BBA plans to clean up industry with new register of bankers October 16, 2012 BANKERS could be forced to gain approval from a professional body to work in the City under proposals being put forward by trade association the British Bankers’ Association (BBA). The lobby group’s chief executive Anthony Browne said last night that the BBA may push for an independent sector regulator “with teeth” that would be able [...]
Bad weather hits Travis Perkins sales October 12, 2012 Building materials supplier Travis Perkins this morning posted a 3.5 per cent decline in like for like sales over the three months to September, blaming poor weather and tough competition. The firm, whose brands include City Plumbing, Keyline, Tile Giant, BSS and Wickes, said that sales were down in all but one of its divisions, [...]
The Tipster | Chequered outlook for Burberry October 8, 2012 CONCERNS over a slowing global economy have affected Burberry’s performance in Asia, a key growth market for the luxury retailer. The stock, down 36 per cent from its all-time highs in April, has come under further pressure after the World Bank reduced growth forecasts in Asia. Capital Spreads quotes a price of 1,011.4p-1,013.6p for Burberry. [...]
The Ryder Cup is the time for Woods to rise, relax and smile September 23, 2012 LET’S not pretend for a moment that the sporting world will be watching events in Chicago this week. The Ryder Cup will not be reverberating around Rio or resonating in Russia. It will barely register in some of the European countries or individual states in the US that have players involved. It will entrance and [...]
Pitt’s latest is blunt, violent and zingy as hell September 20, 2012 FILM KILLING THEM SOFTLY Cert 18 | **** Killing Them Softly has the kind of script that, in lesser hands, and with lesser actors, could have been laughably bad. But director Andrew Dominik, the man behind the excellent The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, never blinks as he unfurls this ultra-violent, [...]
Dev Secs makes £41m disposals August 21, 2012 Development Securities yesterday sold off a residential and two retail sites at Westminster Palace Gardens, Central London, the Wick Site in Littlehampton, and a retail park in Burnley for £40.9m. The Wick site was pre-sold to supermarket Morrisons for £12.5m, which plans to develop a 47,500 square feet store, a petrol station and a car [...]
Reckitt reassures on earnings after rival’s problems July 30, 2012 Reckitt Benckiser is growing faster than its markets despite tough trading in southern Europe and some slowing in emerging markets, as the British consumer goods group focuses on its top brands and fastest-growing regions. Chief executive Rakesh Kapoor, who took over last September after Bart Becht’s shock decision to retire, today reported half-year earnings rose [...]
All the West End wonders July 5, 2012 CHARIOTS OF FIRE Celebrate one of this country’s greatest ever sporting achievements this summer as Chariots of Fire, a new play, lights up the West End at the Gielgud Theatre. Adapted from the Oscar-winning movie, and featuring the original Vangelis score, this is a moving tale of rivalry, and determination in the face of prejudice [...]
The movies to look out for this Jubilee weekend May 31, 2012 FILM PROMETHEUS Cert 15 | By Steve Dinneen *** So Alien prequel Prometheus has finally landed, 30 years after Ridley Scott first directed the universe’s most terrifying life-form. That’s a lot of time to gestate, especially in a world where alien offspring take just a couple of hours to burst from your chest in a [...]
Is JP Morgan’s recent $2bn trading loss a reason to strengthen banking regulations? May 15, 2012 YES Tony Dolphin The $2bn (£1.24bn) trading loss at JP Morgan is bad news for its shareholders, bad news for its employees and bad news for its senior executives. But, so far, US taxpayers have not lost a cent. So why does it advance the case for tougher financial regulation? Because if this can happen [...]