interesting
Verizon iPhone launch greeted by shorter lines
11 FEB 2011 01:08 GMT
NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Verizon Wireless' new iPhone drew sparse crowds on Thursday, a far cry from the mania that usually surrounds a nationwide Apple Inc product debut.
Marketing should have been. As good a as Apple but without the hype. Subtly
WTI-Brent price divergence hits record $16
The price difference between the world’s top oil benchmarks doubles in three weeks, wreaking havoc among energy investors and traders
What does it mean?
Asean benefits from wave of cheap capital
Overall mergers and acquisitions activity in the regional group increased by 141% to $117.7bn last year, almost back to its pre-global financial crisis record of $127.9bn in 2007
This is important - I just don't know why
Rio Tinto set for $5bn share buy-back
The prospective move by the miner underlines the extent of its cash accumulation after a year when soaring iron ore prices allowed it to slash debt and more than double profits
Missed that boat. Good time to sell
Sarkozy joins multiculturalism attack - Is there any need to comment?
S Africa's Zuma to invest $5.4bn to boost jobs
South Africa President Jacob Zuma plans to allocate 39bn rand ($5.4bn) toward job creation programs and tax breaks to tackle the nation’s unemployment crisis, Bloomberg reports.
Zing! Corruption!
Stock to Watch: Altona Energy
Despite exposure to the risks of China's economy stumbling, the prospects of Altona Energy and its 'coal to energy' project, create an "in it to win it" dilemma
Who are the other players?
Namibian news sends Tower Resources flying
Investors in Tower Resources got a lift today from news the British oil and gas explorer is set to drill its first Namibian well this year.
Who are the other players?
Elementis trade beginning to flow again
After a sticky patch up to last June, trade has increased for the chemical additives company, with added market demand for its products from the oil industry raising hopes of a productive 2011.
What caused the sticky patch?
Appeals court gives go-ahead to Blackstone case
An appeals court in New York has revived a shareholder lawsuit against Blackstone accusing the group of hiding information about bad investments ahead of its 2007 IPO
Happy Lawyers
Vietnam devalues currency to fight inflation
The country has devalued the dong by more than 9% as it seeks to stabilise an economy buffeted by high inflation and large trade and budget deficits
All I know about Vietnam comes from hollywood. Who is the modern Vietnam?
Cotton hits fresh record high
Cotton prices continue to spike as demand for textiles rebounds from the global financial crisis and India restricts shipments to help its domestic textiles industry
I like cotton
Nokia to focus on partnership with Microsoft
Nokia is to form a “broad strategic partnership” with Microsoft and make Windows its main smartphone operating system in a radical bid to fight back against Apple and Google in the fast-growing market for web-enabled mobile devices.
The troubled Finnish group said the Windows Phone would become its “primary smartphone platform” around the world and that it would work with Microsoft, the US technology group, to build an “unrivalled global mobile ecosystem”.
Now that is a stupid idea. The licensing fee alone is going to eat at the profits. Nokia is going to inherit microsoft's bad blood. Nokia should be focusing on small innovative quirky garage companies looking for the next big thing. The ship has already sailed
Turmoil in Egypt keeps Asia wary
Asian shares remained on the back foot as investors turned increasingly risk averse amid confusion over Egypt’s political situation and renewed concerns about Europe’s sovereign debt problems
If I had money, I would be buying Asian shares by the truck load!
Eurofighter woos India with partner offer
The aircraft consortium is prepared to offer India a manufacturing role as the international race intensifies to supply 126 jet fighters worth $11bn to New Delhi
Go INDIA!
Coalition seeks to help SMEs
Francis Maude is streamlining procurement rules in an attempt to double the share of the government’s annual £191bn procurement budget won by small and medium-sized companies
I wonder which small or medium sized companies in particular
Energees Investments set to acquire Regal
The subsidiary of a Ukrainian group has offered to buy a 70% stake in the Aim-quoted oil producer after companies controlled by Victor Pinchuk decided not to make a formal bid
Anyone know the rules when dealing with a "Ukrainian group"?
