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BUSINESS WITH PERSONALITY

SARACENS BOSS LIFTS FESTIVE


CHEER
LID ON REFEREE ROW SAINSBURY’S
SEES CHRISTMAS
RUGBY EXCLUSIVE SPORT P20 SALES RISE P5
Issue 1,047 Friday 8 January 2010 www.cityam.com FREE

UK CRACKS
UP IN THE
BIG FREEZE
WEATHER supply issues wouldn’t cause such

BY NATASHA SAINI shockwaves, but the government’s


failure to secure supply means that
ARCTIC conditions intensified yester- homes and businesses will be justifi-
day as the UK faced its coldest night ably apprehensive about the coun-
of the winter so far with the temper- try’s ability to meet its gas needs as
ature dropping as low as –5C in cen- temperatures plummet. The govern-
tral London as the worst cold snap to ment must learn lessons from this
hit the country for thirty years con- and drag our infrastructure into the
tinued. 21st century – and fast,” he said.
More travel chaos for commuters The situation was intensified by a
was predicted amid the freezing “technical glitch” forcing Norway’s
temperatures, with the Met Office largest gas producer, Statoil ASA, one
issuing UK-wide severe weather of the UK’s largest suppliers, to halt
warnings of ice for today, and fore- output at its offshore Troll gas fields The extent of snow coverage in the UK is vividly shown in this NASA satellite image, taken
casting the freeze would continue and consequently supplies to the UK yesterday, as temperatures continued to plummet Pictures: PA
for another two weeks. via the Langeled pipeline.
The warnings come after record And the weather yesterday contin- Analysis | Current and planned gas storage capacity in Europe
gas demand forced the National Grid ued to affect roads, rail services and
yesterday to cut the supply to 94 airports. Hundreds of flights were
companies in the North West and cancelled, including more than 130 Germany
East Midlands shortly after issuing at Gatwick. Delays were expected to 150 Planned 52.9
its second warning in three days continue today due to the bad Current 122
that the system was running out of weather. Spain
gas. The National Grid estimated Meanwhile, Eurostar, which sus- France
usage would reach 455.3m cubic pended services for three days before Planned 89.9
130
Italy Planned 16.9 Current 65.5
metres, over a third more than nor- Christmas, said it would run only a
mal seasonal demand, and trounc- limited service today after a Eurostar UK Planned 37.6 Current 99
Planned 46.3 Netherlands
Number of days storage

ing the current record of 449m cubic train broke down in the Channel Current 62.7
metres, set on 7 January 2003. tunnel. 90
Current 15 Planned 36.7
The cut prompted immediate criti- And the government was yester- Current 47.6
cism of the UK’s dependency on day forced to draw up rationing
imports, which has intensified due plans as councils ran out of supplies
to its dwindling North Sea gas fields, to grit roads. The Salt Union warned 60
forcing the government to import it had just a few days’ supply of sur-
fuel from as far afield as Qatar to face salt left.
keep out the chill. Elsewhere, power supply disrup-
Energy analyst, David Hunter, at tions continued, with an estimated 30
McKinnon and Clarke said this latest 970 homes without electricity in
warning put the spotlight on the East Finchley, north London. EDF
UK’s precarious energy position. “If blamed a fault with an underground
the UK had sufficient storage, these cable. 0

FTSE 100 ▼5,526.72 -3.32 DOW ▲10,606.86 +33.18 NASDAQ ▼12,300.05 -1.04 £/$ 1.59 ▼-0.01 £/¤ 1.11 unc ¤/$ ▼1.43 -0.01 Certified Distribution
02/11/09 – 29/11/09 is 102,194
2 News CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010

Aberdeen set
Asian nations laugh at our incompetence to snap up RBS
sive, historic power shift from east to
west is back on track.
HSBC’s chief economist Stephen
become more China-centric. Growth in
the emerging world is no longer driv-
en solely or even primarily by US and
sponsored cheap credit and infrastruc-
ture spending – but in the main it is
sustainable and due to low costs and
funds for £85m
King tells me he expects the world European consumers. One reason for increasing productivity.

s
economy to grow 2.9 per cent this year China’s emergence as the world’s top All of this has serious consequences BANKING
– but while rich nations will expand by exporter in 2009, overtaking Germany, for London. Labour and the Tories keep
1.9 per cent, emerging nations will is the growth of trade between emerg- talking as if our only competitors were ABERDEEN asset management is
jump 6.2 per cent and China 9.5 per ing nations – goods now flow south- the US, France or Germany. That is expected to announce today that it
EDITOR’S LETTER cent. HSBC’s excellent emerging mar- south as well as south-north. absurd. Our real rivals – and greatest will spend some £85m to acquire
kets index rose to 56.1 in the fourth Even with the modest recovery of potential customers – are the emerg- around half of the asset management
ALLISTER HEATH quarter from 55.3 in the third quarter, recent months, the rise in commodity ing markets. Rather than saddling our- arm of ailing Royal Bank of Scotland.
signaling the strongest quarterly prices is not being driven by the West, selves with suicidial regulatory costs Aberdeen will buy a £13bn portfo-
IT’S all rather sad. While we count the increase in emerging market manufac- other than via the impact of ultra- and vindictive super-taxes, we should lio of funds of funds and hedge funds
laughably high costs of a little snow, turing and services since late 2007 (a loose, bubble-blowing monetary poli- be seeking to be as lean and competi- and is expected to finance the move
obsess about minor policy differences reading above 50 means growth). cy. Rather, the increase is primarily tive as possible. We need to cut red with a share placing.
in Westminster and argue over There was much talk of decoupling being fuelled by a shift in the source of tape; we need a much smaller and Meanwhile, RBS has received three
whether our economic performance during the bubble days: many thought global growth away from the West and cheaper government. Barriers to offers worth around $4bn (£2.5bn) for
in 2010 will be poor or very poor, our the world would continue to grow towards China. By bolstering commod- employing people and setting up busi- its joint venture with US group
real rivals are bouncing back, growing even if the US fell into recession. This ity prices, China’s success is also insu- nesses need to be torn down. We must Sempra Energy. Deutsche Bank,
at full speed and creating jobs by the turned out to be nonsense: the credit lating other emerging nations – the sort out our infrastructure, which is JPMorgan Chase and Australian bank
millions. crunch led to an unprecedented col- main exporters of raw materials – unable to cope at the best of times, let Macquarie submitted their bids for
I’m referring, of course, to the lapse in world trade (which relies on from the West’s troubles. Higher com- alone when it snows. We need a better commodities trading business RBS
emerging markets. For them, the trade finance) with devastating effects modity prices, in turn, make a Western education and training system. Sempra before Wednesday’s deadline,
crash of 2008-09 has turned out to be on all economies, rich or poor. But the recovery more difficult by eating away One thing is clear: if London wants a source said.
little more than a scare; 2010 will be rebound in Asia suggests that we are at spending power in commodity- to remain a preeminent global trading RBS is being forced by European
the year they show the rest of us who now seeing a more realistic form of importing nations. Part of China’s metropolis, we will have to try much, competition authorities to slim down
is really in the driving seat. The mas- decoupling: the global economy has recovery was caused by government- much harder. allister.heath@cityam.com after accepting state aid in the crisis.

2nd Floor
14-16 Dowgate Hill
London EC4R 2SU
Tel: 020 7015 1200 Fax: 020 7248 1729
No frillers win fight of skies
Email: city@cityam.com www.cityam.com
AVIATION before numbers start to plateau. Analysis | Budget vs BA
s

Editorial BY STEVE DINNEEN It maintained ambitious expansion


Editor Allister Heath plans despite the collapse of a deal
Deputy Editor David Hellier RYANAIR blew away the competition with Boeing for 200 new jets.
RYANAIR

EASYJET

BA
News Editor Ben Griffiths over Christmas, flying nearly five mil- It is understood to have reached an
Night Editor Katie Hope lion passengers in December – 12 per agreement of $25m to $30m a plane
Political Editor David Crow cent more than last year. but pulled the plug after Boeing
Features Editor Jeremy Hazlehurst And total passengers for 2009 changed the terms of delivery.
Art Director Darren Soulsby reached the dizzy heights of 65m, jet- Some analysts suggested that
Pictures Alice Hepple ting past the 58m recorded the previ- Ryanair had misread the market and
ous year.
Commercial The budget airline’s biggest rival Ryanair, led by colourful
Sales Director Jeremy Slattery EasyJet notched up a 9.3 per cent year- chief executive Michael
Deputy Sales Director Harry Owen on-year rise in passenger traffic to
O’Leary, expects its
Head of Distribution Nick Owen 3.4m in December.
Both airlines benefited from the annual passenger
Distribution helpline strike threats that dominated count to rise to 90m
If you have any comments about the distribution
of City A.M. Please ring 0207 015 1230, or email Christmas for British Airways and the
distribution@cityam.com problems that plagued the Channel pulled out of the deal because it

