Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is much more than a bookseller: He’s the Everyman entrepreneur October 30, 2011 WITH the Kindle Fire, Amazon.com chief executive Jeff Bezos is showing the world that he’s much more than an online retailer. The original Kindle, released in 2007, was the first piece of electronic hardware Amazon ever produced, and it revolutionised the electronic book business. Wall Street analysts expect Amazon to sell about 26m Kindle devices [...]
Go-Ahead revenues boosted by commuters taking trains October 27, 2011 BRITISH bus and rail operator Go-Ahead said first-quarter trading rose as drivers turned to public transport to avoid rising motoring costs, although it remained cautious about the medium-term wider economic outlook. Go-Ahead said revenues at its non-London bus unit, which includes services in Oxford and Brighton, were four per cent higher in the period to [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 9, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES WATCHDOG HITS FRENCH AUDITORS French auditors have been lambasted by the UK’s leading accountancy regulator for their performance during the Greek debt crisis. Stephen Haddrill, chief executive of the Financial Reporting Council, criticised the way French banks and insurers had been allowed by their auditors to post smaller losses on Greek government bonds [...]
Jobs data boosts FTSE but US markets falter October 7, 2011 London stocks have closed slightly higher after better-than-expected US jobs figures prompted an afternoon rally, but US markets remain down after fresh downgrades of Spain and Italy. The FTSE 100 index spiked sharply when US figures showed 103,000 new jobs created, and while it gave up most of the gains it still closed up 0.2 [...]
Banks hired as first stage in esure’s London listing October 5, 2011 THE INSURANCE tycoon Peter Wood has lined up bankers to prepare a bumper listing of esure, reports last night said. Wood, who also founded the car insurer Direct Line, is said to have hired Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan to help ready the company for a stock market flotation that is being earmarked for next [...]
State Farm pays out $5bn in storm claims September 25, 2011 STATE Farm Insurance has paid $5bn (£3.23bn) to its customers for weather-related catastrophes – damage to cars, homes and other property so far this year – the largest US insurer of homes and cars said yesterday. That payout has been increased by wildfires, tropical storms and hurricanes during the summer, which came after last spring’s [...]
INSURANCE COMPANY | OF THE YEAR September 21, 2011 HENRY ENGELHARDT ADMIRAL Car insurer Admiral motored ahead to achieve a seventh straight year of profit growth in 2010, with a 50 per cent revenue increase in 2011. Analysts expect the firm will have a 13 per cent market share by 2013. SHORTLIST Beazley Catlin Resolution Hiscox
You can still be a millionaire despite volatility September 18, 2011 THIS column starts with market volatility and ends up with me accompanying you on a free holiday. Bear with me. Markets around the world have been incredibly volatile recently. Risk seems to come on and off on a whim, with markets reacting wildly to rumours of financial salvation and Armageddon. Sovereign debt has dominated the [...]
Time to plan your golden getaway September 18, 2011 Deserted beaches, colourful fiestas, shopping meccas, or that perfect sunset – every destination opens up a world of golden opportunities. If exploring new places is your passion, the Preferred Rewards Gold Card from American Express can make your getaway even more rewarding. With the value of gold at an all time high, the Card now [...]
Spotting the very best in charge and credit cards September 14, 2011 REMEMBER when the American Express Gold Card was the celebrity’s payment card of choice in the movies? Well, times have changed. Every bank is offering exclusive cards to its premium customers now – they’re always keen to sign up City high-fliers. But which bank is offering the best deal? Kevin Mountford from MoneySupermarket.com says: “None [...]