Catlin defends investor returns
The Bermuda-based insurer, whose 2010 profits dropped by about a third, says there was little difference between what it has delivered and what others have done through buy-backs
Bermuda-based, need I say more?
Blacks' chief strips away title
The departure of Neil Gillis from the clothing and equipment retailer has not come as a huge surprise to the City since the turnround specialist is famed for his three-year stints
Neil Gillis - I want to be you!
EasyJet founder protests at Harrison payment
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has pledged to vote against the budget airline's remuneration package that included a £1m payment to the carrier's former boss for six months' work
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou - has a nice ring to it. Campaign donations anyone?
A strategy for growth that dares to be radical
The UK's over-reliance on the financial sector has proved perilous. Rebalancing, restructuring and reform are now the priorities. There is no good alternative, says Martin Wolf
Duh!
Rise in oil demand beats expectations
The world consumed an extra 2.8m barrels a day last year – 3.3 per cent more than in 2009 – and the IEA forecasts a further increase of 1.5m b/d in 2011
You can't beat oil!!!
Nigeria battles to clean up electoral roll
An army of young Nigerians armed with laptops, fingerprint scanners, and digital cameras has been logging the data of about 60m voters to draw up a voters’ register
(B*ll Sh*t)
PetroChina in $5.4bn Canada gas buy
The group will purchase a 50% stake in western Canadian natural gas deposits owned by EnCana, further raising the profile of Chinese oil companies in North America
China is so scary, its exciting!
Warsh to leave Federal Reserve board
Kevin Warsh, the youngest-ever governor of the US Federal Reserve and one of chairman Ben Bernanke's closest lieutenants, is to leave the Fed at the end of March
Yep from the Fed to PAYDAY!
Pepsi faces steep input price inflation
Warning from the snacks and soft drink company underlines the broad pressures confronting global food companies amid steep rises in the price of oil and agricultural commodities
This should worry me - but it doesn't
Employee tech toys pose challenges
Business managers and IT professionals are rightly worried about the mobile devices, often owned by employees rather than the company, that are appearing in the workplace.
Hello? Big brother calling.
Cisco Systems: time to raid the savings
The $40bn in cash sitting on the balance sheet was saved for a rainy day. Now that the clouds have rolled in, it is time to put it to work
I know they are huge. But what exactly does Cisco systems do?
All aboard for a new two-speed Europe
There is a snag – the German chancellor and French president want to couple only 17 of the Union’s 27 carriages to their refurbished locomotive, writes Philip Stephens
Just let Turkey in and stop moaning!
What Somali pirates reveal about the global economy
These buccaneers can also be viewed as businessmen, who have figured out the way trade is flowing, and how to get their share, writes Matthew Lynn
What eva!
Bank wrong to hold rates
The big problem with the bank’s position is its claim that “excess capacity” will keep inflation from rising. This capacity is likely to be exaggerated, says Patrick Minford
Again, there is nothing wrong with inflation.
Lament over good Morgan America
Gary Silverman on the US’s ‘Piers Morgan moment’: why is a former UK newspaper editor host of CNN’s flagship primetime talk show, instead of an American?
One guess!
Exchanges race to become one-stop shop
Regulation and competition are propelling globalisation of exchanges and consolidation is inevitable, but the test is whether nationalist impulses can be set aside
NO! Because you can't trust FOReiGNERS
Outlook for munis heralds arbitrage opportunities
While investors fret about eurozone divergence, on the other side of the Atlantic another set of divergence problems are also developing, writes Gillian Tett
What? Speak English!
John Lewis pension fund sells Ocado stake
11 FEB 2011 08:35 GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - Retailer John Lewis's pension fund has sold its remaining 10.4 percent stake in British online grocer Ocado for about 152 million pounds, it said on Friday.
Ocado is just hot air & hype
Carillion to buy Eaga for £306.5 million
11 FEB 2011 07:54 GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - Builder Carillion has made a recommended cash offer to buy energy-saving scheme operator Eaga for 306.5 million pounds as it looks to enter the energy efficiency market.
