Qatar gas industry suffers November 22, 2010 Qatar’s profit growth from its burgeoning liquefied natural gas industry could come to a halt if neighbouring countries cannot afford to keep up with rising prices, energy sources said yesterday. A pipeline to the United Arab Emirates has been running at less than two-thirds of full capacity, because the UAE cannot afford the fuel. Qatar [...]
US wholesale prices fall as output falters November 16, 2010 CORE US producer prices recorded their largest fall in more than four years in October and industrial output was flat, underscoring concerns at the Federal Reserve about low inflation amid moderate economic growth. Economists said the data supported the US central bank’s 3 November decision to ease monetary policy further even if the 0.6 per [...]
BP’s Hayward starts energy consultancy November 14, 2010 FORMER BP chief executive Tony Hayward has set up his own business, understood to be an energy consultancy, as he rejoins the business world following his departure from the oil giant. Hayward set up 3E Capital on 28 October, papers filed at Companies House show. He lists Deloitte’s office in London as the company’s registered [...]
Storm clouds gather as G20 leaders meet November 11, 2010 Group of Twenty in Seoul clash on growth, currencies and trade Ireland moves ever closer to the brink as bailout fears mount Oil price hits a fresh 25-month high of $88 a barrel on China demand IRISH ten-year bond yields shot to their highest level since the founding of the euro yesterday, closing at 8.6 [...]
Wall Street rises as dollar hits new high November 10, 2010 THE dollar hit a one-month high yesterday after data pointed to an improving US labour market while Wall Street rose as investors set aside recent worries whether a rally would continue. But global stocks fell as Ireland’s borrowing costs hit another euro lifetime high and investors worried that a Federal Reserve move announced last week [...]
SSE posts dip in profits but lifts dividend November 10, 2010 ELECTRICITY firm Scottish & Southern Energy yesterday posted forecast-busting first-half profits and pledged to stick to plans to raise its dividend, boosting its shares. SSE blamed high wholesale gas prices and low renewable energy output for a 6.1 per cent fall in adjusted first-half pre-tax profit to £386m, beating market forecasts of £361m. The group’s [...]
Services sector up – but tough times ahead November 3, 2010 Activity in the services sector unexpectedly gathered pace in October – but forecast for the rest of the year are weakening. The figures are likely to support expectations that the Bank of England will vote not to inject more stimulus into the economy this week but leave that option open further down the line if [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 31, 2010 THE SUNDAYS The Sunday Telegraph MAUDE DEMANDS SERCO ANSWER Serco is to be ordered to explain to the government why it took the highly unusual step of writing to its leading suppliers to demand that they pay a blanket 2.5 per cent “cash rebate” on their work this year or risk losing future contracts. Serco, [...]
At a glance: George Osborne’s first comprehensive spending review October 20, 2010 SPENDING FIGURES This fiscal year current expenditure will be £637.3bn. In 2011-12, current spending will be £651.1bn, followed by £664.5bn in 2012-13, £678.6bn in 2013-14 and then £692.7bn in 2014-15. The government will pay £43.3bn of gross government debt interest this fiscal year followed by £46.5bn in 2011-12, £52.4bn in 2012-13, £57.8bn in 2013-14 and [...]
Osborne’s unlikely pin-up: Mr Brown October 20, 2010 POLITICAL EDITOR GEORGE Osborne has always been a master tactician first and an economist second. Yesterday’s highly political spending review was no different. Chief in his mind was closing down the lines of attacks his opponents might pursue. In that sense, he is not dissimilar to Gordon Brown, his predecessor but one and sworn enemy. [...]