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BUSINESS WITH PERSONALITY

SPORTS REVIEW OF 2010 DISRUPTION


CONTINUES
QUOTES OF THE YEAR WILL SNOW CHAOS AND
TEST YOUR MEMORY P25 HOW TO ESCAPE IT
P6-P7, P22
Issue 1,289 Tuesday 21 December 2010 www.cityam.com FREE

ROW AT NO.10 SPARKS


UNION STRIKE THREAT
POLITICS CABLE: I CAN BRING DOWN

BY DAVID HELLIER THE GOVERNMENT


THE government’s assault on public THE TENSIONS within the coalition
sector pensions became a major flash- were thrown into sharp relief yester-
point yesterday at trade union lead- day after the Telegraph quoted busi-
ers’ first official meeting with a ness secretary Vince Cable
Conservative Prime Minister for 25 threatening to use the “nuclear
years. option” to bring down the govern-
In a meeting at No. 10 requested by ment.
the unions to outline their concerns Cable told undercover reporters pos-
about the government’s public spend- ing as constituents that there is “a
ing cuts, Cameron said certain constant battle going on behind the
aspects of the government’s pro- scenes” both within and between the
gramme were “non-negotiable”. Tory and Liberal Democrat camps.
According to sources at the meet- “If they push me too far then I can
ing, led by TUC general secretary walk out of the government and
Brendan Barber, Cameron used the bring the government down and they
phrase to refer to the government’s know that,” he was recorded as say-
position on public sector pensions, ing.
where it has said it will change the Cable said last night that he was
basis on which they are calculated. embarrassed by the
The government has said it will comments, but
index pensions against the CPI rather would not be
than the RPI in a move that will make TUC leader Brendan Barber arrives at No. 10 for talks with the Prime Minister David Cameron Picture: PA resigning from
thousands of workers worse off as it his role in the
shaves thousands off the value of Serwotka says the union might do government’s move, which was McCluskey warned over the week- coalition. The
their pensions. better by organising protests against announced in the budget. end that the government faced a mas- Liberal
“David Cameron said that the the government’s proposals rather Those at the meeting said that the sive battle with unions over the cuts Democrats have
change in the index was non-nego- than discussing issues with them. discussions were fairly cordial, and he vowed to work with students backed his
tiable,” said a spokesman for the “If Cameron’s government will not although some on the union side to fight the austerity agenda. position.
Public Services Union. “There’s no agree to meaningful negotiations, questioned how valuable the talks The union side included TUC
point in having cosy fireside chats if then all the cordiality and the fine had been. leader Brendan Barber and National
they do not lead to meaningful nego- words are for nothing, and have the The trade union delegation was Union of Journalists general secretary
tiations,” he added. effect of inviting industrial and legal deprived of one of its most militant Jeremy Dear, while the government
Writing in today’s City A.M. the action,” Serwotka said. members, Len McCluskey, whose was represented by Cameron, Oliver
Public and Commercial Services The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is train arrived late in from Liverpool, Letwin and Francis Maude.
Union general secretary Mark already looking at the legality of the causing him to miss the meeting. DEBATE: WINTER OF DISCONTENT?: P17

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2 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

FSA probes Swift mortgage firm


The Office of Fair Trading is also
Judge casts doubt on

BANKING

BAE’s deal with SFO


investigating the company under the
MORTGAGE company Swift Advances Consumer Credit Act 1974.
has been under investigation by City The lender, which deals with cus-
watchdog the FSA since July 2009, the tomers unable to secure credit else-
firm revealed in recent accounts. where, turned over £128m in the year
The public company said the group to 31 March, its accounts noted –
is likely to incur £9.4m of costs linked £108m of which was used to repay
to the probe into its handling of mort- debts and meet interest costs.
gage arrears and lending practices, Swift Advances made a pre-tax prof- DEFENCE It is understood to have agreed to failed to scrutinise these records ade-


including a potential fine. it of £9.4m for the year. BY PHILIP WALLER an ex-gratia payment of up to £30m quately to ensure they were reason-
to Tanzania and admitted failing to ably accurate and permitted them to
A DEAL between arms group BAE keep accurate records of the pay- remain uncorrected.

Apax nears a deal to take Takko Systems and the Serious Fraud Office
to settle a long-running investigation
into allegations linked to an arms
ment to the agent.
BAE had agreed to plead guilty to
one charge of breach of duty to keep
“The company very much regrets
and accepts full responsibility for
these past shortcomings.”
sale to Tanzania looked in doubt yes- accounting records linked to pay- BAE said it had improved its com-
terday after a judge challenged it. ments “made to a former marketing pliance policies to avoid a repetition
Advent has been readying an initial BAE and the SFO had agreed under adviser in Tanzania” and the judge of such issues.

PRIVATE EQUITY public offering of Takko, which oper- the terms of the deal that BAE would had been expected to sentence the But the judge at a hearing at
PRIVATE equity firm Apax Partners is ates discount clothing shops across not have to admit to allegations that defence company on that basis. Southwark Crown Court said he was
reportedly closing in on a deal to buy Europe, in case a committed buyer it made payments to secure a radar BAE said in February: “In connec- unable to pass sentence without
German clothing retailer Takko from does not emerge. deal with the Tanzanian govern- tion with the sale of a radar system hearing more evidence and said he
US rival Advent International for Last week it emerged that both ment. by the company to Tanzania in 1999, wanted to call witnesses to testify.
about €1.3bn (£1.1bn). Apax and Swedish rival EQT were BAE had acknowledged paying the company made commission pay- He questioned why the payments
Apax has been given until both preparing binding bids for commission money to a Tanzanian ments to a marketing adviser and to the businessman had been made
Thursday to hold exclusive talks with Takko. marketing adviser linked to the failed to accurately record such pay- and also whether some of the pay-
Takko and a deal is likely before the Apax and Advent were unavailable group’s sale of a radar to Tanzania in ments in its accounting records.” ments had been channelled to offi-
deadline, says the Wall Street Journal. for comment last night. 1999, but denies corruption. The firm added: “The company cials in Tanzania.

7th Floor, Centurion House,


24 Monument Street, London, EC3R 8AJ
US set to sue E&Y
for Lehman audit
Tel: 020 7015 1200 Fax: 020 7283 5334
Email: news@cityam.com www.cityam.com
Editorial
Editor Allister Heath
Deputy Editor David Hellier
News Editor David Crow
Night Editor Katie Hope ENFORCEMENT New York state senator Eric

Business Features Editor Marc Sidwell BY ALISON LOCK Schneiderman, as Cuomo is due to
Lifestyle Editor Zoe Strimpel step down at the end of December to
Sports Editor Frank Dalleres NEW YORK prosecutors are said to be become governor of New York state.
Art Director Craig Gaymer preparing to file a lawsuit against A suit of this kind would be unusu-
Pictures Alex Ridley accountant Ernst & Young for its al, legal experts said yesterday, as it
involvement in Lehman Brothers’ col- has been rare for prosecutors to
Commercial lapse in 2008. charge audit firms directly since
Sales Director Jeremy Slattery The civil case will reportedly auditor Arthur Andersen collapsed
Commercial Director Harry Owen charge Ernst & Young with helping after being sued for its role in the
Head of Distribution Nick Owen Lehman Brothers to mislead investors Enron scandal.
during its time as the bank’s auditor, Ernst & Young is also being investi-
Distribution helpline specifically homing in on the use of a gated by the UK’s Financial Reporting
If you have any comments about the distribution
of City A.M. Please ring 0207 015 1230, or email controversial accounting technique Council and the Accountancy and
distribution@cityam.com called Repo 105. Actuarial Discipline Board over the
The lawsuit may seek fines and allegations, originally published in
Editorial Statement damages from the Big Four account- an report of Lehman’s collapse by
This newspaper adheres to the system of ant if it can prove it failed to spot evi- bankruptcy lawyer Anton Valukas.
self-regulation overseen by the Press Complaints dence that Lehmans’ accounts Valukas said Lehman used Repo
Commission. The PCC takes complaints about the mislead investors, the report in the 105 without telling investors or regu-
editorial content of publications under the Editor’s
Code of Practice, a copy of which can be found at Wall Street Journal said. lators to temporarily remove up to
www.pcc.org.uk The lawsuit would be filed by $50bn (£32.2bn) of risky assets and lia-
Printed by Newsfax International,
Andrew Cuomo, the New York state bilities from its balance sheet in 2008.
Beam Reach 5 Business Park, attorney general, but would be pur- Ernst & Young and the SEC
Marsh Way, Rainham, Essex, RM13 8RS sued by his successor, Democratic declined to comment yesterday. New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo is close to filing the suit Picture: GETTY

WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING


emerging market funds. Overall gains
from emerging markets have been
strong but those funds tracking the
BANKS TO OVERHAUL GLOBAL PAY so-called Bric countries would have THREE BECOME ONE AS LONDON PIMCO SAYS UNTENABLE POLICIES TELENOR DOESN'T SUPPORT
STRUCTURES collectively underperformed counter- UNITES ITS AGENTS OF ATTRACTION WILL LEAD TO EUROZONE BREAK-UP VIMPELCOM'S WEATHER DEAL
The world’s biggest investment banks parts focused on western markets this The bodies that attract students, Pimco, the world’s largest bond fund, One of VimpelCom’s two major
are to overhaul their pay structures to year. investors and tourists to London have has called on Greece, Ireland and shareholders Telenor ASA said yester-
differentiate between bankers based been merged into Britain’s first Portugal to step outside the Eurozone day it opposed a $6.7bn merger with
in Europe and those who work else- DEAL FOR HYUNDAI E&C FALLS “super agency” by Boris Johnson. temporarily and restructure their the telecom assets of Egyptian bil-
where, after European regulators’ THROUGH From April, Visit London, Think debts unless the currency bloc agrees lionaire Naguib Sawiris, a setback
clampdown on bonuses. Many US and Creditors of Hyundai Engineering & London and Study London will be to a radical change of course. Andrew that will almost certainly derail the
Swiss banks are considering paying Construction have decided to scrap a brought together under a new Bosomworth, head of Pimco’s portfo- deal to create the world's fifth-
higher salaries and lower bonuses to deal to sell their controlling stake to umbrella organisation with the work- lio management in Europe, said cur- biggest mobile operator, according to
top bankers based in the European Hyundai Group, citing uncertainty ing title Promote London. rent policies are untenable in the people familiar with the negotia-
Union, mostly in London, to ensure over the conglomerate’s financing absence of fiscal union and will lead tions.
they comply with new instructions plans for the $4.8bn deal. This is like- WALL STREET BONUS BRIGADE GO to a break-up of the euro.
from the Committee of European ly to open the door for Hyundai FROM HEROES TO ZEROES ECB WARNS IRELAND ON NEW LAWS
Banking Supervisors (CEBS), the pan- Motor, an alternative bidder, which As Wall Street’s bonus season ALLIED IRISH BANKS MOVES £7.9BN The ECB warned Ireland that pro-
EU regulator, limiting cash pay-outs. has been determined to regain con- approaches, certain traders, bankers PROPERTY LOANS TO BAD BANK posed legislation revamping the
trol of the construction group. and brokers face a chilling new reali- Allied Irish Banks has handed over country’s financial system could
CHINA AND BRAZIL WEAK LINKS IN The battle for control of the compa- ty: this year their bonus won’t just property loans worth €9.3bn (£7.9bn) threaten some of the ECB’s opera-
BRIC EQUITY RETURNS ny involves a dynastic power struggle end in several zeroes — it may well to the country’s bad bank as the tions, and pressed Irish officials for
Lacklustre stock market performanc- pitting Chung Mong-koo, chairman start with one as well. Reforms to lender’s debt was downgraded along assurances that the central bank's
es from economic power houses of Hyundai Motor, against his sister- Wall Street pay this year have resulted with that of many of Ireland's other collateral rights will be protected.
China and Brazil have damped in-law, Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman in a big shift in the way in which major banks. Allied transferred the The ECB said it had serious concerns
returns for the many investors who of Hyundai Group. The tussle has some of the biggest companies are loans to NAMA at an average discount that the draft law is insufficiently
poured money at a record pace into drawn attention to South Korea. paying their staff. of about 60 per cent. legally certain on a number of issues.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 3

Banks should have


Gartmore chief
executive Jeff Meyer
is keen to strike a
deal with
Henderson before

paid for protection


more investor cash
flows out of the
business

Picture: REX

protection scheme. The troubled


BANKING
BY MARION DAKERS bank last year agreed to pay £2.5bn.
The support package has also “only
THE BAILED-OUT banks were under- been partially successful in encourag-
charged for the toxic asset insurance ing lending to creditworthy borrow-
scheme used to prop them up, accord- ers on the scale originally envisaged”,
ing to the National Audit Office. the report said.
The watchdog criticised the former The NAO accepted the asset protec-
Treasury staff under Labour and said tion scheme coupled with the capital
the department could have charged injections for banks such as RBS and
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in partic- Lloyds since 2008 have helped sustain
ular up to £1.9bn more for the asset financial stability.

Delay could
prove fatal
for Gartmore
£700m during the third quarter of

FUND MANAGEMENT
BY JULIET SAMUEL this year, though overall AUM was
roughly steady at £20bn. However, it is
HENDERSON is unlikely to agree an not known how much more investors
acceptable offer for Gartmore before might have withdrawn since then.
the Christmas break, sources close to Some observers have said that the
Henderson say, raising the risk that deal could also be slowed by the
the embattled fund manager could Financial Services Authority (FSA),
collapse before a deal is done. which is already investigating
Henderson confirmed yesterday it Gartmore over the conduct of one of
is in negotiations to snap up its its former fund managers, Guillaume
stalling rival and is said to have Rambourg.
offered 95p per share for the compa- Gartmore has been in crisis since
ny, whose shares closed yesterday at the departure of its star fund manag-
95.8p. That equates to £346m in total er Roger Guy in early November.
equity, with Gartmore’s latest trading Henderson is being advised on the
update putting net debt at £80m. deal by UBS and Ondra Partners,
But while Gartmore is pushing for a while Gartmore has hired Goldman
quick deal before Christmas, Sachs.
Henderson is in no hurry to complete.
Sources close to Henderson say that ANALYSIS l Gartmore
125 p
the company is keen to include a price
adjustment mechanism in the deal, 120
whereby it can reduce its offer if 95.75
115 20 Dec
Gartmore’s share price plummets dur-
110
ing negotiations.
But if Henderson drags its feet for 105
too long, Gartmore could lose so 100
much of its value as to make the deal
95
pointless. The company’s latest results
showed that its assets under manage-
20 Sep 8 Oct 8 Nov 26 Nov 26 Nov
ment (AUM) had seen outflows of

Cerberus nears Australia buys


sale of Chrysler Gatwick stake

M&A TRANSPORT
Toronto-Dominion Bank is close to an GATWICK Airport is now partially
agreement to buy Chrysler Financial owned by the Australian govern-
from US private equity firm Cerberus ment after its Future Fund bought a
Capital Management for $6.3bn 17.2 per cent stake from US invest-
(£4.1bn), it was reported last night. ment firm Global Infrastructure
Cerberus, which is led by co- Partners (GIP).
founder Stephen Feinberg, would GIP yesterday said the deal,
retain about $1bn in assets as part of thought to be worth around £150m,
the deal, the Wall Street Journal said. is part of its plan to syndicate owner-
TD spokesman Wojtek Dabrowski ship of the airport.
said the bank does not comment on It has previously sold holdings to
market rumours or speculation. other state-backed investors includ-
Toronto-Dominion is Canada’s sec- ing the Californian retirement fund,
ond-largest bank, and it owns just the South Korean pension plan and
under half of online broker TD Abu Dhabi’s investment authority,
Ameritrade. leaving GIP with a 42 per cent stake.
4 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

HSBC investors questioning


London HQ, Geoghegan says
HSBC’s shareholders have been ques- chief executive Stuart Gulliver, who

BANKING
BY ALISON LOCK tioning whether the bank should has said several times over the past
remain headquartered in London. In three months that the bank, while
JPMORGAN may be moving to the an interview with the Telegraph, preferring to stay in the UK, would
Wharf to stay, but other banks are Geoghegan said investors were consider a move. The bank reviews its
still uncertain whether London increasingly focused on London’s head office location every three years.
remains the ideal home. competitiveness – and costs – relative HSBC sources told CityA.M.: “It is
Faced with the government’s threat to other centres. our preference to stay in London and
of further banking levies, bonus taxes “Shareholders are taking more of we have been crystal clear on that.
and regulation, HSBC investors are an interest and beginning to ask But shareholders are questioning the
reconsidering London’s appeal. ‘What is the cost to HSBC of the bank economic viability of the bank
Former chief executive Michael being located here?’” he said. remaining here in the UK and we are
Geoghegan is the latest to warn that Geoghegan’s words echo incoming considering that.”

Former HSBC boss Goeghegan says the bank is mulling moving its HQ Picture: REUTERS

Adobe turns in a fourth-quarter


profit as revenues beat forecasts
kets in Japan and the US educational

TECHNOLOGY
sector caused Adobe to warn that rev-
ADOBE Systems issued an earnings enue would fall short of Wall Street
forecast sharply above Wall Street pro- expectations. As a result, investors
jections yesterday, contrasting had been anxious about upcoming
sharply from a pessimistic outlook forecasts. But Adobe turned in a prof-
three months ago when it was con- it, excluding items, of 56 cents per
cerned about the weak economy. share for the fourth quarter, which
The world’s biggest maker of ended 3 December. That beat the aver-
design software marked a sharp con- age forecast of 52 cents. Quarterly rev-
trast to the forecast issued in the last enue of $1bn (£645m) beat the
quarter when problems in key mar- average forecast of $988m.