Editorial Statement
Tunnel.
BA passenger traffic fell by 4.4 per
realised it risked over-expanding.
The Irish-based carrier plans to take
s s t
This newspaper adheres to the system of
self-regulation overseen by the Press Complaints
cent in December to just 2.4m. First
class and business travel fell by only
delivery of 112 new 737-800s over the
next three years but will now stop 12% 9.3% 4.4%
Commission. The PCC takes complaints about the 0.7 per cent but economy passenger deliveries after 2013.
editorial content of publications under the Editor’s
Code of Practice, a copy of which can be found at numbers plummeted 4.6 per cent. The firm says this will slash annual dividends. A spokesman said these the Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus,
www.pcc.org.uk A Ryanair spokesman said the firm capital expenditure from £1.2bn to as would not be annual and were “the claiming it would be “futile” while
Printed by Newsfax International,
had targeted 76m customers for the little as £90m. best use of extra cash”. the Irish government continues to
Beam Reach 5 Business Park, next financial year and aimed to It plans to return the extra cash to The company played down sugges- hang on to its 25 per cent stake in the
Marsh Way, Rainham, Essex, RM13 8RS reach 90m passengers each year shareholders via a series of special tions it is preparing a third bid for airline.

WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING


weeks of 2009. This is a 76 per cent
increase on last year and the best hol-
iday sales the PS3 has had. The com-
SPAIN AIMS TO BRING EU STATES pany said that its PlayStation LLOYDS FACES £200M LOSS AS AMAZON KINDLE UNDER THREAT FROM SEVERAL RETAILERS BOOST
INTO LINE Network, the online gaming service PROPERTY COMPANY WITHERS “UNBREAKABLE, LIGHT-AS-PAPER” QUE THEIR FORECASTS
The European Union should apply that can be accessed from the PS3, INTO RECEIVERSHIP E-READER A number of retailers raised earnings
“corrective measures” against mem- PlayStation Portable or by personal Lloyds Banking Group is facing a loss Plastic Logic unveiled a new e-reader forecasts after reporting stronger
ber states that fail to meet their obli- computer, now has 38m registered of at least £200m after Kilmartin, an with a screen made of plastic, rather than expected December sales, per-
gations under a new 10-year plan to accounts. The announcement comes HBOS-backed property company, than glass, that has the potential to haps signaling a slow return to
improve the bloc’s competitiveness, a day after rival Nintendo said that it went into receivership. Directors of reinvigorate newspaper and maga- health for America’s chain stores.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain’s had sold more than 3m Wii consoles Kilmartin Holdings, a Scottish group zine publishing. Henning Sales for the five-week period ending
premier, said. In a proposal likely to in the US in December, a 40 per cent founded by Iain Wotherspoon, the Sirringhaus, one of the Cambridge in early January rose 2.9 per cent
stir controversy among other EU gov- increase on the previous year. property entrepreneur, handed over dons who founded the company, compared to the prior year, nearly
ernments, Mr Zapatero said the the company to which was spun out of the university's one percentage point greater than
European Commission should be CABINET PRESSURE MOUNTS PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the Cavendish Laboratory in 2000, said Wall Street anticipated.
granted powers to police compliance ON BROWN accountant, yesterday. the 10in screen on the Que reader is
with the plan, which is expected to be Gordon Brown has been told by two “unbreakable”. AMERICAN AIRLINES RAISES JAL OFFER
adopted in March and is known as of his most senior ministers to change NATIONAL EXPRESS LAUNCHES BOND American Airlines raised its offer to
the “2020 strategy”. his leadership style, clarify Labour’s ISSUE ON JOURNEY BACK TO TIM GEITHNER’S NY FED TOLD AIG TO invest in Japan Airlines by $300m to
election strategy and abandon “class FINANCIAL STABILITY KEEP QUIET ABOUT $105BN PAID TO $1.4bn, according to people familiar
SONY’S PS3 ENJOYS LATE JUMP IN war” rhetoric if he wants to rebuild National Express, the troubled bus BANKS. with the situation, intensifying
SALES cabinet unity after Wednesday’s and train operator, launched a The New York Fed, under Mr American’s battle with rival Delta Air
A hefty price cut and a new model failed leadership coup. Harriet £350m corporate bond issue yester- Geithner’s leadership until he was Lines to forge a partnership with the
PlayStation3 appeared to have paid Harman, deputy Labour leader, and day. The group said that it would use appointed US Treasury Secretary in cash-strapped Japanese carrier.
off for Sony, as the company revealed Jack Straw, justice secretary, sought the money to repay €270m (£242m) of January 2009, instructed the troubled American met with JAL executives
that it had sold 3.8m of the games assurances he would include them in bond debt, which was fast approach- insurer to withhold details of the pay- yesterday morning and sweetened its
consoles worldwide in the final five a wider circle of advisers. ing maturity. ments from the public. offer.
CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010 News 3

Cheyne partners share £4m Lenders seize control of


£4.1m in the most recent accounts. down to around £3.5bn.
Foxtons after debt deal

EXCLUSIVE
BY OLIVER SHAH Cheyne runs a suite of hedge funds Last year’s accounts are distorted
with strategies ranging from special because they cover a nine-month peri-
CHEYNE Capital Management, one of situations to long/short corporate od rather than the 12-month period the market.


PROPERTY
the first London hedge funds to credit. Started in 1999 by two ex- covered in 2007/8. But it is under- But yesterday the private equity
become a victim of the US sub-prime Morgan Stanley traders, the firm stood that negative returns from ESTATE agent Foxtons was taken over house handed lenders led by Bank of
crisis in 2007, saw profits continue to became one of the fastest-growing funds impacted on performance fees, by its lenders yesterday, after its pri- America and Mizuho a majority stake
fall last year. hedge funds in the UK, building its while investors pulling cash out vate equity owner agreed to a refi- in the business. BC Partners will
Revenues at the Pall Mall-based assets under management to £7.5bn resulted in lower management fees. nancing deal that saw its stake in the retain the largest minority stake and
group tumbled 52 per cent between before the financial crisis struck. A spokesperson said: “[These fig- firm massively diluted. has pumped less than £50m of new
2007/8 and 2008/9. The remuneration In summer 2007, its affiliated ures] correspond exactly to the nine- BC Partners bought the chain that equity into the estate agents.
package shared between four direc- investment vehicle Cheyne Finance month period of the credit crunch, so was synonymous with the London Under the deal, Foxton’s debt has
tors – including co-founders Jonathan collapsed after suffering severe losses. it’s an unfortunate comparison property boom for around £360m in been cut from £300m to £120m. Most
Lourie and Stuart Fiertz – has steadily Since then, net outflows have because it was the worst nine months 2007 from founder Jon Hunt, who of the debt was from £260m of bank
declined from £14.2m in 2007 to brought funds under management for markets for at least 70 years.” offloaded the business at the top of loans to fund BC Partners’ buyout.

Cadbury dips NEWS | IN BRIEF


Deutch exits Citigroup board
John Deutch yesterday said he would
not stand for re-election at Citigroup’s

below Kraft 20 April annual meeting. Ex-CIA direc-


tor Deutch has been a Citigroup director
for 12 years. His exit follows the depar-
ture of several directors since the gov-
ernment took a more active role in the
bank’s affairs last year following two

offer price multibillion-dollar bailouts. Among those


who have left the board are Robert E.
Rubin, former treasury secretary, and
Winfried Bischoff, Citigroup’s former
chairman.

