009 When Ryan Moore booted HEAVEN SENT two lengths clear at the distance in this contest 12 months ago, the race looked all over bar the shouting. However, the daughter of Pivotal became a sitting target as she idled in front and was claimed late on by Sabana Perdida. It was an understandable manoeuvre for a [...]
Ashley’s new bargain basement June 14, 2009 Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has set up a £1 shop in the former Burberry headquarters in London’s West End, despite budget retailer TK Maxx being blocked from opening nearby. The former up-market building is now plastered with “sports clearance” signs. It is believed Ashley’s Sports Direct chain is using the store to clear old [...]
Capello: Early goal will open floodgates June 9, 2009 ENGLAND head coach Fabio Capello has urged his side to keep the notoriously expectant Wembley crowd off their backs by scoring an early goal against Andorra tonight. That has proved beyond England in their last two meetings with the minnows; a goalless first half famously provoked a barracking from frustrated supporters in Barcelona in 2007. [...]
Qatar eyes a Porsche stake June 8, 2009 PORSCHE is in advanced talks with the Gulf state of Qatar about selling a substantial stake which could ease the debt-laden carmaker’s problems and give it the upper hand in its ongoing negotiations with Volkswagen (VW). Wendelin Wiedeking, Porsche’s chief executive, is in negotiations which could see the Quatar Investment Authority (QIA) take a stake [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 7, 2009 THE SUNDAYSThe Sunday Telegraph WIGLEY TO ADVISE ADVENTThe former chairman of Merrill Lynch’s European operations and a respected City figure, is joining the private equity firm Advent International to identify investment opportunities across the financial services industry. Wigley will become a part-time operating partner at Advent, which is sitting on a large cash-pile after raising [...]
Newcastle takeover bid attracts local attention June 7, 2009 Mike Ashley could be close to escape from his controversial spell as owner of Newcastle United after it was revealed there was “real and decent interest” in the football club from more than one Tyneside party. Sports Direct owner Ashley is desperate to sell the club, which was relegated from the Premier League last month, [...]
Brown’s grip is weakening by the hour June 4, 2009 HE may not be a household name, but James Purnell, the former secretary of state for pensions, was a key figure at the heart of Gordon Brown’s cabinet, a standard-bearer for what is left of the Blairite, reformist wing of the Labour Party. So his shock resignation at 10pm last night has dealt nothing less [...]
Ashley enlists Harris for his Geordie exit May 31, 2009 SEYMOUR Pierce yesterday confirmed it had been appointed to achieve a rapid sale of Mike Ashley’s football club Newcastle United. Keith Harris, chairman of the City broker has advised on a number of football deals, including playing a pivotal role in selling Chelsea to the Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich in 2003. If the sale of [...]