Wall St boosted by upbeat retail giants August 18, 2009 US stocks rose yesterday, rebounding after sharp losses in the previous session, as better-than-expected results from big retailers encouraged investors to get back into the market. Results at consumer giants Home Depot, Target and department store operator Saks were helped by cost-cutting as revenue growth remained slack. The trend has dominated earnings season, but investors [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING August 13, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES YANZHOU DIGS DEEP IN BID FOR FELIXChina’s largest takeover bid for an Australian company was formally launched yesterday when Yanzhou Coal Mining made a recommended cash offer for Felix Resources worth just over A$3.5bn (£1.78bn). The offer is pitched at A$16.95 a share, valuing Felix at A$3.33bn, but shareholders will also receive A$1 [...]
Microsoft and Nokia gang up on Blackberry August 12, 2009 NOKIA and Microsoft yesterday unveiled an alliance which will see Nokia smartphones pre-loaded with Microsoft office, in a bid to challenge the dominance of the Blackberry in the business market. The software and mobile telecoms giants said that they are working together to put MS Office Mobile, MS Communicator Mobile and other services on selected [...]
Nice ice baby August 12, 2009 ICE cream never used to be a gourmet dinner’s crowning glory. Yet London has become a capital for the stuff – from street vendors to high gastronomy. Take Michel Roux at Michelin-starred Le Gavroche, who makes all his ice cream fresh daily – this week that includes fresh mint and peanut butter. Or Justin Saunders [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING August 6, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES RISING RISK PROVISIONS HIT COMMERZBANKCommerzbank yesterday raised its risk provisions as Germany’s second largest bank was hit in the second quarter by problems in property markets and the economic crisis in central and eastern Europe. However, it reduced operating losses , and suggested overall risk provisions this year would be in line with [...]
O2 fears loss of iPhone exclusivity August 5, 2009 O2 is bracing itself for losing a monopoly to sell Apple’s iPhone in the UK. O2’s exclusivity deal with Apple could end on 9 October due to a two year break clause in its contract. T–Mobile and Orange are both believed to be waiting for a slice of Apple’s lucrative business.
Spotify gets investment interest August 3, 2009 Digital music service Spotify is understood to be close to winning new investment from high-profile investors, including the charitable foundation of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing. The service, which has been widely tipped to challenge the dominance of Apple’s iTunes, wants to raise cash to improve its status in the US. Since launching in the [...]
ABOUT SCHMIDT August 3, 2009 GOOGLE chief executive Eric Schmidt yesterday resigned from the board of Apple, citing conflicts of interest and increased competition between the two companies . The move comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of the relationship between internet search giant Google and Apple, the maker of iPhones and Mac computers.
ITV mulls new chief August 2, 2009 ITV’s board is today due to discuss the candidates short-listed to replace Michael Grade as chief executive, with some analysts expecting an announcement at its interim results on Thursday. HMV chief executive Simon Fox was last week the City’s new favourite to step into Grade’s shoes when he steps down at the end of the [...]
O2’s iPhone deal nudges up profits at parent Telefonica July 30, 2009 SPANISH telecoms giant Telefonica said yesterday that it had seen a small increase in first-half profit, as a sharp downturn in its home market was offset by a strong performance in the UK and Latin America. Telefonica’s UK arm, O2, put in a solid performance over the period – posting year-on-year growth of 6.6 per [...]