Paul Smith cautious on 2010


CONSUMER remain unwilling to accept an offer Paul Smith, the upmarket fashion brand,

BY VICTORIA BATES priced at less than 800p per share. has warned that the coming six months
Cadbury’s share price has tanked by will be “challenging” for retailers around
CADBURY shares breached the psy- 3.5 per cent after billionaire investor the world. The firm, known for its dis-
chologically-important level of Kraft’s Warren Buffett, a 9.4 per cent Kraft tinctive stripes and sharp suits, reported
hostile bid price for the first time yes- shareholder, on Tuesday said he was a 2 per cent slip in pre-tax profits to
terday, as pressure for the US food unhappy with the amount of stock £21.7m for the year to June as stockists
giant to increase its offer substantial- being used to fund the bid. Kraft has cut down their orders. Founder Sir Paul
ly starts to wane. until 19 January to launch a better Smith is thought to have pocketed £4m
Cadbury’s stock dipped to an intra- offer, under Takeover Panel rules. in earnings during the year and also
day low of 767.5p on the London Stock Cadbury is also said to be in talks enjoyed the majority of a £1m dividend
Exchange yesterday, well below the with US chocolatier Hershey over a paid by the company. His comments fol-
771p at which Kraft’s cash-and-shares potential rival bid, though the com- low a similar note of caution from M&S.
bid was valued at the same time. pany has been quick to deny it is
Cadbury shares recovered to close “looking for a white knight”. Investors were concerned as Cadbury’s shares fell below the bid price Picture: REUTERS Ex-Dowgate execs launch Nomad
marginally up at 776.5p, though the A new firm set up by four former
blip caused analysts to question how ANALYSIS l Cadbury 21 Oct 5 Jan Dowgate Capital executives is today set
much Kraft would sweeten its offer. p 7 Sept Cadbury raises 2009 sales and profit Kraft sells pizza business to Nestlé and to gain FSA approval as a nominated
“The proximity of the Cadbury Kraft announces its targets in an upbeat Q3 trading statement ups cash component of its offer; Warren Buffett adviser (Nomad) for companies listed on
850 claims the bid undervalues Kraft shares
share price to the Kraft offer price original £10.2bn bid London’s Aim market. Cairn Financial
800
leaves the position nicely in the bal- Advisers, founded by ex-Dowgate chair-
750
ance with everything to play for over 21 Sept 23 Nov man Tony Rawlinson and former col-
the next couple of weeks,” said 700 leagues James Caithie, Liam Murray and
Cadbury asks Takeover Panel for a Cadbury shares hit all-time high of 819.5p
Charles Stanley analyst Jeremy 650 “put up or shut up” deadline for Kraft amid speculation of a takeover battle Simon Sacerdoti, will also provide
Batstone-Carr. 600 advice to quoted and unquoted compa-
However, he, like other analysts 550 nies in the small cap sector. Dowgate
including Investec’s Martin Deboo, 500 was acquired by broker Astaire
believes Cadbury shareholders 450 Sep Nov Jan 10 Securities last year.

THE
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CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010 News 5

New Look hails strong Xmas Sarkozy proposes Google


£699m. Asked about the possibility of steady and grown market share to
tax to help French artists

RETAIL
an initial public offering (IPO), chief become the UK’s second biggest
BY EMMA ROWLEY executive Carl McPhail said: “We’ve womenswear retailer in terms of
BUDGET fashion chain New Look yes- said before that we’d consider our value, enjoying a 5.6 per cent slice of tising is the way forward.


RETAIL
terday said it was undecided on a options and that’s what we will con- clothing, accessories and footwear. France has caused controversy in
return to the stock market as it tinue to do. The board has made no The company trades from 1,012 FRANCE could start taxing internet the past by introducing some of the
reported strong Christmas trading. decision.” stores, 603 of which are in the UK. Its advertising revenue from online com- world’s harshest laws against online
Like-for-like sales in the UK grew He added: “We have had another 26,000-square-foot flagship store will panies such as Google, using the piracy.
5.9 per cent in the 14 weeks to 2 successful Christmas, growing sales open on Oxford Street next month. funds to support creative industries The tax, which would also apply to
January, while total turnover includ- and profitability in the face of diffi- “We think in the longer term that have been hit by the digital revo- other operators such as MSN and
ing overseas operations was up 14.4 cult market conditions. we’ve got the opportunity to grow lution. Yahoo, would put an end to “enrich-
per cent. “Looking ahead, while we remain our space and potentially double it,” The proposal, put forward in a gov- ment without any limit or compensa-
The “disposable fashion” group, cautious about consumer spending said McPhail. ernment-commissioned survey, is tion,” the report’s authors said. .
backed by private equity firms Apax and expect sentiment to remain sub- “The brand is about fashion, value France’s latest challenge to Google It would apply even if the operator
and Permira, is expected to float on dued, we are well placed to continue and newness and we’re in the sweet and its online rivals. had its offices outside France, as long
the London Stock Exchange this year, growth and build upon our success.” spot of what we think is a growing Google said that it does not believe as the internet users who click on ads
after being taken private in 2004 for New Look said it had kept margins sector,” he added. an additional tax on internet adver- or sponsored links are in France.

JD Sports
Sainsbury’s in on track as
festive feast sales surge
as sales rise


RETAIL
JD SPORTS Fashion said yesterday it
was on track to beat the City’s profit
expectations for the year after enjoy-
ing a festive boost.
customers bought their turkey and Like-for-like sales rose 6.6 per cent in

RETAIL
trimmings from Sainsbury’s than last the five weeks to 6 January, driven by
BY JOHN DUNNE
year. On the year ahead he said: “The the performance of its fashion-focused
J SAINSBURY was given a festive boost business continues to perform well in chains Bank and Scotts, where trading
with sales rising by 3.8 per cent as what remains a challenging con- rose 9.7 per cent. The group said it was
shoppers snapped up food and drink sumer environment. set to “significantly exceed” full-year
for Christmas. “Our universal customer appeal pre-tax profit estimates from analysts –
The like-for-like sales figures at together with our accelerated growth which have hovered around £56m –
Britain’s third largest supermarket plans means we are well placed to but warned the snow posed a threat.
chain, revealed yesterday, beat the make continued good progress in “The extent to which this occurs is
forecasts of City analysts who had pre- 2010.” still dependent on the impact of the
dicted a 3.5 per cent gain. Data from research firm Nielsen prevailing severe weather conditions
Sainsbury’s slashed prices on its suggested the supermarket had Chief executive Justin King hailed “record performance” Picture:Micha Theiner/CITY A.M. in the UK,” the company said.
beer, wine and spirits in a bid to bring increased its market share by two per- The Christmas trading helped like-
more customers through the door. centage points to 14.7 per cent with ANALYSIS l Third quarter sales for-like sales for the 48 weeks to 2
The data for the 12 weeks to Boxing the Christmas sales hike. January grow 2.7 per cent, while profit
Day also show that excluding fuel Waitrose reported a 16.1 per cent Total sales Like-for-like sales margins improved “marginally”.
and the change in VAT, like-for-like sales rise earlier this week while (3rd quarter) (3rd quarter) Executive chairman Peter Cowgill
sales climbed 4.2 per cent. Marks & Spencer’s figures saw only a said: “This has been the result of our
Shares in the chain jumped two per marginal improvement. ▲ 6.2% ▲ 4.2% strong product proposition and a lot of
cent after the announcement. (6.3% excluding fuel) excluding fuel and VAT hard work from employees through-
Chief executive Justin King said ANALYSIS l J Sainsbury out the business.”
p
Sainsbury’s had delivered a “record 328.20 The group – which had 343 sports-
345
performance”. 7 Jan wear stores and 95 fashion outlets as of
He added: “While food price infla- 340 Like-for-like sales Weekly transactions August – has seen its “athletic-
tion eased in the quarter as expected, 335 (3rd quarter) inspired” fashion offerings pay off dur-
▲ 3.8% ▲ 1m
a winning combination of more cus- 330 ing the recession, as it has fared better
tomers, enjoying even better products 325 than rivals more dependent on kit
and prices through more stores deliv- 320 (3.7% excluding fuel) year on year sales.
ered total sales growth of 6.2 per 315 Singer Capital Markets analyst Mark
cent.” 310 Photiades said the growth seen in fash-
Nectar customer card data cus- ion was “very encouraging....one of the
305
tomer revealed that 14 per cent more 12 Oct 30 Oct 19 Nov 9 Dec 31 Dec main growth drivers for the group.”