Smart move
Diageo's spirits damped by western Europe
A continuing decline in sales in Greece, Spain and Ireland has dented the results of the premium drinks manufacturer, which has reported a pre-tax profits increase from £139bn to £1.61bn
Rebrand to status drink. Move agressively to BRIC and other emerging markets. Make noise outside western Europe. Advertise in airlines and airport first class lounges on routes into w Europe.
EU plans to lift import curbs on soaring food commodities
Measure is the clearest acknowledgement yet of the tightness in European agricultural markets
Yay EU farmers. Here is the chance you've been waiting for. Grow. grow. grow. Invest in farms outside EU. You've got the know how, connections and EU clout think global!
Alcatel-Lucent posts losses for fifth year
The Franco-American telecoms supplier pledges to return to net profit this year and almost treble operating margins as it recorded a fifth consecutive year of annual net losses
Sucks to be you!
America impotent in face of Egypt’s crisis - KEEP OUT!
Chinese hackers hit energy groups
The FBI is probing espionage attacks that succeeded in stealing information such as bidding strategies for drilling rights in specific fields and configuration of key equipment
Prove it
Divergence puts oil traders on different track
Inflows from North Dakota, which has doubled production in two years to become the US's fourth-largest producing state, swell crude inventories as price of WTI weakens
Time to buy property in ND
Outrageous fortunes of a commodity trader
Agricultural commodity prices are at two-year highs, so why are traders concerned? Gregory Meyer explains the fits and foibles of agribusiness
I wish! Anyway its too expensive to buy in right now so, sell, sell, sell
Rolls-Royce takes £56m Trent charge
Sir John Rose issued an upbeat view as the aerospace company shrugs off the impact of a serious failure with one of its engines with a moderate rise in profits last year
That's confidence for you. Just shrug off £56,000,000 charge. That's £56 gazillion to you and me
Pentagon will not support big defence mergers
The Pentagon will not support mergers between the largest US defense contractors and will carefully examine any divestments that create 'weaker standalone' companies
A wise decision
Peugeot plans expansion into India
The French carmaker is looking to build a mid-size saloon car as part of a broader plan to grow its business overseas and reduce its reliance on Europe's anaemic car market
The problem is the made in India version will be sh*t. It's just so disappointing
Williams to accelerate growth with flotation
The Formula One racing team is offering more than a quarter of the company to outside investors in a listing that values the team at about €265m
How does anyone make any money from Formula one?
Koks scraps $500m London listing plan
Person close to the company said it did not need the money immediately and was concerned the shares might underperform after the flotation
One to watch
Smurfit profit return meets expectations
The packaging and paper group has made "reasonable progress" but its goal for 2011 will be to maximise free cash flow and pay down its substantial debt
I like packaging businesses. Who are its rivals?
Trade data hit hopes of export-led rebound
Official data have shown the largest deficit on trade in goods in the UK's history, raising questions over the ability of the economy to achieve a recovery on the back of exports
Are you kidding me? Who can afford UK stuff?
Energy headlines: Brent-WTI spread hits record levels
- WTI-Brent price divergence hits record $16 - FT - Divergence puts oil traders on different track - FT - Weak demand and rising costs hit Gazprom - FT - Race for cash to store carbon under the North Sea - The Telegraph - Cairn takes tough line on oilfields sale - FT - Republicans seek to slash DOE, EPA spending - Argus - Chinese hackers hit energy groups - FT - China vice premier urges reforms to tackle energy worries - Bloomberg - Hopes of 30% cut in greenhouse emissions dashed - The Guardian - Kinder Morgan IPO set to raise $2.9bn - FT - Icahn gets green light to acquire Dynegy - WSJ (£) - Suitors approach Eon over UK network - FT - Compensation skews profitability of India's IOC - Argus - Energees Investments set to acquire Regal - FT - Yet another route to cellulosic ethanol - NY Times Green blog - Court extends injunction on BP Rosneft deal - FT - Lawsuit filed to stop Pride merger with Ensco - FT
11 FEB 2011 01:08 GMT
NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Verizon Wireless' new iPhone drew sparse crowds on Thursday, a far cry from the mania that usually surrounds a nationwide Apple Inc product debut.
