What the other papers say this morning January 23, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES GMG ends talks to sell Trader stake Guardian Media Group has called off talks with interested buyers over the sale of its half stake in the car classifieds company Trader Media Group following a failure to agree a price. Apax, its joint venture partner in Trader Media, was interested in buying out the [...]
US rises again as Google and IBM lift mood January 23, 2013 THE S&P 500 rose for a sixth day yesterday after stronger-than-expected profits from IBM and Google but the rally could be halted as Apple’s after-hours miss send its shares lower. The S&P was just 4.7 per cent from its all-time closing high as IBM’s and Google’s earnings, released after Tuesday’s close, followed on the heels [...]
Verizon pledges to deliver cost cutting January 22, 2013 VERIZON Communications posted a weaker-than-expected wireless operating profit margin yesterday due to hefty costs from smartphones like Apple’s iPhone, but the US telephone company promised a big improvement this year as it cuts costs. While Verizon’s fourth quarter bottom line was weaker than anticipated, investors were encouraged when finance chief Fran Shammo said yesterday that [...]
Android maintains command of smartphone sales at Christmas January 22, 2013 SALES of phones running Google’s Android operating system continued to grow over the Christmas period, despite the release of Apple’s iPhone 5. Data from researchers Kantar Worldpanel found that Android increased its market share in key territories – the US, the UK, China and the EU – although Microsoft’s Windows Phone software is showing signs [...]
S&P 500 hits fresh five year closing high January 22, 2013 US bank and commodity shares led the Standard & Poor’s 500 to a fresh five-year closing high yesterday on hopes that the global economy continues to mend. The Dow Jones industrial average also ended at a five-year high. The market also gained on signals that Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives aim today [...]
RIM chief Heins says BlackBerry could feature on rival devices January 21, 2013 BLACKBERRY software could be licensed to other phone manufacturers, the chief executive of owner Research in Motion (RIM) has said. Thorsten Heins, who was made RIM’s chief executive 12 months ago, said offering the BlackBerry operating system to other parties, such as Samsung and HTC, was a possibility, and that the Canadian company could even [...]
Music and film industries offer concessions to keep HMV afloat January 20, 2013 THE WORLD’S biggest music and film companies are backing a takeover attempt for HMV, and are considering new supply terms to keep a rejuvenated company afloat. The likes of Universal Music and Warner Bros are understood to be exploring a range of options, such as cutting prices on CDs and DVDs or easing payment terms. [...]
Apple’s record results to be hit by profit fears January 20, 2013 APPLE is expected to report record quarterly sales this week, with the iPhone and iPad proving more popular than ever. However, profits have taken a hit, with the company’s margins expected to be lower on the recently-released iPhone 5 and iPad mini than on previous models. The two devices were released separately towards the beginning [...]
US earnings likely to push stocks higher January 20, 2013 WITH earnings momentum on the rise, the S&P 500 seems to have few hurdles ahead as it continues to power forward, its all-time high a not-so-distant goal. The US equity benchmark closed last week at a new five-year high on strong housing and labour market data and a string of earnings that beat lowered expectations. [...]
The protectionist beast is back in a subtly fresh form January 20, 2013 IT’S a classic: during every recession, protectionism resurfaces. After four years of economic turmoil, unemployment is critical in the US (7.7 per cent) and Europe (11.7 per cent). Obviously, governments want to protect national companies and jobs, especially if they want to be re-elected. But if protectionism is back, it’s also more subtle. Gone are [...]