Summer blockbusters and rise of 3D AstraZeneca rises as top


movies boost revenues for Cineworld drug stays safe until 2014
Blockbusters including Slumdog 24 per cent. able to sell a generic version exclusive-

LEISURE

PHARMACEUTICALS
BY STEVE DINNEEN Millionaire, The Twilight Saga: New A company spokesman said: “The ly for 180 days before Teva begins.
Moon, Transformers: Revenge of the number and success of films released ASTRAZENECA settled a US patent Nexium is AstraZeneca’s highest-
CINEWORLD revenues were up more Fallen and Harry Potter and the Half in 3D has raised the profile of this for- row with Israeli drug maker Teva yes- selling drug, with sales of £1.3bn in
than 11 per cent last year after receiv- Blood Prince pulled in big crowds but mat, which in turn has had a terday, protecting its top-selling the nine months to September.
ing a welcome boost from the rise in the bumper box-office receipts are favourable effect on cinema admis- heartburn drug Nexium for almost A spokesperson said: “This settle-
popularity of 3D movies. thought to be in part down to the sions. four more years. ment strikes an appropriate balance
Box office takings were up by near- sudden rush for 3D films. “While cost pressures have contin- The deal will allow Teva, the between protecting the value of our
ly 17 per cent and food sales were up James Cameron’s much anticipat- ued, overall profit performance is world’s biggest manufacturer of shareholders’ investment in Nexium,
by almost 10 per cent. These rises ed Avatar was a hit and Up, Bolt and expected to be in line with market generic pharmaceuticals, to start sell- mitigating uncertainties and address-
were enough to overshadow a drop in Monsters vs Aliens all performed well. expectations.” ing a cheaper copy of Nexium when ing the many other costs associated
advertising revenue of 29 per cent. Expansion of its digital facilities is The group’s estate is now 790 the first patent expires in 2014. with patent litigation.”
Ticket sales were well above the thought to be behind a growth in screens at 77 locations with more However, under a previous arrange- AstraZeneca shares closed 1.3 per
market increase of 11 per cent. market share in the UK and Ireland to developments planned. ment, Indian firm Ranbaxy will be cent up at £29.11.
6 Economic News CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010

ANALYSIS l How house prices have fared over the past year
Jobless claims
Interest rate 2

0
-16.2 -17.2 -17.7 -17.5 -17.7 -16.3 -15.0 -12.1 -10.1 -7.4 -4.7 -1.6
1.1 in US rise less

Quarterly year-on-year change in price (%)


-2

kept on hold -4

-6

-8
than expected

again by Bank
WORLD ECONOMY


-10
THE DOLLAR enjoyed a slight boost
yesterday after the number of
-12
Americans making first-time claims
for unemployment benefits rose less
-14
than expected.
-16
The US government said initial job-

ECONOMY be more of it. There is a debate over less claims increased by just 1,000 to
BY JOHN DUNNE whether to stop it soon but I think -18
434,000 in the week ending 2 January,
ceasing it too early could threaten Dec ‘08 Jan ‘09 Feb ‘09 Mar ‘09 Apr ‘09 May ‘09 Jun ‘09 Jul ‘09 Aug ‘09 Sep ‘09 Oct ‘09 Nov ‘09 Dec ‘09 supporting hopes that the struggling
THE BANK of England’s Monetary our tentative recovery.” job market is bottoming out. The sea-

House prices continue to


Policy Committee (MPC) yesterday Howard Archer of Global Insight sonally adjusted figure represented an
froze the interest rate at 0.5 per cent said: “The latest economic data and improvement on analysts’ expecta-
while persevering with quantitative surveys have been more upbeat over- tions of an 8,000 gain and followed
easing until next month. all and tentative signs are emerging two consecutive weeks of decline, dur-

strengthen in December
The interest rate has remained that money supply growth and bank ing which claims fell to their lowest
unchanged since March after the lending could be picking up.” level since July 2008.
MPC took drastic action to tackle the Britain is believed to have returned The four-week moving average, a less
global economic crisis. to economic growth in the final few volatile measure than the weekly data,
Quantitative easing, aimed at months of 2009. was at its lowest since September 2008,
pumping cash into the financial sys- Philip Shaw, chief economist at falling 10,250 to 450,250 from the pre-
tem, will be maintained at £200bn Investec said: “The environment for ECONOMICS year basis, the first increase on this vious week’s revised average.

until the economy is deemed to be the MPC now becomes much more BY VICTORIA BATES measure since March 2008. The figures indicated the improving
back on its feet. challenging. It has to decide whether Halifax’s housing economist economic outlook is discouraging
UK economist at BNP Paribas Alan to provide more quantitative easing HOUSE prices in the UK recorded Martin Ellis said low interest rates companies from the brutal rate of job
Clarke said: “Everything pointed to next month. It is possible, but we their sixth consecutive monthly rise and the recent improvement in the cuts experienced during the worst of
this decision. The labour market is doubt that it will.” in December, data from the Halifax labour market had both contributed the recession. Meanwhile the number
doing better than expected and GDP showed yesterday, though the mort- to stronger housing demand. of Americans receiving continuing
and inflation are also okay. Bank of England gage lender expects prices to plateau However, he said prices are likely to claims in the week ending December
“The decision is not a surprise. over the rest of 2010. remain flat in 2010, adding: “The 26 – the most recent data available –
However, I am worried that the gov- governor Mervyn King Prices rallied one per cent between prospects for the market this year will was down to just over 4.8m from
ernment’s bond gilts are rising quite is trying to steer the November and December, bringing depend on how the UK economy almost 5m the week before.
sharply. UK out of choppy the cost of the average UK home to evolves and whether there is a signifi- But all eyes were waiting for today’s
“I have argued in favour of quanti- economic waters £169,042. December also saw house cant increase in the supply of proper- monthly figures which will reveal the
tative easing and think there should prices rise by 1.1 per cent on a year-on- ties for sale.” unemployment rate for December.
News 7

Forward home sales are 40 per cent ahead of this time last year Picture: REUTERS

Cautious gain
at Persimmon
continued confidence in the long

HOUSEBUILDING
term future of the UK housing mar-
BY RHIAN NICHOLSON ket,” the group said.
INTERACTIVE INVESTOR However, forward sales have picked
HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon yester- up and stand 40 per cent ahead of last
day remained cautious over the year at around £640m and above the
health of the housing market despite £500m reported in November. “This
a stronger performance in the second gives us a good start to the year,
half of 2009. although as usual we await the
The FTSE 250 group said it complet- Spring selling season with keen inter-
ed the sale of 8,796 new homes during est,” Persimmon said in a trading
2009, which generated a turnover of update.
around £1.4bn. Almost 5000 of these Meanwhile, net debt at the end of
properties were sold in the second 2009 stood at £270m, down from
half – up on the 4006 recorded during £599m at the end of the previous year
the first six months of the year. and a peak of £1.2bn in April 2008.
However, this is still down 12 per cent Analysts at Panmure Gordon said:
on 2008 when the housebuilder com- “Persimmon’s trading update looks
pleted 10,202 sales with a turnover of pretty much in line with our fore-
£1.75bn. casts although the group’s perform-
Persimmon, which is the first in the ance on cash is ahead of what we
sector to update the market, said that would have expected at this stage.”
while there are signs of improvement, Persimmon added that its partici-
credit conditions remain tight. pation in the government’s HomeBuy
“Whilst we will remain cautious Direct scheme is going well and it still
until mortgage availability and the has about £45m available to assist
general economy improves, we have with the sale of about 2,500 homes.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF PERSIMMON’S


FULL-YEAR TRADING UPDATE? Interviews by Steve Dinneen
IMRAN AKRAM | COLLINS STEWART

“ Persimmon is the first housebuilder to report a solid trading update.


Volumes were 12 per cent lower year-on-year but picked up in the second half of


last year. Net debt was better than expected. Bovis and TaylorWimpey are our
top picks but we continue to see upside to our target price of 520p.

CHRIS MILLINGTON | NUMIS SECURITIES

“ The group has comfortably beaten our net debt forecast and forward
orders give a strong platform for the Spring selling season. We continue to


regard Persimmon as one of the best housebuilders, but its premium valuation to
Bellway is too large. Bellway has more financial flexibility to buy land.

JONATHAN JACKSON | KILLIK & CO.

“ The major news was the progress in debt reduction, which ended the
year at £270m, well below the £475m as at 30 June 2009. While management


remains cautious over mortgage availability it has continued confidence in the
long-term future of the UK housing market.
The Capitalist
8 CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010
EDITED BY
VICTORIA BATES
GOT A STORY? EMAIL
thecapitalist@cityam.com

DOOMSAYING ECONOMIST ENJOYS


HIS NEWFOUND CELEBRITY STATUS
MY, HOW the world has changed. none other than Chelsea FC tycoon beauties, Roubini recently uploaded
While most of us have been going Roman Abramovich was hosting his to his Facebook page a haul of photos
around assuming that brainy econo- New Year’s Eve party last week. from the night, which subsequently
mists are dismissed by the popular, And who should be invited to this found their way onto the Gawker US
hedonistic masses as nothing more elite bash, but notorious bear econo- blog site. (“Do any of these young and
than dreary nerds, it appears the best mist Nouriel Roubini (otherwise attractive women actually know who
of them have been snagging invites to known as Dr Doom in the States for Roubini is?” questions one reader
the most glamorous parties in town. his gloomy economic forecasts). incredulously.)
Actually, town doesn’t begin to After partying with the likes of But before The Capitalist hails a shift
cover it – we’re talking the exclusive Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé, actor Jason in the world order, a quick check on
Caribbean island of St Barts, where Statham and a bevy of unnamed the experience of Roubini’s fellow