Marketing should have been. As good a as Apple but without the hype. Subtly
WTI-Brent price divergence hits record $16
The price difference between the world’s top oil benchmarks doubles in three weeks, wreaking havoc among energy investors and traders
What does it mean?
Asean benefits from wave of cheap capital
Overall mergers and acquisitions activity in the regional group increased by 141% to $117.7bn last year, almost back to its pre-global financial crisis record of $127.9bn in 2007
This is important - I just don't know why
Rio Tinto set for $5bn share buy-back
The prospective move by the miner underlines the extent of its cash accumulation after a year when soaring iron ore prices allowed it to slash debt and more than double profits
Missed that boat. Good time to sell
Sarkozy joins multiculturalism attack - Is there any need to comment?
S Africa's Zuma to invest $5.4bn to boost jobs
South Africa President Jacob Zuma plans to allocate 39bn rand ($5.4bn) toward job creation programs and tax breaks to tackle the nation’s unemployment crisis, Bloomberg reports.
Zing! Corruption!
Stock to Watch: Altona Energy
Despite exposure to the risks of China's economy stumbling, the prospects of Altona Energy and its 'coal to energy' project, create an "in it to win it" dilemma
Who are the other players?
Namibian news sends Tower Resources flying
Investors in Tower Resources got a lift today from news the British oil and gas explorer is set to drill its first Namibian well this year.
Who are the other players?
Elementis trade beginning to flow again
After a sticky patch up to last June, trade has increased for the chemical additives company, with added market demand for its products from the oil industry raising hopes of a productive 2011.
What caused the sticky patch?
Appeals court gives go-ahead to Blackstone case
An appeals court in New York has revived a shareholder lawsuit against Blackstone accusing the group of hiding information about bad investments ahead of its 2007 IPO
Happy Lawyers
Vietnam devalues currency to fight inflation
The country has devalued the dong by more than 9% as it seeks to stabilise an economy buffeted by high inflation and large trade and budget deficits
All I know about Vietnam comes from hollywood. Who is the modern Vietnam?
Cotton hits fresh record high
Cotton prices continue to spike as demand for textiles rebounds from the global financial crisis and India restricts shipments to help its domestic textiles industry
I like cotton
Nokia to focus on partnership with Microsoft
Nokia is to form a “broad strategic partnership” with Microsoft and make Windows its main smartphone operating system in a radical bid to fight back against Apple and Google in the fast-growing market for web-enabled mobile devices.
The troubled Finnish group said the Windows Phone would become its “primary smartphone platform” around the world and that it would work with Microsoft, the US technology group, to build an “unrivalled global mobile ecosystem”.
Now that is a stupid idea. The licensing fee alone is going to eat at the profits. Nokia is going to inherit microsoft's bad blood. Nokia should be focusing on small innovative quirky garage companies looking for the next big thing. The ship has already sailed
Turmoil in Egypt keeps Asia wary
Asian shares remained on the back foot as investors turned increasingly risk averse amid confusion over Egypt’s political situation and renewed concerns about Europe’s sovereign debt problems
If I had money, I would be buying Asian shares by the truck load!
Eurofighter woos India with partner offer
The aircraft consortium is prepared to offer India a manufacturing role as the international race intensifies to supply 126 jet fighters worth $11bn to New Delhi
Go INDIA!
Coalition seeks to help SMEs
Francis Maude is streamlining procurement rules in an attempt to double the share of the government’s annual £191bn procurement budget won by small and medium-sized companies
I wonder which small or medium sized companies in particular
Energees Investments set to acquire Regal
The subsidiary of a Ukrainian group has offered to buy a 70% stake in the Aim-quoted oil producer after companies controlled by Victor Pinchuk decided not to make a formal bid
Anyone know the rules when dealing with a "Ukrainian group"?