Bankers could
trade lending
for soft touch
Authority have just rolled out the

BANKING
most stringent bonus regulation in
BY JULIET SAMUEL the world, with bankers no longer
CHIEF executives of all of the UK’s permitted to receive more than 20
major banks will be summoned to a per cent of their bonus in cash up-
meeting with chancellor George front.
Osborne today, with the directors The tough new regulation means
expected to try and sweeten the chan- that there is little more Osborne can
cellor with offers of a multi-million do to regulate bonus payments.
pound lending target. But the agreement could be
The meeting was due to take place thwarted by business secretary Vince
on Monday but was postponed due to Cable, who recently called lack of dis-
Osborne being stranded in New York closure on pay a situation that could
by the snows in Britain. foster a “poisonous fungus”.
It was convened in part to discuss Meanwhile, RBS is in negotiations
increasing transparency measures to over bonuses with its biggest share-
do with bankers’ pay, but the holder: the UK taxpayer as represent-
bankers are expected to offer to ed by the UK Financial Investments
agree to a headline-grabbing target (UKFI).
for lending to small and medium- Sources close to the bank say that
sized businesses. RBS has asked to be able to pay up-
The move would give Osborne a front cash bonuses of up to £50,000 so
way to claim victory while avoiding as to prevent an exodus of talent. For
any further action on bonuses. The the last two years, RBS has been not
EU and the Financial Services permitted to pay any cash bonuses.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 5

ANALYSIS l Current location of JP Morgan offices Barbican Old Street

The investment banking offices are currently at: Barbican


1. 125 London Wall EC2Y 5AJ Art Centre
Barbican
2. 60 Victoria Embankment EC4Y 0JP
3. 100 Wood Street EC2V 7AN
4. 10 Aldermanbury EC2V 7RF 1 Moorgate
London Wall

2 3 Liverpool
Guildhall Street

City Newgate St
Thameslink

Paternoster Gresham st
square St Pauls
Cheapside
Guided
St Paul’s Walks
Fleet street Ludgate Hill
Strand
New Poultry
Change
Bank
From left: Mayor Boris Johnson;
Grandstands Mansion
JPMorgan head of investment House
Temple
banking Jes Staley; and financial Place 4 Blackfriars Queen Victoria Street
Temple
secretary Mark Hoban Gardens Mansion
House
Pictures: REX/GETTY/REUTERS Upper Thames St Cannon St

JPMorgan
moves its HQ
to the Wharf
offices.

BANKING
BY ALISON LOCK The move will relieve policymakers,
who reportedly met with Dimon to
JPMORGAN confirmed yesterday it discuss JP Morgan’s concerns over poli-
will base its European headquarters cies such as the bank levy and bonus
at the former Lehman Brothers tower tax. Mayor of London Boris Johnson
in Canary Wharf from 2012. said it was “a tremendous coup for
The decision is a major vote of con- London and for the UK, which rightly
fidence in London as one of the reflects the prevailing confidence in
world’s top finance hubs and follows the capital.”
concerns that the government was “Banking is one of the few global
not supportive enough of the bank- industries in which we truly excel,” he
ing sector. JPMorgan will not build a said. “JPMorgan’s commitment to
new block for its use as had been London will help ensure the capital
hoped, instead paying £495m for the retains its position as a banking power-
31-floor block at 25 Bank house.”
Street. The move also pleased the Treasury,
“This acquisition is a which received £550m from
long-term investment and JPMorgan from last year’s
represents part of our con- bonus tax alone.
tinued commitment to Mark Hoban, financial secre-
London as one of the tary to the Treasury, said the
world’s most important decision would “help to
financial centres,” said ensure the City’s position as
Jamie Dimon, the the pre-eminent global finan-
bank’s chairman and cial centre.” “This is excellent
chief executive. news for the City of London,
The towering steel and indeed the UK,” he said.
and glass block will The bank had planned to
host JP Morgan’s build a £1.5bn complex on
entire 8,000-strong the Riverside South site
investment bank- but will now just manage
ing division, which the development and pay
is currently spread £74.5m to exit the con-
between four tract.

TIME LINE | JPMORGAN CAZENOVE


JPMORGAN’S decision to move its its ongoing reputation as the Queen’s
8,000-strong team of investment stockbroker. It is famed for its respect
bankers east to a new European head- for tradition too, from the discreet brass
quarters at Canary Wharf marks a his- plate outside its Tokenhouse Yard offices
toric break with the past for one part of to the separate doors for different staff
the business. As part of the move, members, from brokers to butlers.
JPMorgan is to relocate its stockbroking But the highly-regarded broker has
arm, JP Morgan Cazenove, a firm that undergone fundamental change over the
has maintained its illustrious City roots past decade. In April 2001 it officially
for nearly 200 years. ended its partnership structure and
The historic Cazenove stockbroking busi- began preparations to float, but pulled
ness traces its roots back to 1819, when the plan and eventually sold 50 per cent
Phillip Cazenove joined his brother-in-law to JPMorgan in 2004 and the remaining
John Menet’s company. The two men half, for £1bn, in 2009.
decided to go into business together four It has never yet left the City, though it
years later, and in 1823 the stockbroking has moved around: from Tokenhouse
partnership was established. Yard it moved to Moorgate in 2003 and
Cazenove has maintained its blue-blood- following the takeover, it moved again to
ed credentials since, not least thanks to the bank’s offices on Aldermanbury.
6 Focus on Snow Disruption CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

National Grid expects record


gas usage to ease this week
industrial users to help fuel homes January this year.

ENERGY
and switch electricity generation The National Grid said usage was
BY MARION DAKERS from gas to other fuels in an effort to likely to be slightly less today and for
THE NATIONAL Grid has reassured keep a constant power supply. the rest of the week, as companies
customers that gas and electricity This is the first such alert to be start to close down for Christmas.
supplies are more than enough to issued as early in the winter as “A gas balancing alert is a routine
meet demand, despite record usage December. market tool and should not be a
yesterday forcing it to issue a supply Demand for gas is thought to have cause for concern,” said network
alert. passed 468m cubic metres (mcm), operations director Chris Train.
The utility issued a gas balancing slightly above forecasts on Sunday of Utility firms Centrica and National
alert for yesterday and today, which 465.8mcm and well above the previ- Grid helped push the FTSE 100 up 0.3
allows its to redirect power from ous record of 465.5mcm seen in per cent yesterday to 5,891.61.

BA shares hit
as Heathrow
chaos drags on
was too early to calculate the costs.

TRANSPORT
BY MARION DAKERS “Our priority is to fly as many cus-
tomers as we can before Christmas,” he
SHARES in British Airways plummeted said.
yesterday thanks to the major disrup- Transport secretary Philip
tion to its flights from Heathrow. Hammond told Parliament yesterday
The firm, which is Heathrow’s that the late night flying rules would
biggest operator, cancelled 70 of its be relaxed to ease congestion.
130 flights out of the airport yesterday, Eurostar is also expected to be hit
leaving thousands stranded. hard by the weather.
BA is currently losing up to £10m a Thousands of passengers queued
day, according to analyst estimates – outside St Pancras station yesterday to
close to the losses suffered when all get a train to Europe after cancella-
flights were grounded during the tions at the weekend.
Icelandic volcanic eruption in April. BA shares closed down 1.85 per cent
“We have BA down to deliver rev- at 265.2p yesterday.
enues of around £27m a day in this
quarter so assuming some 70 per cent ANALYSIS l BA
of that is fixed cost it is probably losing 290 p
265.20
about £8m a day of profit,” said Davy 280 20 Dec
Stockbrokers analyst Stephen Furlong,
adding that the majority of BA’s profit 270
comes from its Heathrow operations. 260
“It depends on the percentage of
longhaul flights BA have operated but 250
I think they are probably losing
240
around £10m a day,” said Oddo
Securities analyst Yan Derocles.
20 Sep 8 Oct 28 Oct 17 Nov 7 Dec
A spokesperson for the airline said it
ANALYSIS l WEATHER FORECAST | LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST

Today: Any light snow flurries across Kent Coventry


should die away during the morning
to leave a mainly dry day, mostly cloudy
day. Cold with temperatures Ipswich
struggling to get above freezing. Maximum
temperature 2 °C. Gloucester
London
Wednesday - Friday: Some showers of Swindon
rain, sleet and snow are possible during FOG
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and FOG
feeling bitterly cold in a strengthening
north or northeast wind. Southampton
FOG
Source: Met Office MIST
Brighton
MIST
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 Focus on Snow Disruption 7

Retailers feel chill winds of arctic conditions


FOR retailers, it never rains – it snows ing delivery of bulky goods like likely to be affected is seemingly end-
and snows and snows. The industry fridges, washing machines or TVs. less. British Airways lost almost two
had been hoping that the latest blast Even those customers that do brave per cent yesterday on fears that it’s
of freezing weather would hold off a shopping spree will find less stock. bottom line – already squeezed by
until after Christmas. Instead, the Supply chains – which are still suffer- strikes – will be further hit by the arc-
snow that blanketed London in the ing from the bout of snow in early tic conditions. Eurostar, one of the
small hours of Saturday morning December – have been massively biggest losers from last year’s freezing
thwarted one of the biggest days on affected; hundreds of product lines conditions, will also be hurt.
the retail calendar. Persistent sub-zero are stuck in container ports. Of course there are always winners:
conditions means the impacted snow It isn’t just retailers which suffer: a utilities helped push the FTSE 100
and ice is going nowhere. quick stroll around the Square Mile higher yesterday, because if there’s
Many shops had been hoping that proves that consumer-facing business- one thing people are using it’s energy.
consumers would bring forward pur- es of every hue, from sandwich shops Purveyors of woolly jumpers should
chases of big-ticket items ahead of the and gourmet restaurants to bars and do well too.
VAT rise, which increases from 17.5 hotels, are feeling the arctic condi-
per cent to 20 per cent in January. But tions. Shelves are empty, shop floors
most punters aren’t even venturing
on to the High Street, let alone arrang-
even emptier.
The list of other companies that are
BOTTOMLINE
Analysis by David Crow

(Clockwise from far left) Ground staff


de-ice planes; chaos on the roads; can-
celled flights; and London in the Snow
Pictures: GETTY, REUTERS

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BE BETTER PREPARED


FOR THE SEVERE WEATHER? Interviews by Tom Chatfield
JENNIFER DEVLIN | RSA GROUP
“Yes, most definitely. I feel they could have
spent more money and have done more about
the whole country, not just London, especially
when it comes to trains.”

JOHN HEAGREN | TPD ASSOCIATES


“Not really, between now and the last time of
the snow, they couldn’t have. However, it will
be interesting to see how they cope if the
same happens next year.”

PATRICK GILHAM | HOWDEN


“Undoubtedly! The country is in chaos and
we have our main airport running with
only one runway, even after the second
bout of snow.”

TRANSPORT | TUESDAY SERVICES ON TRAINS AND PLANES


● Heathrow Airport ● Eurostar
Running a reduced service until at least Running around 80 per cent of scheduled
6am on Wednesday. Passengers should trains. Only those with bookings should
not travel to the airport unless they have try to travel, and should expect queues.
confirmation from their airline that their
flight is taking place. ● Southern Rail
The operator hopes to run a normal
● Gatwick Airport timetable in London tomorrow, though a
No departures until at least 6am this reduced service will run in Sussex.
morning, with knock-on delays likely.
Check with your airline and on Gatwick’s ● National Express East Anglia
Twitter feed before travelling to the air- Cancellations and delays are expected on
port. some lines – check before travelling.
● Stansted Airport ● Southeastern
Running a normal service, but check with The operator is confident about running
airline before travelling. a normal timetable on Tuesday.
● London City Airport ● First Capital Connect
Runway should be open but delays are Thameslink trains through Bedford and
expected. Brighton will run on a reduced timetable.
8 Eurozone Debt Crisis CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

ECB takes its foot off the gas


in bond purchase programme
Last week also saw a disappointing Eurozone debt crisis far from over,

EUROZONE CRISIS
BY JULIET SAMUEL auction of short-dated Spanish debt, the ECB will probably be forced to
with Spain selling less than expected ramp up its bond purchases again
THE European Central Bank (ECB) and paying more for its money. early next year.”
slowed its rate of sovereign bond The slowdown in special bond pur- Goldman Sachs has estimated
purchases significantly last week, chases in part reflects a market that, between them, Spain, Belgium,
figures out yesterday showed. wind-down before Christmas, but Italy and Portugal will need to refi-
The ECB bought €600m’s (£507m) could also signal a concession to its nance €707bn’s worth of debt next
worth of gilts in the week to last board’s more hawkish German year.
Friday, marking a sharp downward membership. With yields skyrocketing, it is like-
shift from its purchases of €2.7bn, However, the lighter intervention ly that the ECB will be pressured to
€2bn and €1.3bn in the previous is likely to be temporary. ING Bank’s intervene in secondary markets to
three weeks respectively. Martin van Vliet said: “With the temper borrowing costs.

Spain’s unemployment rate has hit 18 per cent leading to public protests at cuts Picture: REUTERS

OECD: Spain
needs reform
shift more of the burden onto con-

EUROZONE CRISIS
BY JULIET SAMUEL sumption and property and away
from employment. It also emphasis-
SPAIN is in urgent need of far-reach- es the need to de-regulate so as to
ing labour market and tax reform, make hiring people less onerous,
according to an economic survey including measures to reduce sever-
released yesterday by the ance pay and make it easier for com-
Organisation for Economic panies and employees to opt out of
Cooperation and Development collective sector agreements.
(OECD). In addition, the organisation said
The report also said that efforts to that water management and regula-
curb the country’s budget deficit – tion requires urgent reform so that
which it predicts will hit 11 per cent its cost reflects its scarcity.
this year – and improve the econo- But sweeping reform could prove
my’s competitiveness need to be difficult: Spain’s government is
“broadened and deepened”. already struggling to maintain order
In particular, the country needs after introducing a raft of measures
far-reaching reform to address its 18 to address its deficit, including an
per cent unemployment rate – a rate increase in VAT, income tax and a
higher than that of Ireland or five per cent cut in public sector
Portugal: “Labour market reform is wages.
the cornerstone to rebalance the The country is still in a state of
economy,” the report said. emergency imposed after a strike by
In order to do so, the OECD sug- air traffic controllers shut down the
gests reforming the tax system to country earlier this month.

Trichet warns Ireland to stick to


its bailout plan for sake of euro
cue package could affect the institu-

EUROZONE CRISIS
tion’s liquidity operations in the Euro
EUROPEAN Central Bank head Jean- zone.
Claude Trichet said yesterday Asked if he was concerned about
Eurozone countries must do more the health of Irish banks, Trichet said:
individually and collectively to com- “The Irish [bailout] plan is designed
bat the bloc’s debt crisis, and Ireland for Ireland to face up to its own par-
must stick “rigorously” to its bailout ticular problems, which have mostly
plan. to do with its banking system.”
In a position paper published on its “We consider it necessary [for
website, the ECB earlier expressed Ireland] to complete this plan rigor-
“serious concerns” that Ireland’s res- ously,” he added.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 9

Hedge funds play an important role in society


and effectively regulated at a UK level, facilitating market efficiency. endowments and charitable invest- they think it’s worth investing in
but they will soon also be subject to EU For example, the industry provides a ments. hedge funds, surely it is worth listen-
regulation, with the Alternative lot of jobs, both directly (for managers) Hedge funds do a good job protect- ing to them?
Investment Fund Managers Directive and indirectly (for advisers and service ing and growing those socially valu- And there is another important
(AIFMD) soon to be approved by the providers like lawyers and account- able investments because the market function hedge funds provide.
European Council. ants) – about 40,000 in total in the UK investment strategies it employs – like They assume risk on behalf of other
With new EU regulation approach- alone, according to our research. It short-selling – allow it to “hedge” and participants who are less able to do so.
ing on areas like derivatives and short- generates significant tax revenues help prevent losses when markets fall. It’s better for everyone if risk is dis-
GUEST COMMENT selling, it’s worth remembering why too – we think about £3bn a year. That’s why the industry delivers such persed among lots of small, diverse
ANDREW BAKER the hedge fund industry is a good
thing. The traditional defence of the
That’s not chump change in these
times.
solid returns for its investors.
The figures suggest that institution-
players, rather than concentrated
among a few big guys who all do simi-
industry is that it provides liquidity And because it is increasingly insti- al investment now makes up about lar things. The “biodiversity” that

O
NE of the biggest popular mis- and price discovery to markets, and tutional investors like pension funds two-thirds (and rising) of all assets hedge funds provide actually helps
conceptions about the hedge that is all true. who make up the majority of assets being managed by the hedge fund reduce systemic risk and thus prevents
fund industry is that it is unreg- But the industry actually has an managed, the industry has an impor- industry. These institutional investors financial instability. Andrew Baker is
ulated and wishes to stay that important social role and provides tant social role as the guardian of peo- do extensive due diligence on the chief executive of the Alternative Investment
way. Not only are managers vigorously value to the broader economy, beyond ple’s pensions, of university hedge fund managers they appoint. If Management Association.

Greek Prime Minister


George Papandreou
has said speculators
were to blame for his
country’s debt woes
Picture: REUTERS

Bundesbank:
CDS did not
cause crisis
for the likes of Greece.

EUROZONE CRISIS
BY ALISON LOCK The report, published earlier this
month, found “no conclusive evi-
GERMANY’S central bank said yester- dence” that developments in the CDS
day that speculative trading in sover- market affected the cost of state bor-
eign credit default swaps (CDS) was not rowing.
to blame for the Eurozone debt crisis. It praised the “efficiency of CDS
In its December report, the markets in sovereign debt” and said
Bundesbank said that a spike in the they had little influence on bond
cost of insuring sovereign debt using yields even where governments faced
CDS was not down to excessive specu- funding difficulties.
lation by traders. “CDS spreads for the more troubled
Instead, movements in CDS prices countries seem to be low relative to
for peripheral Eurozone economies – the corresponding bond yield spreads,
like Greece, Spain and Ireland – was which implies that CDS spreads can
due to specific problems in those hardly be considered to cause high
countries, the Bundesbank said. bond yields for these countries,” said
It added that the CDS market had the report, which was commissioned
responded well to important informa- by European finance ministers in
tion about the financial strength of March.
these countries, such as credit rating The findings come hot on the heels
agency downgrades. of tough new European Commission
The Bundesbank also found that proposals published in September,
suggestions speculative traders which aim to tighten rules on short
pushed up the price of CDS to make a selling and restrict trading of CDS on
quick profit was “not confirmed by sovereign debt, where investors effec-
empirical data”. tively take a short position on EU gov-
The report backs up a similar inves- ernment bonds.
tigation by the European But Syed Kamall, a UK member of
Commission, which also found that the European Parliament, has warned
trading in sovereign CDS was not to the crackdown could actually lead to
blame for a spike in borrowing costs higher sovereign borrowing costs.
The Capitalist
10 CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010
EDITED BY
JULIET SAMUEL
GOT A STORY? EMAIL
thecapitalist@cityam.com

EUROPE GETS ANOTHER SCROOGE:


OSBORNE NOW JOINED BY MERKEL
LAST time The Capitalist reported on Matters magazine column last week. us a bond analyst; for the present,
the activities of Evolution Securities’ And in the mind of a bonds ana- ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet
head of fixed income Gary Jenkins, lyst, guess who takes the role of (“It appears that I am being asked to
he was fantasising about taking over Scrooge? That’s right, German chan- undertake a number of different
ratings agencies and hiring Natalie cellor Angela Merkel: “Some saw her responsibilities at this time which
Portman as his PA. as hard and sharp as flint, which no were not part of my original man-
He has been putting his wild warmth could warm,” he writes. date”); and for Christmases future,
imagination to other productive “She considered herself as a profes- an evil ghost of a ruined Europe in
uses recently, it seems, churning out sional keeper of the flame.” the wake of a euro collapse.
a re-imagining of Charles Dickens’ A As for the “ghosts of But this re-telling has a realist
Christmas Carol for his Credit Deutschmarks past”, Jenkins brings twist. Instead of embracing fiscal

Gary Jenkins draws on his active imagination for his columns.

union, Merkel dismisses her revela- treats.


tions and “with a smile on her face The Corporation just slapped its
and a spring in her step she went first ever immediate injunction in the
downstairs to stuff the turkey”. Square Mile on Piccadilly Whip
Catering Limited.
But what offence is this dastardly
PARTY ON organisation accused of committing?
It might have been a year of uncer- Selling icecream on the street
tainty for investors, but the City par- without a license, it seems.
ties on, according to the annual “We’re clamping down on ice-
Christmas survey by the London cream vendors because of reported
Chamber of Commerce and Industry. overpricing – with some tourists
The research shows that more being charged up to £5 for a cornet
than half of licensed venues (that is, (sic) – and concerns over health and
bars, clubs and the like) surveyed safety,” said a City spokesman yester-
said that business is more profitable day.
than it was this time last year. Now a fiver might be a bit steep for
Overall, 48 per cent of venue man- a couple of strawberry scoops on a
sugar cone, but The Capitalist is pretty
sure that the heavens’ dramatic
intervention in the form of freezing
temperatures will be just as effective
an injunction on icecream consump-
tion as any imposed by the High
Court.