Roubini, inset, has been partying with the likes of singer Gwen Stefani Pictures: REUTERS

nerds – and who better to ask than his


fellow über-bear, SocGen’s Albert
Edwards?
APRES SKI
You’d have thought the Stock
“I don’t tend to mix in those circles, Exchange Ski Club would have been
I’m just a humble footsoldier,” says delighted to use the recent snowfalls
Edwards, a smile twitching at the cor- as an excuse to get out onto the
ner of his lips. “I lead a quiet life – my hillocks of Southern England and
New Year’s Eve was staying in with my practise for the upcoming
wife in front of the telly.” Interbourse ski trip, wouldn’t you?
No need to rewrite the history But no, I hear London’s team are far
books just yet, then. too laid back to practise for the event,
one of the biggest organised winter
sporting dates in the financial servic-
WINTER WONDER es calendar.
It was probably only to be expected, “Too many of the Swiss and
but who else was spotted flying into German teams take it far too seriously
work by bicycle yesterday despite the these days,” the club’s secretary tells
snow, but our own London Mayor me. “We’re far more relaxed about it –
our teams are usually made up of the
last people left standing in the bar at
the end of the night before…”
They certainly do seem to have
grasped the importance of the most
essential ingredient of any skiing trip,
at the very least.

OPTIMIST FERVOUR
ITV’s new chairman Archie Norman
is certainly doing his level best to
ingratiate himself with the broadcast-
er’s beleaguered employees.
Boris is still cycling in spite of the snow Just a few days into the job,
Norman sent a mass email to his new
Boris Johnson. minions to “say ‘hello’” and outline
Johnson, who was virtually his strategy to turn around the ailing
unrecognisable to many, having company.
tucked his flaxen locks into a woolly Apparently, the new boss will do
grey ski cap underneath his helmet, his level best to be approachable, hav-
didn’t seem at all put off by the lack ing ensconced himself in an open
of grit on the roads. plan office on the 17th floor of ITV
“Ah, cycling’s the only way,” he HQ.
shouted, happily. “The roads are clear, “I am keen to get to know you all
the weather’s, er, fine…” better and to hear your thoughts on
Noone ever did do spin quite like how we are doing and what we can do
the politicians. better,” the infectious optimist writes.
“I look forward to hearing from you!
Happy New Year!”
GOOD WIDDANCE Talk about starting the new
Yesterday saw the end of an era as year with a bang.
love-him-or-hate-him presenter
Jonathan Ross quit his monstrous
£18m-a-year contract at
the BBC.
CALL A BLUFF
Still on the subject of win-
Ross may have spent try precipitation, and it
13 years bantering out appears most snowed-in
of our screens during workers are busy whiling
his time at Auntie, away their time playing
but it’s unlikely he’ll online poker, of all
be missed too sore- things.
ly, given the recent Gambling firm
uproar over that Betfair reports that
banker-esque this week has seen
salary and the volumes up by any-
Sachsgate affair. thing between 20 per
As one Daily cent and 73 per cent
Mail reader so suc- on its various gam-
cinctly said yester- ing sites – presum-
day of the paper’s ably driven by City
favourite bête noire: traders itching to get
“Good widdance to bad back for a bit of action
wubbish.” on the wheeler-dealing front.
CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010 News 11

Hays sees fees fall by a third Arbuthnot set to beat full


The UK now only constitutes 45 per seen as positive, with the company a
year profit expectations

RECRUITMENT
cent of Hays’ fee income and global total of £40m in the red.
BY STEVE DINNEEN markets look set to thaw more quickly Chief executive Alistair Cox said:
HAYS, the UK’s largest recruitment firm, than domestic ones. “Although specialist recruitment mar- Arbuthnot’s retail banking divi-


BANKING
yesterday reported a 30 per cent fall in The Asia-Pacific region, Australia in kets continue to be very challenging, sion, Secure Trust Bank, is expected
net fees in its second fiscal quarter last particular, looked especially promis- candidate and client sentiment have BANKING group Arbuthnot delivered to have performed strongly over the
year. ing, with banking and financial sec- improved over recent months and this welcome good news to investors yes- year due to the acquisition of two
But it was optimistic that stability is tors performing well. Net fees in the is encouraging.” terday as it said annual pre-tax profit books of instalment loans.
returning to all its major jobs markets, UK permanent sector were down 39 is expected to come in ahead of mar- But the group warned that full-year
including banking, and saw modest per cent, like-for-like, while the temps FAST FACTS | HAYS ket expectations. performance at Arbuthnot Latham,
quarter-on-quarter growth in the UK sector fared better at 22 per cent down. After falling into the red in 2008, its private banking arm, would be
private sector. There is expected to be a continued ● Hays is the UK’s biggest recruitment firm. Arbuthnot said its investment bank- affected by the start-up costs associat-
Based on the figures Charles Stanley modest reduction in the public sector, ● Only 45 per cent of its revenue is from ing arm would post a profit for the ed with Gilliat Financial Solutions,
maintained its “buy” stance on the which accounts for 39 per cent of Hays’ domestic recruitment fees. second half of 2009 despite the divi- the new structured products distribu-
company, believing momentum in the UK business, due to the ongoing pay- ● It is a massive provider of permanent and sion continuing to suffer over the tion venture it launched in August
global economy will stimulate further freeze. temporary staff to the UK public sector. first half of the year from depressed last year. Arbuthnot is due to release
recruitment activity in 2010. Hays’ management of debt has been levels of corporate finance activity. preliminary results on 11 March.

UniCredit
Market rally prices €4bn
is a positive rights issue
for Rathbone


BANKING
ITALY’S biggest bank UniCredit yester-
day priced its €4bn (£3.6bn) rights
issue at €1.589 a share, a 29 per cent
discount, in a move to shore up lag-
stance for the year ahead given the ging capital ratios.

FUND MANAGEMENT
political risk of a hung Parliament. UniCredit, the Italian bank most
BY OLIVER SHAH
He added: “We are fairly cautious on pummelled by the credit crunch, is
RATHBONE Brothers yesterday where markets are going, but that carrying out its second capital
reported a 25 per cent increase in doesn’t mean there aren’t some sec- increase in a year, the latest in a raft
funds under management for 2009 as tors that will do relatively well.” of crisis-hit lenders raising capital.
buoyant equity markets repaired the Rathbone said plans to migrate dis- UniCredit will issue three ordinary
damage done in the depths of the cretionary private client portfolios President Grimsson refused to sign a bill authorising the repayment Picture: REUTERS shares for every 20 ordinary and/or
recession. from Lloyds Banking Group were at saving shares held, it said in a state-

Iceland says it has UK


Total assets under management an advanced stage following a deal ment after a board meeting set
climbed to £13.1bn in December, up last October to buy some of Lloyds’ details for the capital increase.
from £10.5bn a year earlier in the private banking business. Around 60 The capital increase will run from
wake of the Lehman Brothers col- per cent of clients have already been 11 to 29 January in Italy and Germany

assurance on EU bid plan


lapse. The 268-year-old firm will rec- transferred. and from 14 to 29 January in Poland.
ommend paying a second interim Several non-executive directors will UniCredit, the biggest bank in east-
dividend in March in place of a final retire along with outgoing unit trust ern and central Europe, has said the
dividend in May. CEO Peter Pearson Lund, who leaves capital increase will boost its Core
Rathbone shares closed 5.5 per cent in March. James Barclay and Mark Tier 1 ratio, a standard of capital held
up at 868.5p after brokers reacted pos- Robertshaw have been replaced by against risky assets, to 8.39 per cent.
itively to the day’s news. Numis main- Kate Avery and Kathryn Matthews. as Iceland’s application to join the The figure was 7.55 per cent at the

WORLD ECONOMY
tained its “buy” rating after the firm European Union. end of September, at the low end
said 2009 results would be in line ANALYSIS l Rathbone Brothers ICELAND’S foreign minister yesterday “I have spoken to foreign secretary among European banks. “The
p
with expectations. 1,000 868.50 said he had been assured by British Miliband and I have his permission to risk/reward ratio for UniCredit is def-
The announcement on fund flows 7 Jan foreign secretary David Miliband that state officially that this will not affect initely more positive now. It’s a huge
came as Rathbone named Mike Webb 950 a presidential rejection of the so- the EU application,” said Icelandic difference from a year ago,” said
as the new chief executive of its strug- called Icesave bill would not torpedo foreign minister Ossur Santander analyst Carlos Garcia.
gling unit trust business. Rathbone 900 Iceland’s EU bid. Skarphedinsson. The discount of about 29 per cent
Unit Trust Management was one area The president’s refusal to sign a bill The minister said the coalition gov- to the theoretical ex-rights market
where funds slipped, falling from 850 to repay Britain and the Netherlands ernment was making every effort to price is in line with the roughly 27
£1bn to £940m due to net redemp- more than $5bn (£3.1bn) their savers limit any potential fallout from per cent discount given by French
800
tions of £234m. lost when Icelandic banks collapsed, President Olafur Grimsson’s move banks Societe Generale and BNP
Group CEO Andy Pomfret told City 750 forces a referendum on the issue and and stressed Iceland’s need for sup- Paribas when they raised capital to
A.M. the firm was taking a defensive 12 Oct 30 Oct 19 Nov 9 Dec 31 Dec threatens vital economic aid as well port from its Nordic neighbours. pay back state support last autumn.

