Buffett secretly bought up a $10bn stake in IBM November 14, 2011 THE SAGE of Omaha has staked his biggest ever bet on the technology sector after amassing at 5.5 per cent stake in IBM worth $10.7bn (£6.71bn). Warren Buffett, one of the most respected and revered investors in the US, has historically shunned the sector on the grounds he does not understand it. However, he said yesterday [...]
Loosen those belts: no diets allowed at City beef-house November 14, 2011 HOW much can one genuflect to the gods of steak? In London these days, the answer is a lot. And when an outlet of Hawksmoor opens up, it’s practically illegal not to sink to one’s knees in praise. And then sink one’s teeth in. You’ve probably already been to Hawksmoor in Spitalfields or Seven Dials. [...]
Even Super-Mario may not save Italy November 13, 2011 THEY call him Super-Mario, for reasons that aren’t quite clear. But Mario Monti, Italy’s non-elected new prime minister, will certainly need super-powers if he is to save Italy from ruin, and prevent a major recession in the Eurozone and hence in the UK. Italy’s main problem is that its economy has barely grown since joining [...]
How to pick which spread will be better November 13, 2011 WITH the news that Alpari, the global foreign exchange broker, is extending its offerings to spread betting – joining a host of other providers in a very competitive market – it’s worth considering what traders should be demanding from their providers. Start by looking at aspects of the spreads on offer as well the provider’s [...]
Ski Seefeld’s winter wonderland November 13, 2011 TO MY mind, downhill skiing is too much like hard work. Long journeys from the airport to reach the resorts; dawdling in queues to take lifts up to the slopes; expensive ski passes; complicated clothing; the constant risk of a nasty accident. I have always wanted to enjoy everything skiing has to offer without all [...]
Adobe bows to Apple on Flash November 10, 2011 ADOBE Systems ended its lengthy software war with Apple yesterday, agreeing to stop developing its own-brand Flash Player for mobile browsers and use a web platform that Apple approves. Adobe said it would allow developers to use HTML5 technology rather than its own Flash tools to produce content for viewing on mobile devices in a [...]
High street electricals: a mug’s game November 9, 2011 IN the end, they couldn’t even give it away. As well as taking on Comet’s pension scheme, which is in deficit to the tune of €45.9m, Kesa is having to pay a £50m dowry to buyer OpCapita to offload its ailing electricals chain. Buried deep in the terms and conditions of the contract is a [...]
AZ Electronic revenue up 15pc November 8, 2011 AZ Electronic Materials, a supplier of chemicals used in Apple’s iPad, said it was continuing to perform well, shrugging off weakness in some end markets for electronic products such as flat panels. The group posted 15 per cent higher revenue of $202m (£125.6m) in the third quarter, broadly in line with market forecasts and keeping [...]
Creating Jobs: The story of his supreme trials November 8, 2011 STEVE Jobs was unrivalled in his ability to channel the zeitgeist of a generation. Through his myopic attention to perfection and grand visions, directed under his iron grip, Jobs took Apple – after being previously pushed out – from the verge of bankruptcy to become the biggest company in the world. If you crave to [...]
US bookseller launches tablet November 7, 2011 US bookseller Barnes & Noble has introduced its first ever tablet to compete with Amazon and Apple for holiday sales. Barnes & Noble will charge $249 (£155) for the Nook tablet, which is expected to hit the shelves late next week. That compares to the $199 price tag on Amazon’s new Kindle Fire, which will [...]