Will the iPad become the latest must-have device? January 27, 2010 APPLE’S product launches are legendary, but the hype that surrounded the unveiling of its iPad yesterday was without precedent. At first glance, the device looks like an iPhone on steroids. Its ambitions are even bigger: it is supposed to revolutionise the way we surf the internet, watch television and movies, and read books and newspapers. [...]
Wall St rises after Fed rates held again January 27, 2010 US stocks rose yesterday after the US Federal Reserve said it will keep interest rates near zero and ahead of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight. But the Nasdaq got a late surge from of almost one per cent in the shares of Apple after the iPad’s debut. Market analysts said the [...]
LG widescreen TVs lift profits January 27, 2010 LG Electronics yesterday posted a four-fold rise in operating profits riding on better-than-expected flat-screen television sales, helping it to achieve the best quarterly results in the company’s history. The group’s fourth quarter profits, including overseas affiliates, rose to £238m from £54m a year earlier outperforming analysts’ estimates of £215m. LG is the world’s second largest [...]
Software firm SAP sees higher 2010 sales and profits amid tough market January 27, 2010 GERMAN software maker SAP yesterday said it expects to increase core sales and operating margins in 2010 but cautioned that market conditions are still tough because companies remain wary about investing. “What we see is that the markets are still cautious … but what we see in 2010 is it’s going to be a very [...]
Political fears cast shadow on earnings January 26, 2010 US stocks slipped late yesterday due to trepidation over churning political and regulatory developments, offsetting solid earnings and improved consumer confidence data. Gains faded late as investors turned cautious before the Federal Reserve’s policy announcement and President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address today. US stocks fell 5 per cent in a three-day span [...]
Apple Mania January 25, 2010 SHOPPERS snapped up Apple’s iconic Mac computers, iPhones and iPods in the run-up to Christmas, helping the US consumer electronics giant to notch up forecast-busting profits ahead of tomorrow’s long-awaited launch of its tablet device. Sales of the company’s Mac computers hit a record in the first quarter, rising 33 per cent on a year [...]
Forget Cadbury, entrepreneurs will save UK January 25, 2010 OCCASIONALLY on a Friday night as I review the remains of the week, I wonder why I put myself through it. Last week, one of my portfolio companies nearly hit a wall, and I had to coach the existing investors through their panic to send through an emergency bridge round. Another one of our companies [...]
Wall Street is boosted by support for Bernanke January 25, 2010 US STOCKS snapped a three-day slide yesterday as signs that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would win a US Senate vote for a second term helped ease investors’ concerns. After the closing bell, iPod maker Apple reported sharp gains in quarterly revenue and profit, sending its shares 1.9 per cent higher to $207 in after-hours [...]
Bearish US sentiment likely to buffet Europe too January 24, 2010 European stock markets are headed for a major tumble this morning, as a sell-off on US markets gathered steam on Friday evening. GFT is forecasting the UK’s FTSE 100 to open down a hefty 90 points from Friday’s close, around 5,212. The German DAX is expected to open down 105 points at 5,590 and the [...]
A hotel that’s fit for a king January 24, 2010 ON walking into the lobby of Paris’ George V you can tell it’s a grande dame, but it has a twist which makes it immediately memorable. There’s the immaculately designed wrought-iron door frame, 17th century tapestries adorning the walls and acres of marble lining the floors, but it is far from stuffy. Smartly-suited staff smile [...]