NERDS’ BUSINESS
Rumours abound of a possible tie-up
between Facebook and Chinese
search engine Baidu.
But these new media types have a
The City A.M. awards: a good party year funny way of denying market whis-
pers. Not for them the bland, “We do
agers said that trading was better, 32 not comment on speculation”.
per cent said it was much the Instead, a spokesman told The
same, with only 20 per cent Guardian: “It was just two nerds
saying it was worse. comparing notes. Keep the
And unlike in 2009, speculation in check.”
party venues are report- Nice to inspire such
ing less reliance on respect from your own
one-time spending press goons, eh?
events like
Christmas.
Just 30 per cent
said that the fes-
DOUBLE SPEAK
Labour leader Ed
tivities account- Miliband is clamping
ed for 11 to 25 down on loose language,
per cent of according to reports.
annual turnover, In a memo to his Shadow
versus more than Cabinet recently, he
half in 2009. informed them that the
The EU might be use of the descriptive
doing its best to phrase “coalition govern-
stamp on City exu- ment” is no longer au fait. It
berance with new sounds much too friendly,
bonus rules out apparently.
recently, but it just So what sanctioned lan-
goes to show that guage will the new Party
you can’t keep a machinery accept?
banker away from “Conservative-led govern-
her gin and tonic ment” is A-OK.
for long. A curious prohibition,
you might think, given
that the Tories currently
WHIPPED poll around 37 per cent,
It might not be the versus their friendly coali-
season for icecream, tion partners’ recent low of
but the City of London 11.
Corporation never stops Is it possible that Ed has
thinking about the regu- spun himself into a frenzied
lation of our summer re-imagining of the 90s?
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 11

Groupon hires new


Kohlberg Kravis
Roberts, which bid
over £1bn for
Perpetual, was co-
founded by Henry

CFO from Amazon


Kravis

Picture:
GETTY

(£3.86bn) buyout offer from Google


TECHNOLOGY
BY HARRY BANKS earlier this month.
The Chicago-based company’s viral
GROUPON has brought in a former couponing concept has been a hit,
Amazon executive as its new chief with annual revenue said to range
financial officer, the discount coupon from $500m to $2bn. It sends mem-
provider said yesterday. bers daily e-mails with a variety of dis-
Jason Child, a former vice president counts. The deals are activated when a
of finance for Amazon’s international minimum number of people agree to
business, took on the new role with make a purchase.
Groupon yesterday. Child spent 12 years at Amazon
Groupon turned down a $6bn after seven years at Arthur Andersen.

KKR’s £1bn bid


for Perpetual
is called off
fourth-largest wealth management

WEALTH MANAGEMENT
BY HARRY BANKS industry but investors said KKR will
likely remain in the market for other
AUSTRALIAN wealth manager Australian wealth management
Perpetual has called off talks with pri- assets.
vate equity firm Kohlberg Kravis KKR’s offer valued Perpetual at
Roberts over a $1.7bn (£1.09bn) about 22 times forward earnings com-
takeover saying the approach under- pared to 18 times for AMP’s offer for
valued the company, knocking its the Australia and New Zealand assets
shares down by nearly 15 per cent. of AXA Asia Pacific.
KKR made an indicative bid of A$38 “The takeover premium is gone out
to A$40 per Perpetual share in of the share price and no other bid-
October, eyeing a slice of the $1.2 tril- ders are likely to come in,” said Simon
lion Australian wealth management Burge, fund manager at ATI Asset
sector. It was only willing to raise that Management.
slightly after looking at limited data. “Add to that uncertainty over the
The Australian wealth manage- new chief executive. Only when a new
ment industry is among the few grow- head is appointed will we know the
ing parts of the country’s financial direction of the firm.”
services sector, thanks to compulsory
private pension schemes. ANALYSIS l Perpetual
There have been several deals in the 38 A$
sector, including the $13bn takeover
36
offer of AXA Asia Pacific by AMP.
Perpetual, which is currently 34
searching for a new chief executive,
said the the initial offer was too low 31.54
32 20 Dec
and said it would now end all discus-
sions with KKR after it failed to get an
acceptable price. 30
A successful offer could have led to
8 Oct 28 Oct 17 Nov 7 Dec
further consolidation in the world’s

Aggreko wins Ingenico dips


Olympics deal after deal fails

ENERGY FINANCIAL SERVICES


AGGREKO, the Scottish power special- FRENCH payment services provider
ist, has sealed a £37m deal to supply Ingenico’s shares fell yesterday after a
electricity to the London 2012 Olympic takeover offer from a US buyer was
Games. scuppered by opposition from its top
The Glasgow-based company will shareholder, state-backed defence
provide about 220 megawatts of group Safran.
power – some 60 megawatts more Safran, 30 per cent owned by the
than it supplied at the Beijing games French government, holds 22.5 per
in 2008. cent of Ingenico.
Aggreko has also provided power for It blocked the €1.44bn (£1.22bn)
the football World Cup in South Africa offer as a result of political pressure
and the Vancouver Winter Olympics. to prevent the company passing into
The company, which has 5,000 foreign hands, analysts said. French
employees, said it had also been signed industry minister Eric Besson said it
up as a sponsor for the London games was a “strategic” business. Shares
after winning the deal. closed six per cent off at €26.05.
12 Focus on Ladbrokes CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

ANALYST VIEWS: IS LADBROKES ON A WINNER WITH 888? By Philip Waller

SIMON DAVIES| Collins Stewart NICK BATRAM| PEEL HUNT

“ We believe that a 70p per share offer


should be a slam dunk for [888] investors, but
see significant regulatory risk to a successful
transaction given that 888 has not procured a
non-prosecution agreement with the United
“ 888 and Ladbrokes need a deal. For
shareholders of the former, the only question is
whether to hang on for a bid or sell now. We feel
a competing offer is unlikely. But 888 is no
stranger to disappointment and Ladbrokes’ share-

” ”
States Department of Justice, which rep- holders may question if it is backing the
resents a potential poison pill. right horse.

SIMON FRENCH| PANMURE GORDON

“ Clearly a significant opportunity for the combined business lies in cost reduction. A significant element of


Ladbrokes’ cost base is from licensing software from Microgaming. 888 has developed its own proprietary technology
which could be used across the combined group when Ladbrokes’ current agreement with Microgaming expires.

| PROMOTION Ladbrokes boss


Richard Glynn
has 888 in his
sights

Picture: REX

Ladbrokes to
Power
The
Hundred
bid for online
TELL US YOUR TOP 3 CHOICES
FOR THE POWER HUNDRED 2011
2011 gaming firm
WIN ONE OF 7 PAIRS OF FLIGHTS 58p yesterday, while Ladbrokes stock

LEISURE
closed down 1.2 per cent to 126p.
TO ANY CITYJET DESTINATION* BY PHILIP WALLER
BETTING firm Ladbrokes is in talks
Ladbrokes said: “There can be no
certainty that these discussions will
The Power Hundred 2011, published on Two years ago, the Power Hundred was with 888 about a potential £240m ultimately lead to an offer being
takeover bid that sent shares in the made for 888. Further announce-
22 December in City A.M., will highlight all dominated by those involved in rescuing the online gambling group soaring. ments will be made as appropriate.”
those who will be calling the shots in the City in banks. This year's list will have a different Britain’s biggest bookmaker and The move by Ladbrokes, which has
888 both confirmed weekend media 2,700 betting shops, would represent
2011, whether they be bankers, lawyers, chief complexion, with dealmakers and successful speculation about the possible tie-up, the latest move towards consolida-
executives or hedge fund managers. business leaders in the ascendancy. saying they were in “very preliminary tion of the gaming industry after
discussions”, although they declined PartyGaming and bwin announced
to give details. their merger in August.
Ladbrokes, led by chief executive Ladbrokes and 888 held talks four
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN, SIMPLY TELL US YOUR TOP 3 CHOICES FOR THE POWER HUNDRED. A NEW WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN EACH DAY. Richard Glynn, is thought to be keen years ago but aborted them due to
on expanding its online operations, Ladbrokes’ concerns over the threat
WHO WILL TOP OUR EXCLUSIVE CLUB THIS YEAR? which while being successful are not
believed to have grown as much as
of possible retrospective legal action
linked to 888’s activities in the US
Go to www.CityJet.com/cityam the bookmaker would have liked.
In August, 888 scrapped its divi-
prior to the industry being outlawed
in 2006.
dend, preferring to keep cash after a Unlike rivals PartyGaming and
to submit your entries and for full weak economy and competition from
soccer’s World Cup sapped appetite
Sportingbet, 888 has yet to strike a
deal with US authorities to give it
terms and conditions. for poker and hit its first-half profit.
Shares in 888 rose 18 per cent to
immunity from prosecution, which
one broker said could scupper a bid.

Don’t forget to pick up City A.M. on 22 December to check out who's up, who's down, which banker is
pulling the best deals, who has entered our exclusive club and who has dropped out of it. GARRY LEVIN division, a role he formally took up
in April 2010.
*from London City Airport, excluding Milan Linate. Terms and conditions apply EVOLUTION Before working for KBC Peel
Hunt, he was joint chief executive
SECURITIES of broker Altium Capital between
2002 and 2007, having started his
career as a solicitor.
To celebrate this year’s list, CityJet, City A.M.’s partner for the Power Andrew Burnett, who also acts as
Hundred 2011, is giving away one pair of flights each day for 7 days in the run GARRY Levin at Evolution Securities
a broker for 888, is an executive
director at Panmure Gordon & Co.
up to the list. CityJet is a subsidiary of one of the largest airlines in the world and Andrew Burnett at Panmure
Gordon are joint brokers for 888
He was previously head of mergers
& acquisitions at Empire Online,
and offers a choice of over 480 flights a week to 14 major European and UK while Deutsche Bank and Greenhill director of corporate finance at
advise Ladbrokes. Numis Securities, research director
business centres from London City Airport. With just a 15 minute check-in Garry Levin left his role as man- at Merrill Lynch International, assis-
time - the shortest of any UK airport - CityJet are the smartest choice for aging director in corporate finance
at KBC Peel Hunt earlier this year to
tant director at Charterhouse
Tilney and research analyst at
time-conscious business and leisure passengers in London. join rival Evolution Securities as
head of its equity corporate finance
County Natwest. He studied at the
University of St Andrews.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 13

Coalition rejigs
high speed line
along the preferred route may suffer

TRANSPORT
BY PHILIP WALLER AND DAVID CROW falls in the value of their homes and
said the government was considering
THE government has caved in to pres- compensation.
sure from Conservative backbenchers Hammond said engineers would
by changing the planned route of the reduce the environmental impact of
UK’s new high speed rail line from the railway line by running it through
London to Birmingham. tunnels and cuttings.
Transport secretary Philip The coalition has changed about half
Hammond said the changes would the plan originally put forward by the
“significantly mitigate” the impact of body charged with designing it, HS2
the 250mph trains on towns and vil- Ltd.
lages bordering the railway. A line between London and
The proposed line passes through Birmingham and a connection to the
the constituencies of several Tory MPs, Channel Tunnel rail link – known as
including those of Welsh Secretary HS1 – will be built first, with a y-shaped
Cheryl Gillan and Andrea Leadsom, MP network stretching to Manchester and
for South Northamptonshire, who Leeds to be built later, as well as a
questioned whether the proposals rep- branch to Heathrow Airport.
resented value for money. Track and station operator Network
Leadsom said: “My overriding belief Rail said the new line was needed to
is this is wrong. The UK is simply too relieve congestion on the existing West
small, hilly and contoured to cope with Coast main line and provide extra
a 250mph juggernaut.” space for passenger and freight trains.
Hammond insisted the scheme The Confederation of British
would bring parts of the country closer Industry said it backed the route cho-
together by reducing journey times to sen by ministers because it would bring
and from London. more benefits for the economy and bet-
But he acknowledged that some ter connections for big cities.

Philip Hammond is spearheading the rail project Picture: Micha Theiner/City A.M.
14 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

Nasdaq OMX in buyback


bond sale, the US-based company said Investor AB, the holding company for


FINANCIAL SERVICES
yesterday. Sweden’s Wallenberg family.
BY HARRY BANKS Nasdaq OMX said it agreed to a After the transactions with Nasdaq
EXCHANGE operator Nasdaq OMX price of $21.82 per share for the buy- OMX and Investor AB, Borse Dubai’s
kicked its buyback plan into high back, below its closing price of $22.53 holdings in Nasdaq OMX will total
gear with a deal to repurchase 11.5 on Wednesday. about 30m shares.
per cent of its outstanding shares The deal will help Borse Dubai The plan “allows us to be oppor-
from Borse Dubai for $497m meet its debt obligations, Nasdaq tunistic and accelerate our share
(£320.4m) yesterday. OMX said. repurchase plans,” Nasdaq OMX chief
The repurchase of 22.8m shares It said Borse Dubai would also sell executive Robert Greifeld said in a
Nasdaq OMX chief Robert Greifeld said the buyback was “opportunistic” Picture: REUTERS will be funded by a proposed $370m about 8m Nasdaq OMX shares to statement.

Genzyme in AT&T to pay


push for a Qualcomm
higher bid 3G

Cash: 20719.24
Margin: 560.00
13:05

Markets
Unrealised P&L: 92.70
Total Position: 20092.70
$1.9bn in deal
List One Long name... List Three
Sell Buy Change Status
UK 100 Rolling Spread
>


PHARMACEUTICALS TELECOMS
Trade
4917.0 4919.0 +45.2
Wall Street Rolling Spread
Trade
>
BY HARRY BANKS 9599 9605
US SP 500 Rolling Spread
+24
BY HARRY BANKS
Trade
1034.6 1035.2 +4.8 >
GENZYME which is fighting off a hos- Trade
US Tech 100 Rolling Spread
1644.4
884.8 1647.4
885.2 +6.6
-15.0 > AT&T plans to buy wireless spectrum
tile $18.5bn (£11.2bn) bid from Sanofi- Trade
Germany 30 Rolling Spread
5538.5 5540.5 +67.0 > from Qualcomm for $1.93bn
Aventis, is taking another stab at Trade
US Crude Oil Oct 09 Spread
1644.4
884.8 1647.4
885.2 +6.6
-15.0 > (£1.24bn) and boost its 4G network,
persuading investors that its experi- Trade
GP/USD Rolling Spread
>
aiming to counter criticism over
16346 16350 +61
mental multiple sclerosis drug is 5
iPhone service quality and a threat
worth more than Sanofi’s projec- from rivals like Verizon Wireless.
tions. AT&T is the sole US carrier for
Genzyme, a US-based biotech com- Apple’s iPhone, but smaller rivals like
pany that makes drugs for rare dis- Sprint Nextel and Clearwire have
eases, maintains that its Campath been adopting 4G, a new wireless
drug could generate peak annual standard that enables better Internet

SPREAD
sales of $3.5bn. access including video.
France’s Sanofi sees peak annual It is the sort of wireless bandwidth
sales closer to $700m. The discrepan- AT&T desires – and will go with yes-
cy is central to Genzyme’s argument terday’s deal – given the strain iPhone
that it is worth more than the $69 a has put on its existing network. At
share being offered by Sanofi. times, customers in cities like New
To break the deadlock, Genzyme York and San Francisco have com-
and Sanofi advisers have discussed
using contingent value rights (CVR) in
a potential deal structure. The rights
would give Genzyme investors an
extra payout if the drug reached cer-
tain targets.
BET N W plained of dropped calls and slow
Web connections.
AT&T's move also comes as Verizon
Wireless, the venture of Verizon
Communications and Vodafone
Group, has also adopted 4G service
“I think that’s the way it’s going to and is widely expected to gain rights
go,” said William Tanner, an analyst Get Spread Betting on your iPhone™ to sell the iPhone in 2011.
at Lazard Capital Markets. “I imagine now from just 10p per point* The 700 megahertz (MHz) airwaves
there will be a figure in the low $70s are considered valuable because they
with an earn-out based on how this travel long distances and can pene-
drug actually does.” trate thick walls. The license covers
Sanofi’s hostile tender offer expires more than 300m people in the United
on 21 January. Sanofi had extended
Spread betting can result in losses States, the companies said in a joint
that deadline earlier this month to that exceed your initial deposit. statement.
buy time for an agreement, though it In 2007, AT&T bought wireless air-
has not ruled out more aggressive wave licenses in the 700 MHz frequen-
options, including a proxy battle for cy band from privately held Aloha
Genzyme. * 10p offer available to new account holders for first 8 weeks. Partners LP for about $2.5bn.
Few analysts believe that Campath, For San Diego-based chipmaker
which is already sold as a cancer treat- Qualcomm, the sale will mark the
ment and known generically as alem- end of its FLO TV business, its mobile
tuzumab, will generate the kind of 020 7150 0499 television service that never took off.
sales projected by Genzyme. www.finspreads.com It had said in July that it would
Independent market research group examine its strategic options for the
BioMedTracker has forecast Campath business, and announced in October
iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
sales of about $1.6bn in 2019. that it was suspending sales. It was
Genzyme first presented its argu- trying to sell the spectrum and was in
ment for a higher value at an investor talks with wireless operators includ-
event in New York two months ago. ing Verizon Wireless.