Catlin defends investor returns
The Bermuda-based insurer, whose 2010 profits dropped by about a third, says there was little difference between what it has delivered and what others have done through buy-backs
Bermuda-based, need I say more?
Blacks' chief strips away title
The departure of Neil Gillis from the clothing and equipment retailer has not come as a huge surprise to the City since the turnround specialist is famed for his three-year stints
Neil Gillis - I want to be you!
EasyJet founder protests at Harrison payment
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has pledged to vote against the budget airline's remuneration package that included a £1m payment to the carrier's former boss for six months' work
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou - has a nice ring to it. Campaign donations anyone?
A strategy for growth that dares to be radical
The UK's over-reliance on the financial sector has proved perilous. Rebalancing, restructuring and reform are now the priorities. There is no good alternative, says Martin Wolf
Duh!
Rise in oil demand beats expectations
The world consumed an extra 2.8m barrels a day last year – 3.3 per cent more than in 2009 – and the IEA forecasts a further increase of 1.5m b/d in 2011
You can't beat oil!!!
Nigeria battles to clean up electoral roll
An army of young Nigerians armed with laptops, fingerprint scanners, and digital cameras has been logging the data of about 60m voters to draw up a voters’ register
(B*ll Sh*t)
PetroChina in $5.4bn Canada gas buy
The group will purchase a 50% stake in western Canadian natural gas deposits owned by EnCana, further raising the profile of Chinese oil companies in North America
China is so scary, its exciting!
Warsh to leave Federal Reserve board
Kevin Warsh, the youngest-ever governor of the US Federal Reserve and one of chairman Ben Bernanke's closest lieutenants, is to leave the Fed at the end of March
Yep from the Fed to PAYDAY!
Pepsi faces steep input price inflation
Warning from the snacks and soft drink company underlines the broad pressures confronting global food companies amid steep rises in the price of oil and agricultural commodities
This should worry me - but it doesn't
Employee tech toys pose challenges
Business managers and IT professionals are rightly worried about the mobile devices, often owned by employees rather than the company, that are appearing in the workplace.
Hello? Big brother calling.
Cisco Systems: time to raid the savings
The $40bn in cash sitting on the balance sheet was saved for a rainy day. Now that the clouds have rolled in, it is time to put it to work
I know they are huge. But what exactly does Cisco systems do?
All aboard for a new two-speed Europe
There is a snag – the German chancellor and French president want to couple only 17 of the Union’s 27 carriages to their refurbished locomotive, writes Philip Stephens
Just let Turkey in and stop moaning!
What Somali pirates reveal about the global economy
These buccaneers can also be viewed as businessmen, who have figured out the way trade is flowing, and how to get their share, writes Matthew Lynn
What eva!
Bank wrong to hold rates
The big problem with the bank’s position is its claim that “excess capacity” will keep inflation from rising. This capacity is likely to be exaggerated, says Patrick Minford
Again, there is nothing wrong with inflation.
Lament over good Morgan America
Gary Silverman on the US’s ‘Piers Morgan moment’: why is a former UK newspaper editor host of CNN’s flagship primetime talk show, instead of an American?
One guess!
Exchanges race to become one-stop shop
Regulation and competition are propelling globalisation of exchanges and consolidation is inevitable, but the test is whether nationalist impulses can be set aside
NO! Because you can't trust FOReiGNERS
Outlook for munis heralds arbitrage opportunities
While investors fret about eurozone divergence, on the other side of the Atlantic another set of divergence problems are also developing, writes Gillian Tett
What? Speak English!
John Lewis pension fund sells Ocado stake
11 FEB 2011 08:35 GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - Retailer John Lewis's pension fund has sold its remaining 10.4 percent stake in British online grocer Ocado for about 152 million pounds, it said on Friday.
Ocado is just hot air & hype
Carillion to buy Eaga for £306.5 million
11 FEB 2011 07:54 GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - Builder Carillion has made a recommended cash offer to buy energy-saving scheme operator Eaga for 306.5 million pounds as it looks to enter the energy efficiency market.