CITY VIEWS: WHAT IS THE WEATHER’S ECONOMIC IMPACT?


DANIELLE FOSTER | FEMI OWOYEMI | TIM LEWIS |
Interviews by Emma Rowley
Japan’s finance minister
GFI
“On Wednesday there were quite a
STATE BANK OF INDIA
“People’s movements are really
CURRENCIES DIRECT
“The suggested cost of £690m a calls for a weaker yen
few people off, a lot more made the restricted and they can’t get to day is a bit over the top. I'm think-
effort to come in [yesterday]. It’s work. It’s not very good for busi- ing around half that. Lots of our deflation hurts demand.

WORLD ECONOMY
easy for me to get in ness activity. clients are based He also lived up to expectations that
to work – other For these few days around the country JAPAN’S new finance minister yester- he would not be as fiscally restrained
day called for a weaker yen and said he as his predecessor by saying he would
parts of the coun- it will have an and they can’t get would work with the Bank of Japan to be open to spending more in the
try find it harder, so impact. It’s going into work – but peo- achieve an appropriate level, prompt- future if the economy weakens. He
ing a sharp slide in the currency had not felt bound by fiscal austerity
maybe they to be a ple are working against the dollar. when the cabinet last month agreed
have been temporary from In his first press conference as on a budget for 2010/11, he said.
finance minister, Naoto Kan also sig- Kan saved his most direct remarks
more thing, not home so nalled he would maintain pressure on for the foreign exchange market, call-
badly too long.” deals go the central bank to do more to lift the ing for a weaker yen and stirring spec-
frail economy, which the government ulation the government may be more
hurt.” through” fears could slip back into recession as inclined to stem a sharp yen rise.
12 News CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010

Bus firms facing investigation GM says death of Saab


The OFT found that a small num- Ministers said it would bring bet-
is a foregone conclusion

TRANSPORT
ber of large companies were running ter services and lower fares, but crit-
BY PHILIP WALLER most local bus services. ics say companies have axed rural,
BRITAIN’S big five bus firms are fac- In particular, it highlighted the evening and weekend services and He said none of the potential bid-


AUTOMOTIVE
ing a probe over concerns that limit- potential for market exploitation in targeted the most profitable routes. ders for Saab have come forward with
ed competition is driving up fares. areas dominated by a single company. Arriva said there was lively compe- GENERAL MOTORS joint chief execu- the financing needed to restructure
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is A OFT spokeswoman said the study tition between firms. “Our biggest tive Ed Whitacre said yesterday he is the money-losing automaker.
asking the Competition Commission found several issues that could pre- rival is the car,” a spokesman said. not hopeful a deal can be reached to “I think we’ve done everything
to investigate the industry after find- vent, restrict or distort competition. sell Saab and said the American car- humanly possible,” Whitacre said,
ing that a distorted market was caus- “One of the concerns we think the FAST FACTS | OFT BUS PROBE maker will start to wind-down the adding GM will start closing down
ing higher prices and poorer services. Competition Commission should Swedish brand. Saab plants later this week.
The probe is likely to hit firms such look at is the tendency for local areas ● At least £1.2bn of public money goes GM is dropping its Pontiac, Saturn The small Dutch luxury carmaker
as Arriva, FirstGroup, Stagecoach, Go- to become dominated by a single towards supporting local bus services each year. and Saab brands and selling Hummer Spyker Cars is among possible bidders
Ahead and National Express. operator,” she said. ● In a quarter of cases, there is just one bidder as it restructures to return to prof- for Saab, but analysts have said the
The investigation will not affect The Conservatives controversially when local authorities put taxpayer-funded bus itability after emerging from its US question of how to fund an acquisi-
London buses, where Transport for privatised and de-regulated the UK’s services out to tender, the watchdog found. government-funded bankruptcy in tion of the brand is a major hurdle to
London sets fares and routes. bus services outside London in 1986. July. a deal.

Microsoft
Car sales to unveils new
fall as scrap tablet PC
scheme ends


TECHNOLOGY
MICROSOFT chief executive Steve
Ballmer unveiled a new Hewlett-
Packard tablet computer yesterday,
beating Apple’s hotly anticipated
However, there is now concern in move into the market.

AUTOMOTIVE
the industry that sales will retreat But analysts were sceptical that
BY ROGER BAIRD
once the scrappage scheme comes to Microsoft and HP could generate as
SALES of new cars in the UK reached an end in February. much consumer excitement as
almost two million last year, which The SMMT estimates that 2010 Apple’s new device, widely expected
was the lowest level since 1995, the sales will fall back to below 1.8m. to be unveiled on 27 January, though
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Everitt said: “Another tough year the company has not said anything
Traders (SMMT) said yesterday. awaits the UK motor industry in 2010, about it publicly.
Full-year sales fell 6.4 per cent with new car registrations expected Ballmer showed off the new device
from 2008’s total to 1,994,999 vehi- to be below 2009 levels and only limit- at the end of his keynote speech at
cles, despite the boost provided by ed recovery in the van and heavy com- the CES technology show in Las
the government’s £2,000 scrappage Vegas.
trade in scheme on cars over ten SMMT chief executive “This great little PC -- which will be
years old introduced last May. Paul Everitt said he available later this year -- I think
The scrappage scheme has expects 2010 to be many customers are going to be very
accounted for more than a fifth of “another tough year” excited about,” said Ballmer, using
all new car registrations, the SMMT ANALYSIS l UK car sales finger touches to flip through a book
said. for the industry on the screen using Amazon.com’s
In the first six months of the year, Kindle software.
new car sales fell by 25.9 per cent. In mercial vehicle markets.” “Everyone's fired up about this
the second half of the year, they rose Howard Archer, economist at IHS type of device,” said Kim Caughey,
by 21 per cent. Global Insight, also thinks this year senior analyst at fund manager Fort
The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling will be a tough one for the car indus- Pitt Capital Group. Microsoft has “a
model of the year, followed by the try. lot of the pieces in place” to make
Ford Focus. He added: “The upside for con- such a device work, she said, but it’s
SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt sumer spending is likely to be limited not clear that it can claim significant
said sales for 2009 were “significantly for some time to come by high and market share.
above early expectations”. still rising unemployment, low earn- “How do you make them usable
New registrations in December ings growth, and consumers’ and at a price point people will pay,
rose by 38.9 per cent, the sixth consec- need/desire to improve their balance which I suggest is sub-$500?” asked
utive monthly rise, helped by con- sheets in the face of high debt levels Source: Society of Motor Caughey.
Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
sumers looking to beat the VAT and a still worrying economic situa- Ballmer did not detail pricing or
increase, the SMMT said. tion.” Analysts said 2010 would be tough for car firms Picture: REUTERS when the device will hit stores.

NEWS | IN BRIEF
Costain cheers as order
book hits £2.6bn mark
Hunt for Chinese ponzi schemer the Obama administration's best chance compared with 44 listings that raised
Police in Canada have issued an arrest yet to prove it is serious about getting €1.37bn in the third quarter, according to
warrant for the self-proclaimed "Chinese tougher on mergers. the IPO Watch Europe survey from busi-
Warren Buffett" accused of mastermind- ness services group
ing a million-dollar Ponzi scheme. Horizon recruits ex-Goldman man PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Weizhen Tang, 51, of Toronto, is alleged US private investment firm Horizon Asset
to have defrauded more than 100 victims Management yesterday named former Music sales hit by piracy Utilities.