Fiat in crucial week of Italian union talks Google delays its TV sets
to build top-range SUVs if unions time unions were split, with some TV products at the Consumer

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
BY HARRY BANKS agreed to more flexible shifts. ready to sign the deal, some asking Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early
The plan was part of chief execu- for more time and the left-leaning GOOGLE has asked manufacturers to January.
ITALIAN carmaker Fiat has entered tive Sergio Marchionne’s “Fabbrica Fiom union against it. delay the launch of TV sets based on Google did not immediately reply
a crucial week of talks over the Italia” project under which Fiat may “We are not against a separate the internet company’s software. to an email seeking comment.
future of its historic Mirafiori plant invest €20bn in loss-making Italian contract for the car sector,” said Google sent out word to some hard- TVs with Google’s software let
ahead of a self-imposed Christmas plants to boost productivity. Luigi Angeletti, secretary general of ware makers last week asking them viewers surf the Web directly from TV
deadline to decide whether to stick However, talks between Italy’s top moderate trade union Uil said yes- not to announce additional products sets. Apple has a competing device,
to planned investments. industrial group and unions over a terday. yet, saying the delay may allow the Apple TV, which allows users to watch
Fiat unveiled a plan at the end of plan to relaunch Mirafiori stalled “But drafting takes time and we company to improve its software. their iTunes collection on TV.
November to invest more than €1bn over a labour contract dispute. need to reach a deal on Mirafiori by However, Samsung Electronics will The initial Google TV devices are
(£840m) in its Turin Mirafiori plant Union representatives said at the the end of the week.” go ahead with its launch of Google offered by Sony and Logitech.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 Economics 15

Mortgage lending NEWS | IN BRIEF


Tube strike to hit west end sales

slumps to lowest
London’s retailers could be severely
affected by tube strikes on Boxing Day,
the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has
warned. Almost one fifth of retail spend-
ing takes place in the capital, providing

point for a decade


380,000 jobs, they said. And the strike
could damage the industry at a crucial
moment, as shops try to tempt cus-
tomers ahead of the VAT rise in the new
year. “Everyone involved in the tube driv-
ers’ dispute needs to recognise the
importance of London retailing and the
MORTGAGES year will level out at around £135bn, damage disruption on this scale will


BY JULIAN HARRIS he said. Prior to the credit crunch, cause,” said the BRC’s Stephen Robertson.
lending reached £363bn in 2007.
MORTGAGE lending has sunk to its The Bank of England has shown Hungary Bank continues its feud
lowest level since 2000 for five consec- mortgage approvals levelling down at The central bank of Hungary raised
utive months, it was revealed yester- around 45,000 per month, for interest rates by a quarter of a per cent
day. September to November. Nationwide yesterday, bringing the rate to 5.75 per
Demand for mortgages and supply of credit remain constrained In November lending dropped by and the Halifax both showed slight cent. The hike was attributed to above
five per cent to £11.1bn compared to falls in house prices for November. target consumer price index (CPI) infla-
ANALYSIS l Mortgage lending over the decade the previous month, according to the “House prices will not crash but will tion, which hit 4.2 per cent in November.
Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). trend down gradually to lose around Yet analysts say the rise signals an
400 £bn A huge 10 per cent drop from last 10 per cent from their peak 2010 levels increase in tensions between the Bank
350 year’s November figures is partly by the end of 2011,” said Howard and the government, which continues
300 accounted for by a rush to seal proper- Archer of IHS Global Insight. with exceptionally high taxes and
250 ty deals in November 2009 before Tight credit continues to hold back “unsustainable” fiscal policies.
200
stamp duty concessions expired. the housing market, and some com-
150
Along with seasonal factors, the mentators fear a rise in interest rates UK state to learn from industry
stamp duty changes make the drop could further deter buyers. Up to £30bn can be saved from govern-
100 appear worse than it is – yet the news But low rates, low prices and high ment spending on infrastructure, the
50
Source: The Council of Mortgage Lenders
still “reinforces the picture of a contin- rental yields make the market “a great Treasury announced today. “By working
0 uing flat market,” said CML economist opportunity for anyone who is able to with industry we can identify ways to
2001 2003 2005 2007 2009
Year
Bob Pannell. secure a mortgage,” said David save money for them and the taxpayer,”
Gross mortgage lending for next Whittaker of Mortgages for Business. said chief secretary Danny Alexander.

Red tape stunting


UK factory exports
UK ECONOMY Many small and medium sized needs of manufacturers,” it said.

BY JULIAN HARRIS businesses say “the needs of big Yet British manufacturing was
business are taken into account the seventh largest in the world in
BRITAIN’S manufacturers are when the government is creating 2009.
being held back from lucrative regulation,” harming their own Output, productivity and value
export markets, the British prospects. have increased since the 1980s,
Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said And tax credits to encourage despite a fall in employment in the
yesterday. research and development (R&D) sector.
More than one in four manufac- are unnecessarily complex and too The UK has “a strong interna-
turers does not export at all, and 82 prescriptive, also deterring small, tional position in many higher
per cent of industry respondents innovative companies, the BCC value areas such as pharmaceuti-
identified export controls as a bar- found. cals and aerospace,” the BCC said.
rier to trading overseas. The UK spends half a per cent And manufacturing has become
“Overly zealous export control less of its GDP on R&D compared to the economy’s success story this

NEW
rules can stand in the way of rea- peer countries. year. In the third quarter the sector
sonable trade,” the report states. The education system is also fail- was 5.8 per cent up on the same YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:
It calls on Vince Cable to deliver ing to provide young people with time in 2009, the government

YEAR’S
• Entry to The Club from 8pm
his pledge to reduce “onerous busi- the necessary skills, the report revealed this month.
ness taxes, red tape which suffo- found. Yet the industry still “needs to • A mini bottle of Moët
cates small firms, and a slow And banks should be “more rediscover its trading spirit,” said Champagne

E VE
oppressive planning regime.” adept at serving the specialised the BCC’s David Frost. • A selection of
complimentary cocktails,

2010
drinks from the bar and

Relapse for consumer confidence in welcome canapés until 9pm


• Live music in the Marquee
• Complimentary snack from

the Eurozone, as trade deficit grows


Escape the crowds in central
the BBQ
London and make New Year’s
• Three of London’s top DJs
Eve 2010 one to remember in the Clubhouse
with a private fireworks • Breakfast nibbles between
display at midnight. 3am and 4am!
up from €9.7bn (£8.2bn) in

EUROZONE ECONOMY rency’s peripheral states previously


reached a peak. September.
HOPES for a retailing resurgence “Consumer spending has been a Deficits in current transfers,
across the Eurozone took a hit yes- weak link in the Eurozone’s eco- income, and goods were only part-
terday, with news that consumer nomic recovery,” said Howard ly offset by a surplus in services.
confidence has dropped more Archer of IHS Global Insight. “Yet In Germany, producers prices TICKETS ARE £125 (£115 FOR MEMBERS)
sharply than expected. retail sales volumes rose by 0.5 per rose slightly more than expected, AND ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
In November the confidence cent in October, which was the best up 0.2 per cent in November com-
index rose to a 35-month high, yet performance since May -- so this pared to the previous month – and The Roof Gardens
appears set to drop in December, relapse in consumer confidence is 4.4 per cent higher than last year. 99 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA
according to the European disappointing.” Food inflation led the way,
www.roofgardens.virgin.com/cluboffers
Commission’s “flash” reading. Meanwhile, the Eurozone’s trade increasing by one per cent on
The full reading for the month deficit increased considerably October. E: victoria.l@roofgardens.virgin.com
will be published on 6 January. beyond the expectations of ana- “Pipeline pressures in the food T: 0207 368 3960
The drop was the first since May, lysts in October. chain keep building up,” said Fabio
when problems in the single cur- The deficit of €9.8bn (£8.3bn) was Fois of Barclays Capital Research.
16 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

Telenor blocks
Russia tycoon Vimpelcom’s
creates new Weather bid

potash giant
TELECOMS


VIMPELCOM’S $6.6bn (£4.24bn) bid
for telecoms assets owned by Weather
Investments is hanging by a thread
after Norwegian shareholder Telenor
said yesterday it would not back the
deal.

MINING the deal valued Silvinit at a 35 per Telenor’s opposition to the deal --
BY HARRY BANKS cent discount to Uralkali. They said it which would see Vimpelcom taking a
was far from a merger of equals. controlling stake in Egypt’s Orascom
A RUSSIAN billionaire moved yester- “They [the terms] don’t look very Novartis boss Joe Jimenez wants to expand into emerging markets Picture: REUTERS Telecom and all of Italy’s Wind --
day to create the world’s second- good for Silvinit, it values the busi- means that all three independent

Novartis to build first


largest potash miner by uniting ness at about 40 per cent discount to Vimpelcom directors must back the
Russia’s top two producers, Uralkali Uralkali... That’s in the interest of long-running transaction.
and Silvinit, in a $1.4bn (£900m) deal. Uralkali shareholders,” said Bob The deal, which has been backed by
Uralkali, which like Silvinit is effec- Kommers, analyst at Deutsche Bank. the Kremlin, would make Russia’s

factory in St Petersburg
tively controlled by Russian mining- “They are buying a similar asset at Number Two mobile phone operator
to-banking tycoon Suleiman Kerimov, a significant discount, which is very the world’s fifth largest.
offered to buy rival Silvinit for cash attractive [for Uralkali]. There are Analysts said the move undermines
and shares. some operational synergies, which the long-term stability of Vimpelcom
Uralkali’s offer for 20 per cent of are in line with our estimates. Those by once again pitting Telenor against
Silvinit, or 1.57m ordinary shares is at are the main benefits.” its other major shareholder Altimo --
$894.5 per share, which compares Uralkali said the deal had already PHARMACEUTICALS focus on local manufacturing, R&D the telecoms arm of Russia’s Alfa

with the $940 price on Moscow’s dol- gained the support of 53 per cent of BY HARRY BANKS partnerships and public health devel- Group run by billionaire Mikhail
lar-denominated RTS exchange. The its ordinary shareholders and from opment, Novartis said. Fridman.
total cash price would be $1.4bn, both 67 per cent of Silvinit’s. NOVARTIS will invest $500m (£322m) “The ongoing partnership with The two owners fought protracted
firms said. in Russia over the next five years, Russia enables us to expand our com- board and courtroom battles over
The merger of the two companies FAST FACTS | URALAKI / SILVINIT strengthening its position in the mercial presence in a key emerging strategy for years before a 2009 resolu-
will then be completed through a country as it joins rivals looking to market,” Novartis chief executive tion.
share swap. ● The new company will be one of the largest get around tough rules on imported Joe Jimenez said in a statement yester- Telenor spokesman Dag Melgaard
Shares in Silvinit fell nine per cent potash makers in the world, second only to medicines. day. said the deal did not make “strategic
in Moscow on the news, while Canada’s Potash The Swiss drugmaker plans to Emerging markets, such as Russia, or financial sense” for shareholders.
Uralkali stock added around two per ● The new company will have a market capital- build a new pharmaceutical manu- are the new battleground for phar- Telenor has 36 per cent of voting
cent. isation of around $24bn (£15.5bn) facturing plant in St Petersburg as maceutical companies as sales stall in rights in Vimpelcom and three of the
Analysts at Uralsib estimated that part of a partnership, which will Western markets. nine Vimpelcom board members.
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 News 17

Is UK facing Unions threaten a


return to 1979
Picture: REX

a winter of
discontent?
YES workers, you have to question the
intentions and the value of meet-
ings like this one.
If Cameron’s government will not
agree to meaningful negotiations,
then all the cordiality and the fine
words are for nothing, and have the
effect of inviting industrial and
legal action.
The key issue for us has always
been, what must be done to oppose
the government’s cuts and how to
MARK SERWOTKA, PCS unite not just trade unions but
other campaigners and communi-

A
T yesterday’s meeting with ties.
David Cameron, I raised the The Unite union’s general secre-
issue of public sector pen- tary Len McCluskey called it right
sions. Mr Cameron said he when he said the cuts are politically
was “happy” to look at a process for motivated and we have to oppose
future discussion, but on the specif- them all. We can not and will not
ic issue of the change from the RPI allow ourselves to be drawn into
to CPI index for public sector pen- accepting cuts to welfare, attacks on
sions he said flatly it was non-nego- public services, mass job losses, and
tiable. cuts to pay and pensions, with the
It is always worth unions talking occasional promise of tea and a cosy
to the government of the day – for chat in Downing Street.
my union, representing civil ser- The coming year will undoubted-
vants, it is a necessity because the ly see more protests on our streets
government is our employer. and PCS is committed to playing its
Our first choice is always to nego- part to help build on what is
tiate and come to an agreement. already a promising movement
But faced with a refusal to talk on against the cuts.
an issue that represents a massive Mark Serwotka is general secretary of
cut in the value of pensions and is the Public and Commercial Services
of major concern to public sector Union

NO “cause”, not in general but specific to


their members with their employer.
Whilst this threshold is capable of
being met against a backdrop of
redundancies, unions will need to be
careful to pay attention to the detail
and the “real reason” for the dispute.
“Political” strikes are not legal under
UK law and could expose unions to
damages claims or employees to
action for breach of contract.
Unless the unions fund (it is not
DAVID BRADLEY, DLA PIPER cheap) and organise protected strike
action and negotiate the complexity

T
HE annual reference to a win- of the law, what are they left with?
ter of discontent is being rolled Protest? All well and good and possi-
out again, but this year it bly quite effective, but workers are
appears to be gaining some simply not as flexible as students
traction. According to Len McCluskey when it comes to organising the time
the newly appointed leader of the to do so. Neither do students suffer
UK's largest union, Unite, protesting deductions in pay and disruption to
students can act as a role model for benefits as a consequence of their
workers fearing the consequences of actions. Employers will be well
government cuts to the public purse. advised to communicate with work-
Recent surveys, including one of ers their policy relating to time off
over 500 employers by DLA Piper, sug- and absence if there is a groundswell
gest there is a concern about the level of threatened protest and action.
of disruption in the next 12 months The second key issue to bear in
but what we are seeing here is a call mind is that public sector disputes
to arms at a political level and across are often incapable of being resolved
a number of different employers. This between trade union and employee
may be easier said than done. on one side and the employer on the
The first thing to keep in mind is other. Why? Because the employer is
the vast difference between “protest” subject to a funding decision and
and “strike” action. Strikes are a process that is different from the pri-
breach of contract for employees and vate sector. The “real” dispute is with
a civil wrong by trade unions, both of the funder: the government. The
which could lead to serious employ- unions cannot negotiate with the
ment and financial consequence real decision makers. This brings us
unless excused by regulations around back to the distinction between
balloting and notification. protest and lawful and protected
The premise for any form of indus- industrial action and the truth is that
trial action is that it arises from a gen- one is far easier to organise than the
uine trade dispute. To gain exemption other, and with far fewer conse-
from legal action any union(s) seek- quences for all those involved.
ing to co-ordinate strikes across vari- David Bradley is a partner and head of
ous employers will have to show employment law at DLA Piper LLP
18 News CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

Desire presses
Lloyds sells BEST OF THE BROKERS
ANALYSIS l Lloyds banking group
80 p
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP
RBS rates the bank “buy” but has reduced on with drilling
salt group to
its target price to 105p from 120p, after
75

70
66.87
20 Dec
Lloyds last week revealed a larger than
expected impairment to its portfolio in
in Falkland Isles
Ireland. The broker adds that the bank’s
65 underlying earnings power generation

soda ash firm


remains unaffected, but that it has down- OIL & GAS


60
graded some profit estimates up to 2012 FALKLAND Islands oil explorer Desire
because of the exposure to Ireland. Petroleum has started drilling a new
20 sep 8 Oct 28 Oct 17 Nov 7 Dec
well after suffering disappointment
with its last attempt to strike oil in
ANALYSIS l Supergroup SUPERGROUP the South Atlantic.
1,700 p Execution Noble maintains its “sell” rating Desire has begun drilling its
INDUSTRIALS ations in Durban in South Africa and Dawn/Jacinta 25/5-1 well in the North

Kenya-based Magadi Soda, which is


1,600 with a reduced fair value price of £10, Falkland Basin.
BY PHILIP WALLER down from £11.65. The broker believes the
Africa’s largest soda ash producer. 1,500 The group said it expected to take
PRIVATE equity group Lloyds Brunner Mond managing director 1,334.00 negative reaction to the firm’s interim about a month to drill the well and
1,400 20 Dec
Development Capital is selling the Martin Ashcroft said: “British Salt has results last week is the start of a longer- would make more announcements
parent company of British Salt to an excellent reputation and we will 1,300 when appropriate.
term price correction, on the back of signif-
chemicals group Brunner Mond in a be able to share with each other our 1,200 The group’s shares soared and then
deal believed to be worth £93m. manufacturing and processing expe- icant risks within the Supergroup growth tumbled earlier this month after it
Lloyds is off-loading Cheshire Salt rience which will help to accelerate 1,100 model. The broker has cut its earnings per said it thought it had struck oil at its
Holdings (CSH) in a deal that the two our growth. share estimate for 2011 by 18.6 per cent. Rachel North well, only to have to
sides expect to complete by the mid- “There will be benefits for both 20 SEp 8 Oct 28 Oct 17 Nov 7 Dec announce later that the well con-
dle of January next year. companies with new opportunities tained mainly water.
The companies said the move will with customers around the world ANALYSIS l Research in Motion RESEARCH IN MOTION Desire said it had learned lessons
enable Brunner to use British Salt, and it provides Brunner Mond with from the failed well and would press
66 C$ Nomura rates the owner of Blackberry
which produces about half of the more opportunities in non-cyclical 58.39 ahead with more exploration.
UK’s pure salt used in food processing markets in sectors such as food and 20 Dec “neutral” with a raised target price of $65 The group started the new well in
62
to chemicals production, to comple- water treatment.” (£41.90) following last week’s results. The its wholly-owned Tranche I in the
ment its own operations in manufac- British Salt chief executive Bill broker has upgraded its earnings per share North Falkland basin on Saturday.
58
turing bulk products. Thompson said: “Given the strategic estimates for the quarter by 12 per cent Once finished, Desire will hand
British Salt is based in Middlewich alignment of our businesses, as well over the Ocean Guardian rig to anoth-
and employs 125 people. as the significant combined expertise 54 thanks to higher sales and better margins. er explorer, Rockhopper, which will
Brunner Mond, owned by India’s and resources, this acquisition pro- It expects new product announcements in use it before returning it to Desire to
50
Tata Chemicals, is based in the UK, vides a major opportunity to achieve the new year, including the launch of the drill a well at a location still to be
where it makes soda ash, sodium growth in our chosen markets and to PlayBook tablet computer, to drive the decided.
bicarbonate, calcium chloride and add value to our existing customers. 4 Oct 25 Oct 15 Nov 6 Dec Controversy has dogged drilling by
associated alkaline chemicals at its “We now look forward to the next share price further. Desire and other UK oil firms amid
sites in Northwich, Cheshire. chapter of our growth with Brunner To appear in Best of the Brokers email your research to notes@cityam.com opposition to their operations from
It also has soda ash and other oper- Mond and the Tata Group.” the Argentinian government.

CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS Edited by Juliet Samuel in association with

Canaccord Genuity be in charge of building market share Klaus Wülfing.


Smith & Williamson The global capital markets division of and finding new opportunities in the Davidson has worked at Perella
Geoff Everett (pictured) has been appointed as Canaccord Financial has added Gareth market. Weinberg since 2006, before which he
London head of private client tax services for Evans as a senior IT and technology She moves to the company from was a vice president at Merrill Lynch.
independent financial services firm Smith & analyst. Evans has twice won stock pick- Lockheed Martin and has also worked Wülfing joined the firm in 2007, when
Williamson. In addition, Joss Dalrymple has er of the year award by StarMine. He at QinetiQ and BT. Overall, Ernst & he moved from Credit Suisse. The other
been appointed as head of private client tax joins the firm after a decade at Investec Young’s advisory practice has now four partners will be based in New York.
services nationally. Dalrymple will be oversee- and has formerly worked at ABN Amro. added 11 new partners in the last year.
ing communication between offices while He will begin at Canaccord in March. XCAP Securities
Everett will replace her in her previous role as Perella Weinberg Partners The independent financial advisory had
head of the division in London. Everett is now Ernst & Young The independent financial services firm appointed David Hargreaves as a mining
leading a team of 75 people in the London The financial services firm has appoint- has hired six new partners. Two will be consultant and Austin McKelvie as a
office, based in Moorgate. ed Jane Cannon as a partner in its based in London on the corporate advi- mining and metals analyst. The hires
defence and security practice. She will sory practice: Graham Davidson and bring the company’s payroll to 50.

To appear in CITYMOVES please email your career +44 (0)20 7557 7245
updates and pictures to citymoves@cityam.com SPECIALISTS IN GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT morganmckinley.com

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Markets&Investment 19

LONDON’S TOP 250


Company Name Closing Price Price Change 52wk high 52wk low Company Name Closing Price Price Change 52wk high 52wk low Company Name Closing Price Price Change 52wk high 52wk low Name Closing Price Price Change 52wk high 52wk low
(p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p)Company (p) (p) (p) (p)

3i Group 330.75 2.25 330.75 250 COBHAM 203.25 4.50 276 192.25 John Wood Group 538.50 -3 541.50 293 Royal Bank of Scot 38.50 0.75 58 28.50
3i Infrastructure 118 -2 121.50 99.25 Colt Telecom 131 0.50 142.50 109 Johnson Matthey 2048 11 2048 1446 RSA Insurance Grp 124.75 0.50 136.50 114.75
A.B. Foods 1128 -5 1139 816 Compass Group 582.50 3.50 588.50 425 Jupiter Fund Man 305 2 310 180.25 SABMiller 2251 7.50 2251 1650
Aberdeen Asset.Man. 203 3 205 112.75 Cookson Group 639.50 0 640 367.50 Kazakhmys 1578 -5 1630 965 Sage Group 275 -0.75 289 220
Admiral Group 1561 10 1693 1114 Croda International 1577 8 1610 751 Kesa Electricals 164 -2.50 174 99.25 Sainsbury (J) 373.25 1 395 313
Aegis Group 139.50 -1.25 145.50 103.50 Daily Mail & Gen 561.50 3 567.50 414.25 Kingfisher 257 1.50 259 198.50 Schroders 1831 48 1831 1116
Afren 140 1 143.25 79 Davis Service 426.25 4.25 435 360.25 Ladbrokes 126 -1.50 162.75 123.50 Schroders NV 1440 42 1440 929.50
African Barrick Gold 593 0 670 503 De La Rue 849.50 0.50 1005 549.50 Lancashire 540.50 -1.50 647 424 Scot.& Sth. Energy 1200 15 1200 1010
Aggreko 1570 36 1685 882 Debenhams 70.75 -1.25 81 53 Land Securities 655 -2 696.50 545 Scottish Mortgage 702 0.50 705 475
Alliance Trust 374 2 374 293.50 Derwent London 1543 4 1605 1208 Legal & General 99 -0.25 106.25 69.75 SEGRO 295.25 0.75 352 250.25
Amec 1159 4 1159 733.50 Diageo 1196 16 1196 1000 Lloyds Banking Grp 66.75 0.25 77.50 46.50
Serco Group 587.50 -1.50 651 494.25
Amlin 396 -2 433 357.25 Dixons Retail 22.75 -1.50 38 22.75 Logica 128.25 0.75 148 101.75
Severn Trent 1452 16 1468 1072
Anglo American 3141.50 -8.50 3150 2254 Domino’s Pizza 560.50 5.50 560.50 293.25 London & Stamford Property Ltd. 130 -2 132
Antofagasta 1547 17 1560 761 Drax Group 370.50 11.25 444 326.25 110.25 Shaftesbury 445.75 -4.50 460 349.25
Aquarius Platinum 338.50 1 458 227 DS Smith 203.25 -1.25 210 104 London Stock Ex. 838.50 15.50 838.50 544 Shire 1516 -14 1567 1191
ARM Holdings 392 -2 414.50 172.75 Dunelm 528 -22 550 325.25 Lonmin 1889 16 2157 1355 SIG 123 0.25 137.75 90.75
Ashmore Group 345 2.50 383.75 218 easyJet 427.25 -7 496.50 348.50 Man Group 296.50 2.50 327.50 202 Smith & Nephew 656.50 1 696.50 537.50
Ashtead Group 164.50 -2 166.50 72 Edin.Inv.Tst. 446.75 -1.50 464.25 355.50 Marks & Spencer 373 -2.50 427.50 323.50 Smiths Group 1251 16 1285 975
AstraZeneca 2937.50 -3.50 3385 2732 Electrocomponents 268.50 0.50 279.50 161.75 Meggitt 369.75 4.75 369.75 251 Soco International 362 5.25 484.25 292
Atkins (WS) 712.50 -5 792.50 556.50 Enquest 138.50 4 146.50 89.25 Melrose 305.75 0.75 305.75 162 Spectris 1296 16 1296 705
Autonomy 1520 -23 1975 1271 Essar Energy 582 4.50 586 383 Mercantile Inv Tst 1074 8 1074 828 Spirax-Sarco 1960 -27 1987 1170
Aveva Group 1588 -12 1600 980.50 Eurasian Nat Res 999.50 7 1266 818 Michael Page 556.50 9.50 556.50 346.50 Spirent 150 -2 160.25 97.25
Aviva 390 4 423.50 294.25 Euromoney Inst. 689.50 -0.50 727 424.25 Micro Focus 406 -9 546.50 276 Sports Direct 154 1.25 154 92.25
AZ Electronic Materials SA (WI)298 2.25 301 249 Experian Group 813 -0.50 813.50 572 Millennium & Cop. 558 7 570 358.75 St James’s Place 268.50 -4.50 292 204.25
Babcock International 560 6.50 635 492.75 Ferrexpo 396.75 7.25 396.75 184 Misys 314.25 5 314.25 201.50 Stagecoach Group 208 -5.75 224 160.75
BAE Systems 327.50 2.50 388.75 294.75 FirstGroup 395.25 2.25 426 336 Mitchells & Butlers 350.50 -4.50 360 247.50 Standard Chartered 1752.50 18.50 1950 1351.75
Balfour Beatty 313.75 -0.50 314.25 229.75 For.&Col.Inv.Tst 305 -0.50 305.75 251.50 Mitie Group 232 -0.50 241 188.75 Standard Life 210.25 0.25 236 173
Barclays 261 1.25 383.25 255.25 Fresnillo 1547 9 1605 669.50 Mondi 485 1.50 557.50 323.75 Supergroup 1334 -27 1638 535
Barratt Development 85 0.50 142 70 G4S 252.50 -0.25 283.50 237.75 Monks Inv.tst. 356 -1.50 363 271 TalkTalk 168.25 2 168.25 108.50
BBA Aviation 215.25 0.75 217.25 156 Genesis E.m.f. 537 -0.50 542.50 399 Morrison (Wm) 264.50 0 306.25 257.50 Talvivaara Mining 560 4 581 342.50
Bellway 622 -9 826 511 GKN 217.25 0.50 217.25 102 Murray Int.Tst 944 5 944 720 Tate & Lyle 535.50 -1.50 544.50 388.75
Berkeley Grp Hldgs 886 -13.50 932.50 742 GlaxoSmithKline 1263 -2.50 1339.50 1095 National Express 242.50 -0.25 259.50 188 Taylor Wimpey 29.50 1.25 44 22.25
Betfair Group 975 -64 1550 975 Great Portland Est. 354 -0.50 364 279 National Grid 563 11 613.25 484.25 Telecity Group 480.50 -13.25 532.50 360
BG Group 1331.50 7 1333.50 984 Greene King 482.50 -9 491.50 376.25 Next 1968 -17 2344 1817
Templeton Emrg. 651 -2.50 685 471.50
BHP Billiton 2512 12 2524.50 1684.50 Halfords Group 450 -2 550 372.75 Northumbrian Water 335 2.75 361.50 252.75
BlackRock Mining 780 8.50 799 492 Halma 359 -0.75 366.50 223 Ocado Group 160 -0.75 170 123.50 Tesco 430 -3.25 454.50 377.50
BlueCrest AllBlue 171 1 174.50 153.75 Hammerson 421.50 2 434.50 336.25 Old Mutual 120 0 145.25 97.25 Thomas Cook Group 184.25 0.50 272 171.75
Booker Group 59 0.75 60.25 38.75 Hargreaves Lansdown 570.50 10 570.50 276.50 PartyGaming 212 -4.50 334.50 206 Travis Perkins 1013 -4 1017 664.50
BP 469 2 655.50 303 Hays 127.75 1.50 127.75 88.50 Pearson 1016 -1 1051 855 TUI Travel 237.25 -1.25 308.50 190
Brit Insurance 1040 2 1045 728 Henderson Group 130.50 0 151.75 112.75 Pennon Group 641 7 641 483 Tullett Prebon 375.75 1.75 417.25 262
British Airways 265.25 -5 286 184.25 Heritage Oil 425 1 581 296.75 Persimmon 409 -3.75 507.50 336.50 Tullow Oil 1251 16 1369 991.50
British Amer.Tob 2463 8 2464.50 1949.50 Hikma 816.50 -13 829.50 510 Petrofac 1551 38 1551 876.50 UK Commercial Prop 83.50 -1.50 85 72.75
British Empire Tst 484.50 -5.50 498.50 396.50 Hiscox 371.75 1 373.50 308.50 Petropavlovsk 1100 1 1365 852 Ultra Electronics 1672 16 1895 1265
British Land 525 9 525 418.25 Hochschild Mining 611.50 -3 658 234 Phoenix Group Hldgs 609.50 -12.50 758 557.50 Unilever 1969 -3 2015 1688
Britvic 488 3.50 518 381.50 Home Retail Group 192 -4.75 295.50 192 Premier Farnell 289 -2 304.50 171.50 United Utilities 586 0.50 628.50 488.25
Brown (N.) Group 296 -1.25 301.75 206.50 Homeserve 454.25 0.50 487.50 326.25 Premier Oil 1959 4 1959 1017 Utd Business Media 679 2.50 682.50 409.75
BSkyB 733.50 5.50 736 524.50 HSBC Holdings 656.75 1.25 740.50 596.25 Provident Financial 860 -5.50 974 728.50 Vedanta 2395 -27 2934 1839
BT Group 187 4.75 187 110 Hunting 710 -7.50 724 439.50 Prudential 671.50 1 671.50 487.50 Victrex 1512 -10 1522 796
Bunzl 728 4.50 777 616.50 ICAP 538 1 539.50 294 PZ Cussons 392 -1 409 234.75 Vodafone Group 170.25 0.25 175 129.50
Burberry Group 1132 2 1156 581 IG Group 513 -1 553 362.50 QinetiQ Group 132 1.50 167 96.75 Weir Group 1811 21 1861 695
C&W Comms 51 -0.50 63.75 44.25 Imagination Tech 377.50 1 441.75 215 Randgold Res 5600 -15 6655 4209 Wellstream Holdings 788 -5 793 436
C&W Worlwide 69.50 1 100 60.50 IMI 939.50 1 948 513.50 RDS ‘A’ 2069.50 -1.50 2100.50 1624 WH Smith 502 -5.50 523 398.25
Cairn Energy 420.25 1.50 493.25 318.25 Imperial Tobacco 1955 14 2154 1753 RDS ‘B’ 2065.50 -4 2081.50 1554 Whitbread 1801 -4 1812 1266
Caledonia Inv. 1880 -26 1906 1512 Inchcape 350.75 -0.25 368 237 Reckitt Benckiser 3599 22 3655 3037 William Hill 165.25 1 216.50 155.50
Capita Group 702.50 2 826 635.50 Informa 413.50 4.75 448 304.50 Reed Elsevier 528 0 563 460.50 Witan Inv Trust 508.50 3 508.50 410
Capital & Counties 147 0.50 157 100 Inmarsat 686.50 1.50 821 606.50 Regus 82.50 0.50 120 66
WOLSELEY 1968 9 1968 1205
Capital Shop Centre 420 2.25 420 301 InterContinental Htl 1249 15 1249 887 Renishaw 1306 32 1306 545
Carillion 371.50 1.25 371.50 273 Intermediate Cap.Grp 329.25 3.50 351 240.50 Rentokil Initial 98.25 0.25 138.50 87.75 WPP Group 786.50 3.50 786.50 572.50
Carnival 2801 37 2920 2037 International Pers Fin 361.50 6 362.75 183.25 Resolution 235 2 349 211.25 Xstrata 1455 5.50 1461.50 845.75
Catlin Group 364.50 -1.50 393 320 International Power 439 4 439 284.50 Rexam 331.75 5.75 346.75 276.50
Centamin Egypt 166.25 2.50 197 106.75 Intertek Group 1879 12 2000 1150 Rightmove 801 10.50 810 477.50 LONDON TOP 250 BY MARKET CAPITALISATION
Centrica 335.25 4.75 346 264 Invensys 351.75 0.50 351.75 230.25 Rio Tinto 4422 4 4505 2812
Charter 829 17 848.50 567 Investec 508.50 2.50 562 417.75 RIT Capital Partners 1228 24 1228 971.50 POWERED BY
Chemring Group 2859 -12 3663 2598 ITV 71.50 -0.50 74.25 48.25 Rolls-Royce Group 637 7 654.50 473.50
Close Brothers 852.50 2.50 861.50 664 Jardine Lloyd 603 1 609.50 459 Rotork 1802 41 1895 1158
www.digitallook.com

Utility firms lift FTSE 100 as US cheer sees S&P


cold snap drives power sales hit a two-year high
electricity and gas. January 2011,” said Daniel Harris, 0.4 per cent as some investors bet the

THELONDON The Met Office has warned of


more snow and ice in many parts of
head of dealing at H2O Market.
Mid cap Debenhams was 1.6 per THENEW YORK sector could be among the leaders
next year after a strong December.

REPORT REPORT
the country. cent lower, while Dixons Retail However, American Express tum-
Oil majors were higher as temper- dropped 6.2 per cent as traders bled 3.4 per cent to $42.50 after Stifel
atures in Europe and the US feared the weather would hit sales of Nicolaus downgraded the stock to
Northeast looked set to remain its big ticket items, which were “hold” from “buy.”

U U
TILITY stocks helped push below freezing this week boosting expected to pick up ahead of the VAT S stocks tacked on further gains Boeing also kept gains in check.
Britain’s top shares higher yes- heating fuel demand. rise in January. to push the S&P 500 to a two- The stock was down 2.7 per cent to
terday, as the UK’s near-Arctic Oils services firm Petrofac gained Back on the upside, Diageo rose year high yesterday, continuing $63.27 after the Seattle Times news-
conditions boosted demand 2.5 per cent, while temporary power 1.4 per cent as investors bet on stocks a steady upward march paper said a delivery delay could be
for energy, but British Airways toiled supplier Aggreko added 2.4 per cent. perceived as better able to endure investors believe will continue in announced for the plane maker’s 787
as the big freeze disrupted airline The snow and sub-zero tempera- harsh economic conditions, and as 2011. Dreamliner aircraft.
services. tures grounded flights across north- UniCredit lifted its rating on the Volume was light, as is expected The Dow Jones industrial average
The FTSE 100 closed up 19.86 ern Europe yesterday. drinks company to “buy” from through the rest of 2010. Investors dipped 13.78 points, or 0.12 per cent,
points, or 0.3 per cent, at 5,891.61. British Airways fell 1.9 per cent as “hold”. stayed with sectors that have led a to 11,478.13. The Standard & Poor’s
Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 closed the airline cancelled all short-haul Positive broker sentiment also sharp December rally, including 500 Index added 3.17 points, or 0.25
up 6.33 points at 11,433.11. flights out of Heathrow. buoyed InterContinental Hotels, up financials, energy and materials per cent, to 1,247.08. The Nasdaq
It touched a fresh intra-day year Mid cap peer EasyJet was off 1.6 1.2 per cent, with Numis Securities stocks. The S&P 500 is up 5.7 per cent Composite Index rose 6.59 points, or
high of 5,913.83 before falling away, per cent. upgrading its rating for the stock to for the month and 11.8 per cent for 0.25 per cent, to 2,649.56.
although trade was light as the mar- Retailers, which rely heavily on “buy” from “add”. the year. Energy shares led the way up as the
ket wound down for the Christmas the foot-fall in the lead up to “We have seen this year-end rally price of oil rose nearly one per cent in
holiday at the end of the week. Christmas, were trampled lower, ANALYSIS l FTSE refuse to give up any ground,” said choppy trading. Chevron added 0.4
5891.61
“If this winter wonderland contin- with Next and Marks & Spencer off 5,900 20 Dec Bucky Hellwig, senior vice president per cent to $88.88.
ues it’s not only good news for Santa, 0.9 per cent and 0.7 per cent respec- at BB&T Wealth Management in Amazon.com helped boost the
but an early Christmas present for tively, and Tesco down 0.8 per cent. 5,800
Birmingham, Alabama. Nasdaq on optimism the company
the utility companies too,” said Next was also hit by a downbeat The combination of improving eco- will benefit from improved holiday
Jimmy Yates, head of equities at CMC note from H20 Market, which repeat- nomic data, additional stimulus from spending. According to research firm
5,700
Markets. ed its “sell” rating. the Federal Reserve and the extension comScore, US online sales are up 12
Utility firms Centrica and “Our view is that the shares are of tax cuts was keeping equities in per cent to $27.5bn so far this season
National Grid were up 1.4 and 2.0 likely to suffer a continuing down- 5,600 demand, Hellwig said. compared with a year ago.
per cent respectively, as the freezing ward correction in the run up to the The financial sector, which has Shares of Amazon gained 3.2 per-
temperatures boosted demand for Christmas trading statement on 5 lagged the broader market, was up cent to $183.29.
20 Sep 8 Oct 28 Oct 17Nov 7 Dec
20 Markets & Investment | Contracts for Difference CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