Smart move
Diageo's spirits damped by western Europe
A continuing decline in sales in Greece, Spain and Ireland has dented the results of the premium drinks manufacturer, which has reported a pre-tax profits increase from £139bn to £1.61bn
Rebrand to status drink. Move agressively to BRIC and other emerging markets. Make noise outside western Europe. Advertise in airlines and airport first class lounges on routes into w Europe.
EU plans to lift import curbs on soaring food commodities
Measure is the clearest acknowledgement yet of the tightness in European agricultural markets
Yay EU farmers. Here is the chance you've been waiting for. Grow. grow. grow. Invest in farms outside EU. You've got the know how, connections and EU clout think global!
Alcatel-Lucent posts losses for fifth year
The Franco-American telecoms supplier pledges to return to net profit this year and almost treble operating margins as it recorded a fifth consecutive year of annual net losses
Sucks to be you!
America impotent in face of Egypt’s crisis - KEEP OUT!
Chinese hackers hit energy groups
The FBI is probing espionage attacks that succeeded in stealing information such as bidding strategies for drilling rights in specific fields and configuration of key equipment
Prove it
Divergence puts oil traders on different track
Inflows from North Dakota, which has doubled production in two years to become the US's fourth-largest producing state, swell crude inventories as price of WTI weakens
Time to buy property in ND
Outrageous fortunes of a commodity trader
Agricultural commodity prices are at two-year highs, so why are traders concerned? Gregory Meyer explains the fits and foibles of agribusiness
I wish! Anyway its too expensive to buy in right now so, sell, sell, sell
Rolls-Royce takes £56m Trent charge
Sir John Rose issued an upbeat view as the aerospace company shrugs off the impact of a serious failure with one of its engines with a moderate rise in profits last year
That's confidence for you. Just shrug off £56,000,000 charge. That's £56 gazillion to you and me
Pentagon will not support big defence mergers
The Pentagon will not support mergers between the largest US defense contractors and will carefully examine any divestments that create 'weaker standalone' companies
A wise decision
Peugeot plans expansion into India
The French carmaker is looking to build a mid-size saloon car as part of a broader plan to grow its business overseas and reduce its reliance on Europe's anaemic car market
The problem is the made in India version will be sh*t. It's just so disappointing
Williams to accelerate growth with flotation
The Formula One racing team is offering more than a quarter of the company to outside investors in a listing that values the team at about €265m
How does anyone make any money from Formula one?
Koks scraps $500m London listing plan
Person close to the company said it did not need the money immediately and was concerned the shares might underperform after the flotation
One to watch
Smurfit profit return meets expectations
The packaging and paper group has made "reasonable progress" but its goal for 2011 will be to maximise free cash flow and pay down its substantial debt
I like packaging businesses. Who are its rivals?
Trade data hit hopes of export-led rebound
Official data have shown the largest deficit on trade in goods in the UK's history, raising questions over the ability of the economy to achieve a recovery on the back of exports
Are you kidding me? Who can afford UK stuff?
Energy headlines: Brent-WTI spread hits record levels
- WTI-Brent price divergence hits record $16 - FT - Divergence puts oil traders on different track - FT - Weak demand and rising costs hit Gazprom - FT - Race for cash to store carbon under the North Sea - The Telegraph - Cairn takes tough line on oilfields sale - FT - Republicans seek to slash DOE, EPA spending - Argus - Chinese hackers hit energy groups - FT - China vice premier urges reforms to tackle energy worries - Bloomberg - Hopes of 30% cut in greenhouse emissions dashed - The Guardian - Kinder Morgan IPO set to raise $2.9bn - FT - Icahn gets green light to acquire Dynegy - WSJ (£) - Suitors approach Eon over UK network - FT - Compensation skews profitability of India's IOC - Argus - Energees Investments set to acquire Regal - FT - Yet another route to cellulosic ethanol - NY Times Green blog - Court extends injunction on BP Rosneft deal - FT - Lawsuit filed to stop Pride merger with Ensco - FT
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