GOOD TIMES
FOR EQUITIES Silicon valley is
MAY NOT LAST
DAVID MORRISON
being flooded
through by a
CFD MARKET STRATEGIST, GFT

D
ESPITE a couple of nasty dips earlier this
year, 2010 is ending on a high note for
equity investors. Worries over the
European debt crisis, concerns about
stubbornly high US unemployment and a crip-
pled housing market, and growing fears of infla-
tion in emerging markets have failed to inflict
serious damage to the upward trend. As we
head into the home straight, the bulls continue
to trample on the bears, and most investment
torrent of cash
houses are calling for further gains in 2011.
But just how good has 2010 been for equi-
America’s tech firms may be about to start
ties? In a crude overview of the past twelve
months, the US came out top. The Nasdaq is spending their reserves, says Daniel Knowles
up 18 per cent, while the Dow and S&P have
both risen around 10 per cent. The tech-heavy

C
Nasdaq outperformed as corporations pre- ALIFORNIA itself may be on the per cent of the company’s market capitali-
ferred to invest in IT upgrades rather than brink of bankruptcy, but its most sation, pushing its share price up by about
take on new staff. The German Dax 30 also famous Silicon Valley firms very 26 per cent. Though neither Apple or
did well, rising 16 per cent thanks to its strong much are not. By one estimate, the Google looks likely to start paying divi-
manufacturing base and high productivity. The top 15 most capitalised technology firms dends, they may splash around some
UK’s FTSE 100 tacked on a respectable 7 per have $316bn (£203.6bn) of cash and short money on acquisitions.
cent, benefiting from the heavy weighting of term investments racked up. According to Rogoff, it would make
multinationals within the index – and it would Apple, now the world’s second largest sense for Apple to buy Adobe, a software
have done better were it not for BP’s disas- company by market capitalisation, has company. Google, for its part, has already
trous performance. But other European about $50bn in the bank. Google has been opening its wallet. Last month, it
indices fared less well. The French CAC 40 $33bn and Microsoft has $43bn. That is
looks likely to end the year down. The Italian fuelling a wave of optimism about the pos-
MIB has fallen 14 per cent and Spain’s Ibex is sibility of share price boosting dividends, ANALYSIS l Total cash & short-term investments of tech companies
off 18 per cent. Investors remain concerned share buybacks, as well as expectations of a
about the unresolved debt issues in the euro flurry of mergers and acquisitions. Is it 40 $bn
zone. time CFD traders joined in?
Surprisingly, given how bullish many bro- Certainly, it looks like an exciting time
kers have been on the region, the major Asian- for the technology sector. Ben Rogoff, fund
Pacific indices failed to shine this year. The manager of the Polar Capital technology
Hang Seng is flat; the Japanese Nikkei is down trust, reckons that 2011 should see contin-
3 per cent while China’s Shanghai Composite ued volatility among technology stocks. “It 30
has fallen 11 per cent. For China and other is quite telling which firms have the cash
developing economies, the US Fed’s stimulus piles” he says, “it’s an indicator of how Microsoft
has added fuel to their overheating markets. with it a firm is”.
A pick-up in inflation has led to fears that the Rogoff reckons that firms which have Apple
Chinese authorities will soon tighten rates spent a large amount on acquisitions like Google
sharply. With GDP in developed economies still IBM and Hewlett Packard, have been 20
pointing to a pathetically weak recovery, forced to do so to deal with a rapidly
investors may be relying too much on China. If changing industry, whereas firms like
so, then investors in the US, UK and Europe’s Google and Apple have succeeded in gener-
core could be overestimating the upside for ating innovation themselves, and so have
equities in 2011. been able to hoard money. Traders might
10
want to stick with the wealthy companies Intel
then

HUGE BUYBACKS
That may be at an end now, however, as all
firms branch out. Texas Instruments Source: Capital IQ
announced a huge $7.5bn buyback of Mar 07 Jun 07 Sep 07 Dec 07 Mar 08 Jun 08 Sep 08 Dec 08 Mar 09 Jun 09 Sep 09 Dec 09
shares in September, or approximately 25

SAYING YOU HAVE THE


TIGHTEST SPREADS
IS LIKE BRAGGING BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BELLY BUTTON.
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CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 Investment | Contracts for Difference 21

8 month high and has been trending up since


THE the start of December. With investor confi-
dence in the US on the up and Alcoa’s fourth
TIPSTER quarter earnings per share up $0.03 to $0.18,
there could be room for further movement
WALGREEN IS higher. Capital CFDs quotes $14.56–$14.59.
It looks like the word might have been on
WALLOWING the street Friday regarding Ladbrokes’ report-
IN THE GREEN ed interest in bidding for 888 Holdings, as the
shares jumped 12 per cent on heavy volume.
This of course was followed by confirmation

T
HE US drugstore chain Walgreen reports yesterday of bid talks by Ladbrokes and a fur-
its first quarter 2011 earnings on ther 20 per cent jump to seven month highs of
Wednesday with the stock trying to break 58p. Although figures of 70p a share have
through the $38 resistance level to new been mentioned, the shares did stall at an old
12-month highs. Walgreen has surged on strong support/resistance line and the 200 day mov-
volume over the last three weeks and it does ing average, which may hold it for now. A
look like only a matter of time before it breaks break of this level though should see it close
higher. There is large call-option open interest the gap to 65p left on 28 May. Spread Co
on the $40 strike level, so that should be our offers a spread on 888 Holdings of
target if it breaks through $38. Spread Co 57.96p–58.29p and Ladbrokes of
offers a spread on Walgreen of $37.49-$37.56. 126.8p–127.5p.
The aluminium producer, Alcoa Inc, is at an Daniel Knowles

reportedly offered $6bn for Groupon, a confidence. “After Lehman fell, lots of peo- A mountain of cash is ANALYSIS l Apple's share price over the last year
“social purchasing” site. It was refused, ple thought that companies would take building up in
partly due to the anti-trust concerns which advantage, but that didn’t happen – actu- California 350
$
have intensified around Google of late. ally, activity fell.” With confidence now
Microsoft is another large firm which picking up again, many firms may feel Picture: GETTY
may embark on a spending spree. Over the forced to start running down their cash
last year, the technology giant has seen its balances – as appeared likely in January
share price slip back by 8.26 per cent, suf- 2010, before the Greek sovereign debt crisis
fering from its dependence on relatively depressed confidence again. 300
stagnant business software revenues. It So how should traders react to this?
may choose to make some spectacular Unfortunately, it’s far from clear. Part of
acquisitions so as to reinvent itself and the reason why companies like Apple and
find new revenue streams. Google have accumulated such dramatic
cash hoards is because they have been con-
PARADIGM SHIFT sidered growth companies. Many investors
According to Sean Murphy, a partner at might not take kindly to large acquisitions.
Norton Rose who specialises in the tech- In that case, it might make sense to go 250
nology sector, the IT industry is undergo- short on the wealthiest firms, while buy-
ing a paradigm shift. ing up the firms likely to be acquired.
“Sections of the technology sector are Alternatively, given the potential cash
converging and it’s all becoming increas- about to be flashed, it might make sense to
ingly competitive” he says. As a result, go long on the Nasdaq, in anticipation of a
firms that have been exceptionally conser- round of price boosting deals.
vatively managed since the late 1990s are One thing seems relatively certain, how-
now being forced to spend so as not to miss ever. One way or another, the technology
out on consumer trends. sector is likely to excite more than most in
According to Murphy, the main reason 2011. Traders should keep watching their
Dec 09 Feb 10 Apr 10 Jun 10 Aug 10 Oct 10 Dec 10
acquisitions haven’t already happened is screens.

Dangerous times ahead


for grown up Google
G
OOGLE was the darling of the 2000s. just to hold onto staff. Clearly, Google is suf-
From its humble beginnings in fering.
California’s Stanford University in As Clem Chambers, the CEO of ADVFN, a
the late 1990s, Google managed to financial data website, put it: “With Eric
become a verb in less than a decade. It is Schmidt on a PR rampage destroying
now already thought by many to be “the Google’s ‘do no evil’ mojo, it’s no surprise
next Microsoft”. Over the last five years, its that the regulatory antibodies of the world
share price has increased by 450 per cent, are starting to be on alert for Google.” Is it
while the company has expanded, provid- about time for traders to be alert and go Different faces of ANALYSIS l Google's share price dipped in Mark Tricker, a partner with Norton Rose at
ing new products from an office productiv- short too? Google
640
late November their Brussels office, this is a very difficult
ity suite to self driving cars. Certainly the probe does not look good. $ case for the EU. At best “it could be over by
While the profits are still flowing, how- Greg Sterling, an expert on Google, reckons Picture: GETTY 620 the middle of next year, if Google settles”,
ever, the company is beginning to come that the EU probe goes to the heart of what 600 he says. If not, it could take years to resolve.
into the same problems that dogged Google does. “Google’s algorithms are what 580 In the mean time, the innovation and prof-
Microsoft. The EU has just begun a probe make it competitive” he says. If it is forced 560 its should keep flowing.
into whether or not Google is abusing its to make them publicly available, it may But with the spectre of action hanging
540
market dominance by privileging its own lose its edge – CFD traders would be wise to over the company, Google’s halo is a little
ventures in search rankings. Once an watch the proceedings very carefully then. 520 darker than it was. Regardless of what hap-
incredibly in demand employer, the firm For the moment, they probably needn’t pens, there will be interesting times ahead
500
recently had to raise wages by 10 per cent worry too much, however. According to 17 Nov 07 Dec for traders.
Lifestyle
22 CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

A fancy hotel is the answer Lux retreats


for weightloss
if you’re stranded by snow
If the weather scuppers your plans
to escape London for Christmas,
get booked in, says Timothy Barber FIT IN
THE CITY
BY LAURA WILLIAMS

I
T’S not looking good for those of us Right, lap up the
planning to head away for Christmas, festive atmosphere in FITNESS & DIET EXPERT
which means it could be time to the Donovan Bar at

N
rethink things. Option one: wallow at Brown’s Hotel. o longer seen as old-style fat farms,
home, rueing the fact that your plans have weightloss retreats are perfect for those
been scuppered and the shops have sold looking to shift a Christmas-pud tum and
out of turkey; option two: book into a hotel, locate long-forgotten waistlines.
relax and enjoy a stress-free Christmas for FOR THE PURIST: Covering everything from
once. If you’re stranded in London it’s a no- Neuro Linguistic Programming – through to Raw
brainer, and there’s plenty of availability. Food Training and colonic irrigation, the team at
Here are our picks. Anamachara Detox maintain they can get your
weight down by up to 2 stone in just one week.
If your idea of heaven is raw food, smoothies and
THE BERKELEY, KNIGHTSBRIDGE BROWN’S HOTEL, MAYFAIR FLEMINGS, MAYFAIR lots of yoga in the Somerset countryside, this is
the one for you. www.anamcharadetox.com
FOR THE COMFORT EATER: At NuBeginnings,
you don’t just receive exercise and nutrition
know-how, you get hypnotherapy too –
NuBeginnings want you to change for good and
keep up the good work on returning home.
NuBeginnings claim to be “a boutique weight
loss camp like no other” – their customers cer-
tainly seem to think so. www.nubeginnings.co.uk
FOR GUYS ONLY: New Men-Only Boot Camp
from market leaders New You Boot Camp is an
extreme, seven day residential course run by mil-
itary PTIs. A typical day may be broken up into
The roof terrace of the Berkeley’s spa has been trans- London’s oldest hotel is a discreetly luxurious Mayfair insti- One of Mayfair’s less showy boutique hotels – on the out- hourly sessions on-site, or spent on exhilarating
formed into a mini outdoor cinema, hidden between the tution. Paul Smith has designed this year’s festive decora- side, anyway – has gone through a major refurbishment full-day expeditions on the beach or in the
trees of a makeshift pine forest. It’s showing winter clas- tions, including a tree decked with Smith’s hand-painted recently and emerged a thing of chic, quirky fabulousness. woods. Run through military-style drills and bust
problem areas through activities like abseiling,
sics while hot chocolate, warm blankets, fluffy cushions baubles. Rooms are available between December 23-29, The interior design sits somewhere between Moulin gorge walking, and zip wires for the fearless.
and furry hot water bottles (plus heating lamps and huge and there are a number of packages, such as the Family Rouge and Alice in Wonderland, while the newly-invigor- www.newyoubootcamp.com
down feather jackets) keep viewers cosy. If you’re staying Festive Celebrations package (from £565 per night), in ated cocktail bar & tea room (the afternoon teas are high- FOR GIRLS ONLY: Situated on Exmoor in the
for Christmas, a horse-drawn carriage ride through which you get a deluxe room with another interconnect- ly recommended) has been picking up plaudits from those Peak District, FitFarms run separate male and
female camps recognising that men and women
Belgravia, four course Christmas lunch at Koffmann’s, a ing room for the kids. Small kids get a 50 per cent reduc- in the know. For staying over Christmas, the Cupcake and have very different needs when it comes to diet
Santa’s grotto in the Blue Bar and Christmas stockings are tion on food and drink, and on Christmas Eve Santa will be Champagne package is available from £185 per room per and exercise. The aim is to make sure you receive
all included in the £550 per person Christmas package. visiting to deliver goodie-filled stockings. Albemarle St, night, staying in a classic double or twin. 7-12 Half Moon as much individual attention as possible (which
you can then continue at home with ongoing
Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL. www.the-berkeley.co.uk W1S 4BP. www.roccofortecollection.com St, W1J 7BH . www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk long-distance help from your designated coach).
www.fitfarms.co.uk

CLARIDGES, MAYFAIR LANDMARK LONDON, THE HOXTON HOTEL SOFITEL ST JAMES, PALL MALL SOHO HOTEL
MARYLEBONE
As last year, Ineffably For some- Sofitel St Beloved by
fashion grand and thing a bit James is a fashion-
designer aptly named, more afford- place of istas and
John Galliano the able – and beautiful, the media
has designed Landmark extremely old-fash- crowd, the
a Christmas London – comfortable ioned opu- Soho Hotel
tree for famous for – head to lence in the is as styl-
Claridge’s Art its huge cov- the heart of heart of Pall ishly, dis-
Deco lobby, ered court- hipsterville Mall. The St cretely
this year coming up with what resembles yard housing the Winter Garden for a stay at the ever-so-groovy Hoxton James bar has launched a special comfortable as it is cool. Being on the
a vast piece of pink coral, surrounded by restaurant – has a Home for Christmas hotel. The hotel, which has garnered Christmas cocktail – involving a double doorstep of the Soho film industry, it
oceanic life. It’s perfectly extravagant, as package (£570 per room based on two a reputation for selling five rooms each cognac shot and a frozen shooter – which comes equipped with its own, ultra-luxe
is a Claridge’s Christmas, which can sharing) which includes mince pies and night for just £1 (released periodically you can enjoy while gazing at the screening room (complete with cowhide
include a horse-drawn carriage ride Champagne served while you unwrap a throughout the year) is an eclectic mix- Christmas tree adorned with 200 minia- chairs) which will be showing the
through Mayfair, a seven course Christmas mystery gift, a complimentary day pass ture of urban cool and creature comforts, ture, handmade Baccarat bottles of Louis acclaimed George Clooney movie The
Day lunch, a visit from Father Christmas for two for the hotel’s rather special spa with exposed brick walls and polished XIII cognac. Bear in mind that the American to aide the Boxing Day come-
for kids, an overnight stocking delivery, and £100 credit for the restaurant. Or concrete next to huge, old leather arm- Brasserie Roux restaurant is fully booked down on the afternoon of December 26.
and breakfast on Christmas day and choose the All I want for Christmas deal, chairs and roaring log fires. There are for Christmas lunch, but you’re hardly short A Christmas stay also includes English
Boxing day. That’s part of the Timeless which includes a £100 voucher for rooms available between Christmas and of places to head for a festive feast round breakfast and a festive gift from the
Claridge’s Christmas package, which is for Hamleys, Selfridges or M&S. A five-course New Year, and while they may not be here. The spa is running a selection of spe- hotel, while rates are from £260 for a
two nights (24-26 December) and costs Christmas day lunch is £170 per person. £1, they’re a relative snip at just £69. 81 cial Christmas treatments. From £258 per Superior room (excluding VAT). 4
£680. 29 Brook Street, W1K 4HR. 222 Marylebone Rd, NW1 6JQ. Great Eastern St, EC2A 3HU. www.hox- room per night. 6 Waterloo Place, SW1Y Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH. www.firm-
www.claridges.co.uk www.landmarklondon.com tonhotels.com 4AN. www.sofitelstjames.com dalehotels.com
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 WORDS BY
ZOE STRIMPEL
Lifestyle | Restaurants 23

Kensington’s own slice of Provence


Big-shot restaurant
group MARC has
opened a Provencal
“bistrot”. But it is
anything but rustic
Cassis
232 Brompton Road, SW3 2BB
Tel: 020 7581 1101, cassisbistro.co.uk
FOOD hhhii
SERVICE hhhhi
ATMOSPHERE hhhii
Cost per person without wine: £35

T
HE website of Cassis, Marlon Abela’s
new venture, says proudly that the
interior matches its cuisine. The cui-
sine, though, is Provencal, an inher-
ently rustic sort of food, with snails and
hunks of meat and tomatoey vegetable
dishes, meant to be eaten under trees or in
red-tiled kitchens among flagons of wine.
Marseille, Aix, Avignon.
Or, in this case, South Kensington, and So, far from Provence – the Roman Cassis’s distinctly clams and several types of white fish (the we had a pink one modeled on strawberry
the matching interior is one of sleek sur- aqueducts and fields of lavender non-rustic interior. contents changes daily) placed in front of cheesecake and a tiramisu one that was,
faces, Julian Opie portraits and large win- exchanged for the smart kitchen shops me before a gallon-sized pot, or so it frankly, garish.
dows. This is, one can only conclude, a and bars of Brompton Road – we settled seemed, of that famous viscous brown But Abela knows what he’s doing and
very SW3 type of Provence. down for our meal. fish soup was poured atop. Now, looking most things are as they should be. You can
I’m not sure if the rusticity of the food To go with an aperitif of blueberry carefully at the menu it appears the dish count on great ingredients that are well-
concept and the sleekness of the restau- Royale, we had a few “petites bouches” – was for two people – why did nobody stop sourced, cooked well and a stonking, even
rant work when put together. Abela – the some parcels of fried tortellini stuffed me? Anyway, I didn’t make great headway flustering, wine list to go with it all. The
catering heir and Rich Lister – is an expert alternatively with spinach, foie gras and because I was struggling – I found the only thing missing, oddly, is that flavour
in providing luxurious, global and thus cheese; snails in pastry, and some fried soup too severe – stern and fibrous and of Provence, some spilled red wine per-
perhaps occasionally bland “dining experi- whitebait. The parcels may have been without any forgiving buttery sweetness. haps, or a portly grandmother at the next
ences”. Though nobody could call his faithful to Provence, and artfully done too, The seafood portion was so industrial- table, to take the shiny edges off what
Greenhouse, with its vast wine list and but they tasted like undistinguished party sized that I blanched and desisted before feels like a global product.
Michelin-starred food, or Umu, his Kyoto- snacks all the same (that said, the ones doing justice to what I’m certain others
style place in Mayfair bland, those sorts of with foie gras inside were impressive). The would have called a magnificent dish. I
comments have been made in relation to
A Voce, his Manhattan Italian.
whitebait was just fishy (I never like the
things, but if you do, these are probably
will confidently say, however, that I’ve had
better rouille, which was served on the
FOOD & BOOZE
I fear Cassis may have caught a little
sniff of what some say A Voce suffers.
quite good) but the snails – now, these
were excellent. Earthy, silky jewels
side with gruyere and croutons.
My companion had lamb about which
NEWS
Although everything is attractively put encased in moreish pastry and herby he was pretty over the moon. Lamb’s not ZOE STRIMPEL
together, it all feels a bit sterile, like you sauce. Phew. my favourite but the bit of his rack that I
might come here with your beautiful hus- Starters were very strong indeed. The tried had a good, deep flavour. It wasn’t as NEW YEAR’S AT PARAMOUNT
band or wife or partner and talk soup I had contained squash and chest- hot, or even as warm, as I was expecting For a decadent New Year’s Eve with the best
about…nothing. Or sit there wishing you nuts with a dollop of cream. The broth but maybe lamb cools faster than other possible views of London, head to Paramount,
were somewhere else. It feels a million was savoury and smooth, the chestnuts meat. It’s worth pointing out that the rata- the former members’ club at the top of Centre
miles from the sort of place in the sun rich and sweet and then, the indulgent touille that accompanied all this was one Point. A champagne reception, five-course meal
where you’d hunker down with fish soup whorl of cold cream just to make you of the nicest dishes: vegetables wallowing and a DJ from 11pm should ensure a stylish way
and large hunks of baguette. But maybe swoon. I loved this soup and hated to in their own aromas, helped along by to ring in 2011. £160 per person. Top of Centre
that’s the point. We are on Brompton share it with my companion, who was any- home-made tomato sauce. I confess I filled Point, 101-103 New Oxford Street. To book, call
Road and there’s nothing to be gained by way preoccupied with his extremely gen- up on it rather, perhaps denting my abili- 020 7420 2900.
pretending otherwise. It would be kitsch. erous board of good country terrines ty to wrestle with the fish.
Indeed, our fellow diners were the beau- (including hare) served with chutneys and Pudding was jolly nice. The Grand CONNAUGHT’S COOL COBURG EXTENDED
tiful Sloane crowd – and there were a good toasts. Marnier and orange soufflé is a source of One of London’s finest and smartest drinking
few elderly denizens of the area there too. For mains, I decided to get into the spir- great pride, and I found it impressive venues has just got bigger and even smarter.
Dressed ever so slightly scruffily we felt a it of things and order the bouillabaisse though very sweet a bit too goopy (it came The speakeasy-cool Coburg bar at Mayfair’s
bit (ok, very) out of place – but were not even though it’s a dish that scares and out surprisingly quickly for a soufflé). Connaught hotel – a huge hit since its opening a
made to feel in the slightest bit uncom- impresses me in equal measure. This one Chocolate tart with pine nuts was lovely. couple of years ago –  has been extended, with
fortable by the excellent staff. terrified me: it was an enormous bowl of Dessert cocktails may be best left alone: the addition of a beautiful new veranda section
housing what will be some of the most desirable
seating for cocktails to be found in London.
THREE OTHER FRENCH RESTAURANTS IN SOUTH KENSINGTON Carlos Place, W1K, 020 7499 7070.
ZOE STRIMPEL NEW YEAR’S AT PARAMOUNT
Quo Vadis, the
private
members’
club on Dean
Street, will intro-
duce a new bar on
the ground floor in
January. Behind the
attractive copper-topped
bar will lurk an impressive
assortment of cocktails
made in one-off silver shak-
L’ETRANGER BIBENDUM RACINE ers, along with snacks such
French with a – hang on a minute – Japanese twist, A classic Conran outpost, this top-flight French restau- Considered a jewel of Kensington, this is one of London’s as smoked trealy ham toast-
you’re unlikely to find a dining experience quite like this rant is a stone’s throw from Cassis and is housed in the very best French restaurants. It proudly boasts lapin à la ed sandwich and salt cod
elsewhere in London. Tofu and ginger sit alongside pan- resplendent Michelin building. There’s an oyster bar for moutarde, tête de veau and soupe de poisson. Salads of fritters with tartare sauce.
fried foie gras and fillet steak Rossini. Less usual dishes something more laid-back, but for some very pricey mountain goat's cheeses and herbs, and “proper Dover Opens 5 Jan. 26-29
include quail and lychee salad with chicken liver choco- French seafood dining, head to the first floor. A prix fixe soles that cover the plate” are also to be expected. A Dean Street. 020
late and miso-grilled aubergine with ponzu caviar. 36 menu softens some of the prices. Michelin House, 81 wine list is carefully chosen and the interior is elegant. 7437 9585.
Gloucester Road, SW7 4QT, 020 7584 1118. Fulham Road, SW3 6RD, 020 7581 5817. 239 Brompton Road, SW3 2EP, 020 7584 4477.
24 Lifestyle | TV& Games CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL4 CHANNEL5 TV PICK


TERRESTRIAL
6pm BBC News 5.50pm Porridge: The inmates 6pm London Tonight 6pm The Simpsons 6.30pm 6pm Monkey Life
6.30pm BBC London News plan a Christmas escape. 6.30pm ITV News Hollyoaks 7pm Channel 4 News 6.25pm Live from Studio Five
7pm The Nativity 6.30pm Top of the Pops 2 7pm Emmerdale 7.55pm 4thought.tv 8pm The 7pm Five News at 7
7.30pm EastEnders: BBC News Christmas Special 2010 7.30pm River Monsters Secrets of Westminster Abbey: A 7.30pm Street Market Chefs:
8pm Holby City 8pm Top Gear 8pm CHOICE Children’s Time Team Special 9pm Jamie’s Five News Update
9pm Accidental Farmer 9.05pm CHOICE Oz and Hospital at Christmas Best Ever Christmas. Part two of 8pm The Princess and the
10pm BBC News Hugh Raise the Bar 9pm The Savoy two. 10pm Frankie Boyle’s Tramadol Press: How Kate’s Life Will
10.25pm Regional News 10.05pm Mock the Week: 10pm ITV News at Ten Nights 10.30pm The Morgana Change Forever: Five News at 9
10.35pm CHOICE Imagine: Highlights from the topical quiz. 10.30pm London News Show 11.05pm The Family 12.05am 9pm CSI: Miami
Ray Davies – Imaginary Man 10.35pm Never Mind 10.35pm FILM The Dukes of Music on 4: Little Noise Sessions 10pm CSI: NY: A student dies
11.55pm FILM Taking Sides: the Buzzcocks Hazzard: Comedy, starring 12.40am Mercury Prize Sessions:
in a subway. IMAGINE: RAY DAVIES –
Chapel Club 12.55am Mumford &
Fact-based drama, starring 11.05pm Have I Got Seann William Scott and Sons: Gentlemen of the Road 10.55pm CSI: Crime Scene IMAGINARY MAN BBC1, 10.35PM
Harvey Keitel 2001; News for You Johnny Knoxville. 2005. 1.10am The Album Chart Show Investigation
11.35pm Russell Howard Live: The Kinks singer-songwriter
Weatherview 12.35am Christmas Tales: Spotlight 1.25am Beach Volleyball 11.55pm True CSI
Dingledodies Ray Davies talks to Alan Yentob.
1.45am Sign Zone: See Hear The Story of the Tree 2.15am KOTV Boxing Weekly 12.55am SuperCasino
2.15am Sign Zone: The Apprentice – 12.35am The Many Faces of 1.30am The Zone; ITV News 2.45am World Sport 3.10am 3.55am Poker 4.45am House Last in the series.
Why I Fired Them 3.15am Sign Richard Wilson Headlines 3.30am The Rockford Deadliest Catch 3.55am Brothers & Doctor 5.10am Michaela’s Wild
Zone: Turn Back Time – The High 1.35am Medium 2.20am Medium Files 4.25am-5.30am ITV Sisters 4.35am ER 5.20am- Challenge 5.35am-6am Michaela’s
Street 4.15am-6am BBC News 3am BBC News 4.15am-6am Close Nightscreen 6.05am One Tree Hill Wild Challenge

SKY SPORTS 1 Time 4am-6am Premiership 4.40am Boston Legal 5.30am- Brian 3.40am Being Erica DISCOVERY HOME &
SATELLITE & CABLE

Years 6am Home Shopping 4.20am-6am Switched


7pm Live Darts 12am Spanish HEALTH
Cup Football 2.30am Football
Asia 3am A-League 3.30am
BRITISH EUROSPORT BBC THREE HISTORY 7pm A Baby Story 8pm 10
7.30pm Live Tennis 9.15pm 7pm Don’t Tell the Bride 8pm 7pm The Universe 8pm Clash Years Younger 9pm Paralysed
Soccer AM: The Best Bits
4.30am Football Asia 5am- Eurosport Top Ten 10pm EastEnders: The Greatest of the Gods 9pm The Search and Pregnant: Four Years Later
6am Sports Unlimited Boxing 11pm Best Battles Weddings 9pm Little Britain for Burke and Hare 10pm 10pm Real ER: The Bronx OZ AND HUGH RAISE THE BAR
Bikes 12am Freeride Spirit Abroad 10pm EastEnders Bedlam 11pm Ancient Aliens 11pm The Real A&E 12am BBC2, 9.05PM
SKY SPORTS 2 Show 12.15am-12.30am 10.30pm Russell Howard’s 1am Bedlam 2am The Paralysed and Pregnant: Four New series. Wine expert Oz Clarke and
6.30pm Sports Unlimited Destination Dakar Good News 11pm Family Guy Crusades: Crescent and the Years Later 1am Real ER: The comedian Hugh Dennis embark on a
7.30pm Live Spanish Cup 11.45pm Lee Nelson’s Well Cross 3am-5am Clash of the Bronx 2am The Real A&E 3am challenge to set up the UK’s most
Football 10pm Football Asia ESPN Good Show 12.15am Mongrels Gods 10 Years Younger 4am Baby patriotic drinking establishment.
10.30pm A-League 11pm 7pm Live SPL 10pm German 12.45am American Dad! Tales 5am-6am A Baby Story
World Pool Masters 12am Football 11.45pm ESPN Serie 1.30am Two Pints of Lager and DISCOVERY
Premier League Bowls 1am A Kicks 12am Eredivisie a Packet of Crisps 2.30am 8pm How Do They Do It? SKY1
Extra Time 1.30am A-League Review Show 12.30am Press EastEnders: The Greatest 8.30pm How It’s Made 9pm 7pm Middle 7.30pm Simpsons
2am World Pool Masters 3am Pass 2010 1am Live College Weddings 3.30am Don’t Tell Swamp Loggers 10pm 8pm Modern Family 8.30pm
Premier League Bowls 4am- Football 4.30am Press Pass the Bride 4.25am Russell Extreme Engineering 11pm Simpsons 9pm Little Crackers
6am British Basketball 2010 5am-6am Premier Howard’s Good News 4.55am- River Monsters 12am Bear 9.30pm Victoria Wood Presents
League Review 5.25am Mongrels Grylls: Born Survivor 1am Angina Monologues 10.30pm
SKY SPORTS 3 Deadliest Catch 2am Chris Little Crackers 11.15pm Top 50
7pm Premier League Bowls LIVING E4 Barrie’s Massive Machines Greatest Families 1.15am A
8pm British Basketball 10pm 7pm America’s Next Top Model 7pm Hollyoaks 7.30pm Friends 2.30am Chris Barrie’s Massive League of Their Own 2.05am CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT
European Seniors Tour Golf 9pm Celebrity Four Weddings 9pm FILM X-Men 2000. Engines 3am The First World Road Wars 2.55am Oops TV CHRISTMAS ITV1, 8PM
11pm Cage Fighting 12.30am 10pm I Am Alex Reid 11pm 11pm The Event 12am Scrubs War 3.50am Nasa’s Greatest 3.20am The Dresden Files
British Basketball 2.30am Criminal Minds 1am CSI: 12.55am The Event 1.50am Missions 4.40am Days That 4.10am Sell Me the Answer Lorraine Kelly presents an hour-long
European Seniors Tour Golf Miami 2am CSI: Crime Scene Make It or Break It 2.35am Shook the World 5.30am-6am 5.05am-6am Are You Smarter special from the Royal Manchester
3am Snow Ride 3.30am Extra Investigation 3am Charmed Reno 911! 2.55am What About How Does That Work? Than a 10 Year Old? Children’s Hospital.

COFFEE BREAK
Copyright Puzzle Press Ltd, www.puzzlepress.co.uk
QUICK CROSSWORD
    

SUDOKU KAKURO
14 28 6 19 30 15 38 7  
11 27
 
23 19
Place the numbers from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so that each 6 
row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers Fill the grid so that each block 17 20 6
16 34
from 1 to 9 to solve this tricky Sudoku puzzle. adds up to the total in the box 9 22
   
above or to the left of it. 41 5
You can only use the digits 1-9 36
  and you must not use the
16 22
16 10     
same digit twice in a block.
   The same digit may occur 31
11

12 26
   more than once in a row or
column, but it must be in a 23
30
24
16
 

   separate block. 14
7
10
8
3

13 21
    25 29


   ACROSS DOWN
1 Lacking flavour (9) 2 Cause to be
  
   WORDWHEEL T R
8 Anew (5)
9 Sketched (5)
embarrassed (5)
3 Hinged lifting tool (5)
Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have 4 Gatehouse (5)
  ten minutes to find as many words as possible,
A I 10 Concert featuring
bands (3) 5 Crustlike surfaces of
none of which may be plurals, foreign words or
proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters N 11 Attitude, beliefs (5)
healing wounds (5)

LAST ISSUE’S or more, all must contain the central letter and
letters can only be used once in every word. There
S N 13 Follow as a result (5)
6 Cheap novel (9)

SOLUTIONS KAKURO is at least one nine-letter word in the wheel.


T E 15 Solid projectiles shot
7 Gut (9)
by a musket (5) 12 Nocturnal bird (3)
QUICK CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
1 2 7 3 4 7 5 8
1 3 2 4
18 Chief monk (5) 14 Bird’s beak (3)
3 6 9 8         
% 5 ( : 6 & 5 ( 6 6
( / $ 3 ( 5 ,
8 7 1 3 7 9          20 Hand tool used to 16 Immature insect (5)
1 3 6 2 4 9 8 7
% ( ) 2 * / $ 1 1          mark surfaces (3)
2 9 , 1 ( 6 8 2 9 5 2 1 6 3
        
17 Canonised person (5)
3 / ( $ 7 % / ( 6 6 3 8 7 9 6 8 4 9 21 Welsh breed of dog (5)
         18 Communion table (5)
4 7
6 & 8 % $
5
$
5
, 6 / (
4 2
8 7 1
1 5 3 1 2
9 7 5 6 8
WORDWHEEL          22 Don a garment before
$ $ 5 2 7 $ $          19 Slow-moving outlet
0 $ 7 , , 1 7 ( 5 7 6 9 8 5 3 The nine-letter word was purchase (3,2)
of a lake (5)
5 1 2 4 2 1 3 8         
% 2 8
$ 5 5 $ 6
) 2
1
,
$ 3
/
3 <
SALESROOM          23 Ecstatic (9)
9 5 7 8 4 2 6 9
Sport
25
FLOWER: HUSSEY DOESN’T
RUFFLE SWANN’S FEATHERS
ENGLAND COACH BACKS SPINNER TO
BOUNCE BACK IN MELBOURNE: P26

2010: A rollercoaster year of sport


JANUARY Our cricketers and golfers enjoyed vintage seasons and positive signs emerged SEPTEMBER
l TENNIS: Andy in rugby union, but our football fortunes were dire, writes Frank Dalleres l CRICKET: Pakistan
Murray misses out on chief Ijaz Butt causes
a maiden grand slam storm by claiming that
when he is beaten by rumours abound that
Roger Federer in the England players fixed
Australian Open final; elements of recent
FOOTBALL: David clashes; Andrew
Sullivan and David Flintoff retires from all
Gold take over at West Ham; terrorists forms of the game; FOOTBALL: Wayne
attack the Togo team at the Africa Cup Rooney’s miserable form is compounded
of Nations in Angola, killing three; by allegations he cheated on his wife
CRICKET: England are denied series win with a prostitute; BOXING: Ricky Hatton
in South Africa by loss in the final Test. loses licence over cocaine claims.

FEBRUARY OCTOBER
l WINTER OLYMPICS: l FOOTBALL: Boston
Amy Williams wins Red Sox owner John
gold for Great Britain Henry sees off High
in the skeleton bob; Montgomerie led Court legal challenges
FOOTBALL: Man Utd Europe to victory to complete a £220m
win Carling Cup; John in the Ryder Cup, buyout of Liverpool;
Terry is stripped of the while Spain GOLF: Captain Colin
England captaincy amid (below) won the Montgomerie leads
rumours about his pri- World Cup Europe to Ryder Cup
vate life; Portsmouth become the first top Picture: PA glory at Celtic Manor; Lee Westwood
flight club to go into administration; dethrones Tiger Woods as world No1;
GOLF: England’s Ian Poulter wins the RUGBY UNION: Saracens sign Gavin
WGC Match Play in Arizona. Henson, a move revealed by City A.M.

MARCH MAY JULY NOVEMBER


l RUGBY UNION: l CRICKET: Paul Collingwood l ATHLETICS: Phillips Idowu l FORMULA ONE: Red
France clinch the Six leads England to victory at the is among Britain’s gold medal Bull’s Sebastian Vettel
Nations by beating World Twenty20 in Barbados, winners at the European becomes the youngest
England; FOOTBALL: their first triumph at an ICC Championships; FOOTBALL: world champion ever;
Wayne Rooney injures event; FOOTBALL: Chelsea Spain beat Holland in the final CRICKET: England save
ankle as Man Utd lose win the league and cup to win the World Cup; TENNIS: a draw in first Ashes
at Bayern Munich; double; Fulham lose Rafael Nadal wins his second Test; RUGBY UNION:
FORMULA ONE: Europa League final to Wimbledon title; CRICKET: Chris Ashton’s 80m try
Fernando Alonso wins on Ferrari debut Atletico Madrid; West Ham avoid the England beat Australia 3-2 in home one-day against Australia is highlight of strong
in Bahrain; HORSE RACING: Imperial drop but still sack boss Gianfranco Zola; series; CYCLING: Alberto Contador wins the autumn for England; FOOTBALL: Glazer
Commander upstages Denman and RUGBY UNION: Leicester edge Saracens Tour de France; GOLF: Louis Oosthuizen wins The family spark Man Utd sale rumours by
Kauto Star to win Cheltenham Gold Cup to win a thrilling Premiership final. Open; SNOOKER: Alex Higgins dies, aged 61. paying off £220m of costly PIK loans.

APRIL JUNE AUGUST DECEMBER


l FOOTBALL: Lionel l FOOTBALL: England l GOLF: Martin Kaymer, 25, l CRICKET: England
Messi hits four goals crash out of the World wins first major after a play- take lead in the Ashes
as Barcelona destroy Cup early, losing 4-1 to off at US PGA Championship; with second Test romp
Arsenal; GOLF: Tiger Germany in the second FOOTBALL: Tottenham clinch but are pegged back to
Woods returns at the round; GOLF: Graeme historic place in Champions 1-1 in the third; FOOT-
Masters, where Phil McDowell becomes the first League group stage; Aston BALL: England’s bid to
Mickelson pips Lee European to win the US Villa manager Martin O’Neill host the 2018 World
Westwood; HORSE Open since 1970; RUGBY quits days before new season; Cup is humiliated as
RACING: Tony McCoy wins the Grand UNION: England enjoy morale-boosting win Man City complete £130m summer spree; TEN- Russia win the vote; Newcastle sack
National at the 15th attempt, on board over Australia in Sydney; TENNIS: John NIS: Andy Murray warms up for US Open by Chris Hughton and Blackburn dump Sam
Don’t Push It; BOXING: David Haye Isner eventually beats Nicolas Mahut in winning the Rogers Cup in Toronto; CRICKET: Allardyce despite good results; GOLF:
defends his WBA world heavyweight the longest match ever, lasting 11 hours Allegations emerge that Pakistan players fixed Graeme McDowell beats Tiger Woods in
title by beating John Ruiz over three days at Wimbledon elements of matches against England. play-off at Chevron World Challenge.

QUIZ OF THE “I walked in at half-


1. time and said sorry to
3. “Bit of genius... Bit of
magic... Sireli Bobo...
“Next thing I said:
5. ‘Isn't that a gun?’ and
7. “I might be in a bit of
a Skoda garage
9. “Now I’m retired my
dream job would to
YEAR: THEY the chaps – and now I apol-
ogise to the millions of peo-
ple back home.”
Very interesting, very good
yeah, very good. Three
cheers for Sireli Bobo!”
as, the driver angled the
car and floored it. That’s
when we saw six men, all
rather than a Mercedes
garage, but I am telling you
some old bangers don't half
be the landlord of the
Rovers Return. Any chance
ITV?”
SAID WHAT? brandishing machine guns.” polish up great.”

Not everything sports


stars say is cliched non- 2. “Once the match got
past, you know, 25-
“They got him sent
4. off, everyone sprinted
“In all honestly I
6. became very worried
“Turnover, Ben
8. [Youngs] got the ball,
“The 'Hand of God'
10. now belongs to me.
sense. But can you guess all, I wasn't really thinking.
Hitting a serve and trying
towards the referee. Typical
Germans.”
at the way the conversation
went. I was really spooked.
pass, I drew the man, gave
the pass to Chris [Ashton],
Mine is the real ‘Hand Of
God’. I made the best save
who uttered these gems? to hit a forehand winner is I wanted to get out of the basic rugby, nothing spec- of the tournament.”
Answers on page 26 the only thing I was doing." hotel and on the plane.” tacular.”
26 Sport CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010

Results ASHES OR CRASHES: WHO’S FOR THE CHOP?


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long-suffering England fans know, an Ashes
tour isn’t complete without calls for a mass
upheaval in personnel and a change tactics.
Here City A.M. identifies the men most under
pressure and those in line for promotion.

intimidated
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N`^Xe%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%(. * . . (* )/ $(, (-
Nfcm\j%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%(. + * (' (/ *' $() (,
N\jk?Xd%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%(/ ) . 0 (- *( $(, (*
IL>9PLE@FE IAN BELL: Ran out of partners in both the PAUL COLLINGWOOD: Averaging just
Adelaide and Perth Tests. Surely due a pro- 16.50 but is still worth a place on the

CRICKET there for him – so it was a difficult


?<@E<B<E:LGGFFC( task. I don’t blame him for that at motion in the batting order. Verdict: Ashes basis of his fielding alone. Verdict: Ashes
<[`eYli^_%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%)+ :Xjki\j%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%)) BY JAMES GOLDMAN
all – it was a tough ask. Melbourne is
<LIFG<8E:?8CC<E><:LGGFFC( ENGLAND spinner Graeme Swann a different set of conditions.”
:XmXc`\i`GiXkf%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%. 9Xpfee\%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%*(
has been backed to bounce back from As part of a four man attack,
<LIFG<8E:?8CC<E><:LGGFFC) his pummeling in Perth and deliver a Swann’s importance in this England
JXc\%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% (* 9i`m\%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% (, match-winning display in Melbourne side cannot be overstated. The 31-year-
:I@:B<K by his coach Andy Flower. old is expected to do much of the don-
=@IJKK<JKD8K:? Swann, ranked the No2 bowler in key work, tieing up an end, in order
Jflk_8]i`ZXm@e[`X world cricket, came into this Ashes to keep the three pacemen fresh.
:<EKLI@FE1Jflk_8]i`ZXY\Xk@e[`XYpXe`ee`e^jXe[),ilej series rated as the man most likely to As the tour has gone on, however,
@E;@81=`ijk@ee`e^j(*-Dfib\c,$)' ensure England return home with the system that has served England so
JFLK?8=I@:81=`ijk@ee`e^j-)'$+[\Z%
BXcc`j)'(ef#8dcX(+'#[\M`cc`\ij()0#G\k\ij\e..#Jd`k_-) the urn still in their possession. well in recent times appears to be
@E;@81J\Zfe[@ee`e^j But the Nottinghamshire twirler, accomplishing the exact opposite of
Fm\ie`^_k+,+$/ an impressive second innings haul in what it is designed to do.
JK\e[lcbXiefkflk%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%(((
JJi\\jXek_Z[\M`cc`\ijYDfib\c%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%*
Adelaide aside, has yet to prove as Stuart Broad suffered his tour end-
ALeX[bXkZGi`eZ\YJk\pe%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ( potent a wicket-taking weapon as pre- ing injury as early as the fourth day
9(*cY,n/eY,%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%*( dicted. of the second Test, while 21-year-old
KfkXc()/%(fm\ij %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%+,0 He’s struggled in particular against Steven Finn, despite retaining his
=Xcc1(*.#(.'#)(+#)+)#),-#)..#++0#+,'#+,-% Australia’s prolific left-hander position as the leading wicket taker
9fnc`e^1Jk\pe*'%($-$(',$+#Dfib\c*($-$0+$)#KjfkjfY\ Michael Hussey, leading former in the series, looks in need of a rest. STEVEN FINN: The 21-year-old paceman has TIM BRESNAN: A real work horse who
)+$*$0/$(#?Xii`j*'$,$//$)#BXcc`j(*$*$,-$(%
Ldg`i\j1J;Xm`j@>flc[% Aussie fast bowler Geoff Lawson to Despite calls for a review of the coped better than expected, but he appears is capable of bowling long spells in tough
claim that Swann is intimidated composition of his bowling unit, to be feeling the pace. Verdict: Crashes conditions. Can bat too. Verdict: Ashes
by the highest run scorer in Flower maintains it is only
KF;8PËJ;@8IP the series – a suggestion personnel, rather than
=ffkYXcc.%+,gdlec\jjjkXk\[
flatly denied by quantity, that is likely
=8:lgJ\Zfe[Ifle[I\gcXp
C`eZfce:`kpm?\i\]fi[%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%F==
Flower. to change in
:cp[\j[Xc\9XebJZfkk`j_Gi\d`\iC\X^l\ “Without a Melbourne come
:\ck`ZmB`cdXiefZb%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% doubt, he [Swann] Boxing Day.
;le[\\Lk[mIXe^\ij%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%F== can come back,” Flower (left)
IL>9PLE@FE said Flower. “He said: “The work-
?\`e\b\e:lgGffc--gd 1Kflcflj\m>cXj^fn% got him in the load on the
K_\:_Xdg`fej_`g.%+, 1<j_\imEfkk`e^_Xd% first innings of bowlers is heavy –
this Test, and I’d but in the absence
email sport@cityam.com be surprised if of a quality all-
Swann got intimi- rounder, we are
dated by Michael sticking with a four-
QUIZ ANSWERS FROM PAGE 25 Hussey. bowler attack.
“We’d have expected a “I think we expect a
1. Rob Green; 2. John Isner; 3. Brendan guy of his quality to affect lot of these young men, to
Venter; 4. Sir Alex Ferguson; 5. Jenson the momentum a little more. come in and shoulder quite a lot
Button; 6. John Higgins; 7. Ian “But once we got on that pitch, we of responsibility.
Holloway; 8. Courtney Lawes; 9. all noticed it was tricky facing the “A five-Test series is hard on every- AJMAL SHAHZAD: The Yorkshire bowler is Eoin Morgan: Pushing for Collingwood’s
Andrew Flintoff; 10. Luis Suarez. quicks and the bounce was aiding one, both physically and emotionally, highly-rated, but throwing him in at the deep spot but has yet to prove he can handle
them – and there wasn’t much turn and for the fast bowlers more so.” end would be a big gamble. Verdict: Crashes Test match cricket. Verdict: Crashes

Henson targets Wales recall Fears over fixture pile-up


as more games face axe

RUGBY UNION believe they will be. I think it’s ing his time by performing on reali-
BY JAMES GOLDMAN going to be fun. ty TV shows Strictly Come Dancing
“Hopefully I can get up to and 71 Degrees North.
SARACENS newboy Gavin Henson speed as soon as possible because Henson feels appearing Seasiders also had to call off a home

FOOTBALL
claims he’s back in rugby for good obviously I’d love to get in that on those shows has been BY FRANK DALLERES game against Manchester United
and hopes to cap his comeback to the Welsh Six Nations squad, and good for his personal because of a frozen pitch earlier this
sport by being part of Wales’ 2011 Six then obviously the World development but is so PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have moved month, meaning a backlog is threat-
Nations campaign. Cup. happy to be back in a to ease fears of a fixture pile-up as ening to build up.
Henson, 28, is set to make his first “I’ve missed out on the World rugby environment that extreme weather threatens to wipe Champions League sides are short
appearance for his new club in the Cup the last couple of times. he can see himself out further fixtures. of dates on which rearranged fixtures
Premiership Boxing Day clash against That’s a huge thing missing on extending his career well Heavy snowfall claimed seven of can be scheduled. United also have to
Wasps at Wembley, 21 months on my CV so I’ll do everything in into his 30s. the nine top flight games at the week- set a new date for their trip to
from his last competitive outing. my power to get in. It’s all really “I do look after my self end, while some of the Boxing Day Chelsea, which was postponed at the
Wales coach Warren Gatland has exciting. and I’m hoping I can play schedule is already under threat. weekend. There are fewer free dates
warned Henson a return the interna- “I’ve not heard anything for another eight years. Blackpool, who postponed their available this season because the
tional fold is far from guaranteed, but directly from the Wales man- I’m in it for the long run,” clash with Tottenham on Sunday, are Champions League last 16 round is
the two-time Grand Slam winner agement. I’ve heard he’s he said. “I think those already considering calling off the taking place over four weeks, and the
believes he is capable of the sort of [Gatland] been speaking about me so two shows have been visit of Liverpool on 26 December. Premier League has an agreement
performances that will make his obviously he remembers me a little good for me but I’d really “We can almost certainly guaran- not to play on those nights.
claims hard to ignore. bit.” like to be taken seriously as tee the pitch will be playable but it is A Premier League spokesperson
He said: “The bigger picture for me International recall or not, a rugby player. the prevailing conditions once the said: “Our football department will
is the Six Nations and hopefully I can Henson (right) is simply happy “I want to get back to the top of the covers have been removed and already have contingency dates in
get in that Welsh squad. Hopefully to be back doing what he game and win honours in rugby. whether the pitch will freeze before mind and will work closely with the
the game hasn’t changed too much loves best after turning his That’s what I’ve missed, especially the end of the game taking place,” affected clubs to get new dates agreed
and my skill levels are still there. I back on the sport and occupy- playing for my country.” said chairman Karl Oyston. The as quickly as possible.”
CITYA.M. 21 DECEMBER 2010 Sport 27

THE ALL-ROUNDER |
ALL THE GOSSIP FROM DOWN UNDER

CLARK THANKS ANDERSON


Christmas party poopers Everton spoil
City’s opportunity to go top of the table
Sledging is suddenly a hot topic again. It
had been conspicuous by its absence in
this series, most likely due its one-sided
nature until Australia regained their
swagger and a foothold by dint of a
crushing win in Perth. And the catalyst
for the Aussie recovery? According to
their former pace ace Stuart Clark, it’s all Baines and Everton
down to James Anderson’s big mouth. celebrated a first
Clark said: “Thanks, Jimmy Anderson. You away win this term
might just have given Australia the spark
they needed to win back the Ashes. Picture: ACTION
Perhaps it took Anderson and his con- IMAGES
frontational approach towards the
Australians – in particular Mitchell
Johnson – to fire up our players.” Note to
Jimmy, maybe keep it buttoned in
Melbourne.
Tevez U-turn
MELBOURNE’S STRIP TEASER
Kevin Pietersen may have patented the
over his future
switch hit, but if rumours in the British
press are to be believed, those dastardly
Aussies are busy coining the pitch switch. MANCHESTER CITY striker Carlos
On seeing England crumble like a stick of Tevez retained the captaincy for
rhubarb on the WACA’s speedy deck, last night’s match after retracting
MCG curator Cameron Hodgkins had his transfer request.
reportedly been instructed to prepare a Tevez stunned City last week by
clone in Melbourne. “Tricky Ricky in pitch demanding to leave Eastlands in
switch! Aussie skipper Ponting plots January, blaming homesickness
bouncer barrage in Melbourne,” ran the and a breakdown in relations with
Daily Mail’s headline. Not the case, retort- the City hierarchy.
ed Cricket Australia’s public affairs man- But following talks with the
ager Peter Young, yesterday. He Argentina star the club issued a
complimented the Mail on its headline, statement insisting any disagree-
but said pitch preparation was left up to ment with their highest-paid play-
each venue, which all worked to the best er had been ironed out.
of their ability according to local weather “Manchester City can confirm
and other conditions. “The MCC would be to its fans that ‘clear-the-air’ talks
deeply offended if anyone was presump- have been held with Carlos Tevez,”
tuous enough to give them advice on how were unable to complete the come- to the near post found Cahill totally read the statement. “During the
to prepare a cricket pitch,” Young said. MANCHESTER CITY 1 back following Phil Jagielka’s unfor-
tunate 72nd minute own goal.
unmarked, and the Australia interna-
tional couldn’t miss.
meeting Carlos expressed his
absolute commitment to the club
PONTING WILL MAKE MCG It was Cahill though, who set the Cahill was involved 15 minutes and formally withdrew his trans-
Australia batting coach Justin Langer
believes it would take more than a frac-
EVERTON 2 example in typical all-action hero
style, who drew most praise from his
later when Baines met his touch back
with a curling right-footed shot that
fer request. Carlos’ contract
remains unchanged and both
tured finger to prevent Ricky Ponting manager David Moyes after his side arrowed into Joe Hart’s far corner. Carlos and the football club are
from taking to the field in the fourth Test. secured a belated first away win of City were handed a route back into keen to focus on the opportunities

FOOTBALL
Aussie batting coach Langer said: “At BY JAMES GOLDMAN the campaign. the game when Victor Anichebe was that lie ahead.”
one-all, Boxing Day Test, a chance to win “Tim Cahill epitomised what we’re sent off on the hour for two yellow Manager Roberto Mancini
the Ashes, he will definitely be there. It is A BATTLING display from 10-man about here,” said Moyes. “Tim’s ener- card offences, and a grand stand fin- added: “I am pleased we are now
just a matter of time before he makes Everton prevented Manchester City gy levels were back to the old days. I ish was ensured when Jagielka able to focus on pure football mat-
runs. He’s definitely due a big one.” from topping the table at Christmas thought they dipped a bit recently. deflected Yaya Toure’s shot past a flat- ters and able to look forward to
for the first time since 1929. “We needed him to do it tonight, footed Howard. Carlos continuing to play a signifi-
SYDNEY WEATHERWATCH Roberto Mancini’s side were boost- especially when we went down to 10 But a mixture of fine goalkeeping cant role in the club’s progress.”
The Boxing Day Test could be Australia’s ed prior to kick-off by the news of men but his energy levels were also and stout defending meant City, who
last chance to regain the Ashes if Carlos Tevez’s transfer request u-turn, great when we had 11.” lost Kolo Toure to a red card in the
Sydney’s long-range weather forecasts
prove correct. According to weather-
but that was as good as it got on a
night of missed opportunities.
Everton were rampant early on,
while City’s general malaise was epit-
last minute, were to be frustrated.
Mancini said: “We have missed a TOP FOUR
zone.com.au, there is a greater than 75 City fought back admirably after a omised by the concession of a fourth big opportunity to go top and I think TEAM PLD W D L F A PTS
per cent chance of rain in Sydney on days trademark Tim Cahill header and a minute goal. we are disappointed. Man Utd 16 9 7 0 36 16 34
three to five of the fifth Test and a “low”' sumptuous Leighton Baines effort With Pablo Zabaleta off the field “Football is unbelievable but the Arsenal 17 10 2 5 34 19 32
risk, 25 to 50 per cent likelihood, of rain had put the visitors into an early 2-0 receiving treatment, Baines made season is long and we must now start
on the opening two days. lead, but a string of fine saves from progress down the left, his deep cross again. There are three more games Man City 18 9 5 4 25 15 32
Tim Howard meant the home side fell to Seamus Coleman whose dink this month.” Chelsea 17 9 4 4 31 12 31

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