CONSTRUCTION
of nearly £19m through an online trading Goldman Sachs partner Douglas Kramer Album sales in the UK fell for the fifth It was preferred bidder on projects
scheme. He is currently thought to be in as chief executive. The move is part of year in a row in 2009, highlighting the CONSTRUCTION group Costain is cel- worth more than £400m and had
Hong Kong. the New York firm’s strategy to lure threat posed to record labels by online ebrating a 30 per cent rise in forward more than £100m in cash.
money from institutional investors to add pirates and video games, industry figures orders to £2.6bn thanks to transport, Costain said final quarter trading
Delay for Ticketmaster merger to its existing client base of high-net- showed.  Sales fell 3.5 per cent to 128.9m utility and local authority work. and in 2009 as a whole met hopes.
The US Justice Department wants to see worth individuals. in 2009, according to  figures from the Costain said 2010 prospects were Chief executive Andrew Wyllie said
more concessions before deciding BPI music industry group. uncertain, but its order book includ- it expected customers to continue
whether to approve the merger of ticket- European flotations start to rise ed more than £850m of work this major investment schemes despite
ing giant Ticketmaster and Live Nation, The number of company flotations in Ireland confident of bad bank plan year, better than at this time last year. tough economic conditions.
the world's largest concert promoter, Europe rose significantly in the final quar- Ireland is confident of European Union The group is winning utility, “We have a significantly increased
according to sources. If no agreement is ter of 2009, a study shows. There were (EU) approval for its "bad bank" scheme nuclear, road and waste deals from order book, a strong cash position
reached, a team of lawyers is ready 61 initial public offerings (IPOs) worth by February, resulting in a slight delay to the likes of the Highways Agency and and an ongoing rigorous manage-
oppose the music industry deal, seen as €4.99bn in the last quarter of the year, its launch, officials said yesterday. water firms Severn Trent and United ment of costs,” he said.
CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010 News 13

Forget Microsoft, it’s all about Google vs Apple


firm tried to thwart Google in the himself from the board- The web giant is also hoping that thinks that advertising on the mobile
noughties, it was trounced. room; there were simply the phone will help establish the phone is an untapped goldmine, and
It was a defeat that Microsoft is too many areas where Google brand as the first port-of-call that its huge influence in the mobile
unlikely to recover from. The next ten the pair were competing. for smartphone users, allowing it to apps space is the perfect platform to
years will be dominated by a battle Google’s biggest threat dominate a potentially lucrative exploit it.
between Google and Apple, erstwhile to Apple so far is its smart- mobile advertising market. Analysts are obsessed with which
friends that are on course to become phone, the Nexus One, Apple is responding to Google’s stock will outperform the other in the
bitter foes. which was launched with offensive with a counterattack, and near future, especially as both have
Until recently, the businesses of much fanfare earlier this has started pitching its tents on similar market caps of around $190bn.
TECHNOLOGY FILE Apple and Google have been largely week. The unveiling of the ground previously occupied by its But it’s probably worth picking both,
DAVID CROW complementary. But when Google
launched its Chrome web browser and
device mightn’t have generat-
ed the same amount of hype
new rival. Earlier this week it
spent $250m (£157m) on Quattro
as the increased rivalry is sure to spur
them on. As Microsoft has proved, too
operating system, which competes as a new iPod or iPhone, but it Wireless, a mobile advertising long without a credible competitor

I
N recent decades, the technology with Apple’s Safari and Mac OS X, as came close. network that competes with can leave you unprepared for the fight
sector has been defined by a clash well as its Android mobile phone soft- Early indications suggest AdMob, which was in turn when it does come along.
of titans. In the 1980s Microsoft ware, it was clear the friendship would that the Nexus (pictured) is the bought by Google for $750m at The real losers will be the likes of
took on Apple and ended up wip- soon end. most serious contender to the the end of last year. Nokia, Yahoo and Microsoft, has-beens
ing the floor with it, a feat it repeated Last August, Google boss Eric iPhone yet, especially as it will work Quattro is hardly a massive acquisi- from a decade past whose demise will
with IBM in the 1990s. But Bill Gates Schmidt quit as an Apple director seamlessly with Google’s suite of excel- tion, but it is notable because it is such be a sideshow to the main event:
couldn’t make it a hat trick; when the because he had to keep on excusing lent mobile applications. a huge departure for Apple. It too Google vs Apple. david.crow@cityam.com

Brown lays BEST OF THE BROKERS


ANALYSIS l Sage Group
p

235
229.60
7 Jan
ANALYSIS l Autonomy
p
1,600
1,592.00
7 Jan
ANALYSIS l JD Sports
650
p 615.00
7 Jan

out new plan


600
230 1,500
550
225
1,400 500
220

for growth
215 450
1,300
210 40 0
12 Oct 30 Oct 19 Nov 9 Dec 31 Dec 12 Oct 30 Oct 19 Nov 9 Dec 31 Dec 12 Oct 30 Oct 19 Nov 9 Dec 31 Dec

SAGE AUTONOMY JD SPORTS


UBS has switched its rating to “buy” from Killik & Co reiterates its “buy” rating citing Singer says “buy” JD Sports citing the
“netural”, pointing out it is trading at a 23 Autonomy’s recent inline trading update, “strong performance” revealed in yester-

POLITICS per cent discount to its FTSE peer group. It and yesterday’s license agreement with day’s trading update. It is encouraged by
public services if the economy
BY HARRY BANKS rebounds faster than expected, lead- believes the current share price ignores the BAE Systems. It says the license win elimi- the growth seen in Fashion, and expects
THE Labour government’s efforts to ing to talk of a split with chancellor sustainability of Sage’s 2009 cost savings nates recent concern over a lack of major this to become one of the main growth
engineer an economic recovery are Alistair Darling who wants to try to programme. Anticipates a “solid” trading contract wins, and that long term drivers for the group. “There is consider-
compatible with tackling the record cut debt quicker if growth is surpris-
budget deficit, British Prime Minister ingly strong. update later this month, and says “patient” prospects look good. “A market leader with able scope for profits to improve if they
Gordon Brown said yesterday. The Conservatives, tipped to win an buyers will be rewarded. strong growth potential,” it adds. continue to enhance the product,” it says.
With the country emerging from election due by June, want to slash
its worst recession in decades, policy- the deficit faster than Labour, fearing
makers are trying to support the a downgrade to Britain’s top credit
To appear in Best of the Brokers email your research to notes@cityam.com
recovery while also reassuring scepti- rating.

£50m payday for Paulson Europe team


cal financial markets that plans to Government officials have damp-
halve the deficit over four years are ened down talk of a big difference in
watertight. policy approach between Brown and
Labour politicians argue that get- Darling but many economists doubt
ting the economy going again after a the sincerity of Labour’s deficit
year and a half of recession is the best reduction plans. “You could have
way to bring down borrowing in the slightly better growth and mechani- Paulson, received £28.6m. The three was announced.

HEDGE FUNDS
long run, but critics say failing to deal cally that makes the public finances London-based partners – Nikolai It is thought Paulson’s success con-
with the debt quickly will drive up better, but I think they are missing PAULSON Europe, the UK arm of the Petchenikov, Harry St John Cooper tinued into 2009 as he effectively
interest rates. the point ... it’s going to take more hedge fund that made £400m betting and Mina Gerowin – shared the called the bottom of the market by
“Our strategy for growth is not at than good growth to reverse,” said against British banks during the remaining £22.2m between them. switching into long positions in state-
the expense of our deficit reduction Alan Clarke, an economist at BNP financial crisis, boosted its revenues In 2008, US parent Paulson & Co backed banks.
plan,” Brown said in a speech setting Paribas. by 42 per cent last year. netted paper gains of £394m after it The latest payout is an increase on
out government plans to rebuild the Brown was speaking at his first Four directors shared more than shorted stock in Barclays, Lloyds, the £37m pot shared by the four part-
economy after the deepest recession major public appearance since two £50m for the 12 months to March as HBOS and RBS. The firm was allowed ners in 2007/8. It comes as the boards
in more than 50 years. former cabinet ministers called for a profits soared, according to the latest to hold its positions throughout the of state-backed institutions, notably
Brown said last weekend there ballot on his leadership before a gen- accounts. The highest-paid director, ban on short-selling because it put RBS, struggle to negotiate bonus
might be scope to boost support for eral election due by June. thought to be billionaire owner John them in place before the moratorium packages with the government.

CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS Edited by Victoria Bates

Threadneedle with particular focus on the reserve named Douglas Kramer, a former part-
Rathbone Brothers The asset manager has appointed sectors of the energy industry. ner at Goldman Sachs, as its new chief
The fund management group has appointed Simon Brazier, Richard Colwell and Prior to that, she was a vice presi- executive.
Mike Webb as chief executive of its unit trust James Thorne to its UK equity team. dent at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Kramer, who left New York-based
business, Rathbone Unit Trust Management. Brazier joins from Schroders as co- Lynch and also worked at the World private equity firm Quadrangle Capital
Webb has over 25 years of experience in the head of UK equities; Colwell joins the Bank Moscow Resident Mission. Partners last year, will join former
retail funds world and joins from Hermes Fund UK equity income team from Aviva; Goldman colleague Hugh Ross, who
Managers, where he was head of business while Thorne will be a fund manager on Worldwide Natural Resources was hired as Horizon’s chief operating
development. He has also previously held roles the UK smaller companies team and Philip Rand has joined the natural officer in April 2009.
as chief executive of Invesco Perpetual and was previously at Barings. resources investment company as non-
managing director of the retail division of GT executive chairman. Santander
Global Asset Management. First Reserve Corporation Rand, the former chief executive and Barrie Kilfeather is to join Santander’s
The energy industry investment firm chief financial officer of Aim-listed oil corporate banking division as a director
Investments, where he was most has promoted Anastasia Deulina to the and gas explorer Equator Exploration, is for trade finance, covering Anglia,
SWIP recently executive director for distribu- position of director. also currently a director of Victoria Oil Midlands, the South West and Wales.
Scottish Widows Investment tion and client services. Deulina originally joined the firm in and Gas. Kilfeather joins from RBS and has 30
Partnership has hired Mark Connolly as In his new role, he will report directly 2007, and her responsibilities range years of banking experience, mainly in
its new director of fixed income. to Dean Buckley, managing director of from deal origination and structuring to Horizon Asset Management providing trade financing solutions to
Connolly joins from Standard Life SWIP. due diligence, execution and monitoring, The US private investment firm has businesses.

To appear in CITYMOVES please email your career updates and pictures to citymoves@cityam.com
Markets&Investment
14 CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010

LONDON’S TOP 250 Trade these shares from £1.50 with Interactive Investor - www.iii.co.uk
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 Company Name Closing Price Price Change 52wk High 52wk low
(p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) (p)
3i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288.40* +3.80 314.80 108.66 Croda Intl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .835.00 +11.00 843.50 451.50 Kazakhmys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1463.00 +27.00 1481.00 187.30 Sainsbury(J) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .328.20* +10.20 373.00 284.50
3i Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . .103.40 +0.40 105.80 76.50 CSR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .441.70 +3.30 524.00 152.00 Kesa Electricals . . . . . . . . . . . . .145.90 –5.00 162.00 83.50 Schroders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1324.00 +14.00 1361.00 628.00
A.B. Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .838.50* +18.50 870.50 603.00 Daily Mail ‘A’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .423.50* +0.60 467.30 205.75 Kingfisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229.80 –0.20 249.10 115.00 Schroders N/V. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1062.00 +6.00 1094.00 533.50
Aberdeen Asset Man . . . . . . . . . .138.60* –0.30 155.60 113.00 Dana Petroleum . . . . . . . . . . . .1279.00 +45.00 1549.00 807.00 Ladbrokes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140.70 –3.20 213.49 114.60 Scot. & Sthrn Energy. . . . . . . . .1159.00 –17.00 1254.00 357.50
Admiral. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1154.00 –9.00 1190.00 793.50 Davis Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .406.00 +3.90 438.00 213.75 Lancashire Hldgs . . . . . . . . . . . .448.00* –9.00 540.00 411.00 Scottish Inv Tst . . . . . . . . . . . . . .461.50 +0.50 464.80 324.75
Aegis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117.30 –0.90 122.90 66.75 De La Rue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .995.50* +2.00 1080.00 808.50 Land Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .663.50* +1.50 1051.00 323.25
Aggreko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .940.50 +8.00 946.50 342.00 Debenhams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78.00 –0.45 99.50 24.25 Legal & General . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81.80 +1.70 94.40 20.90 Scottish Mortgage. . . . . . . . . . . .553.00 +3.00 556.50 284.00
Alliance Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .333.80* –1.30 336.50 233.00 Derwent London . . . . . . . . . . . .1315.00 –5.00 1418.00 445.50 Liberty International . . . . . . . . . .501.00 –5.50 580.00 278.00 SEGRO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .343.50 +0.10 403.10 250.00
AMEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .819.00 +5.50 879.50 484.25 Dexion Absolute . . . . . . . . . . . . .141.00 +1.40 141.00 82.00 Lloyds Banking Gp . . . . . . . . . . . .56.93 +2.34 96.02 21.97 Serco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .518.50 –9.00 546.50 341.50
Amlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .362.50 –7.60 400.00 291.00 Diageo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1067.00 +7.00 1098.00 727.00 Logica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122.20 +3.80 136.80 59.25 Severn Trent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1072.00* –11.00 1235.00 921.00
Anglo American . . . . . . . . . . . .2844.00 –19.50 2874.00 906.00 Dimension Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78.00 +1.10 82.80 32.75 London Stock Exchange . . . . . . .723.50 +7.00 949.50 355.75 Shaftesbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .393.90 +6.90 426.50 184.32
Antofagasta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1023.00 –15.00 1045.00 371.00 Drax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .435.10 –3.20 631.50 393.75 Lonmin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2101.00 +11.00 2110.00 729.97 Shire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1232.00 +4.00 1244.00 764.00
Aquarius Platinum . . . . . . . . . . .433.70 –12.00 445.70 128.85 DSG Intl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36.72 –0.28 39.75 13.10 Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .327.40 +6.40 373.60 150.40 SIG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122.60 +3.20 230.00 82.25
ARM Holdings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195.70 +6.30 197.10 77.50 Dunelm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400.00 –6.00 438.40 137.50 Marks & Spencer. . . . . . . . . . . . .371.00* –6.40 412.70 214.75 Smith & Nephew . . . . . . . . . . . . .631.50 +0.50 654.50 412.00
Arriva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .505.00 –1.50 641.00 361.00 Easyjet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354.60 –8.80 416.80 246.50 Meggitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .276.50 –2.40 281.40 110.50 Smiths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1002.00 –20.00 1073.00 646.50
Ashmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .270.00 –3.80 311.20 92.75 Edinburgh Inv Tst . . . . . . . . . . . .379.70 –2.40 383.30 283.75 Melrose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186.00 –0.60 198.20 58.25 SOCO Intl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1399.00 +12.00 1500.00 885.50
Astrazeneca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2910.50 +35.50 2966.00 2126.00 Electrocomponents . . . . . . . . . . .166.80* +1.90 176.00 113.00 Mercantile IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .893.50* +9.50 964.00 515.50 Spectris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .760.00 –2.50 772.50 376.75
Atkins(Ws) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .636.50* +4.50 731.50 415.00 Eurasian Nat Res . . . . . . . . . . . .983.00 +4.00 988.50 295.00 Michael Page Intl. . . . . . . . . . . . .421.90 +11.60 423.50 171.25
Autonomy Corp . . . . . . . . . . . .1592.00 +32.00 1687.00 924.00 Experian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .601.00* –4.00 639.00 371.75 Micro Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .481.30* –0.70 491.40 257.50 Spirax-Sarco Eng . . . . . . . . . . .1235.00 –15.00 1317.00 741.00
Aveva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100.00* +24.00 1106.00 460.00 F&C Comm Prop . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96.80 +0.85 96.80 73.50 Millen & Copthorne . . . . . . . . . . .378.30 +5.30 411.90 165.50 Spirent Comms . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108.00 +1.30 108.90 32.00
Aviva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .403.00 –6.80 474.00 160.10 Ferrexpo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230.10 +3.80 230.10 32.75 Misys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219.50 — 238.80 98.00 SSL Intl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .775.00 –1.00 785.00 422.75
Babcock International . . . . . . . . .599.00* — 660.50 381.25 Fidelity European . . . . . . . . . . .1156.00 –4.00 1182.00 753.00 Mitchells & Butlers . . . . . . . . . . .252.30 +2.60 310.60 150.00 St James’s Place . . . . . . . . . . . . .253.50 –5.30 296.90 142.75
BAE Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .371.50 +0.10 416.00 294.20 FirstGroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .409.30* –1.80 448.80 192.90 MITIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240.90* +5.70 281.70 170.25 Stagecoach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178.10 –0.90 180.00 102.75
Balfour Beatty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .280.00 +5.00 346.18 243.40 Foreign & Col Inv Tst. . . . . . . . . .280.10 +1.10 280.40 179.25 Mondi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .361.60 +4.20 364.50 118.25 Standard Chartered . . . . . . . . . .1604.50 –15.00 1696.00 554.00
Barclays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .315.50 +8.50 390.00 47.30 Fresnillo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .853.00 +13.50 935.00 217.75 Monks Inv Tst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .303.00* +0.70 303.00 190.00 Standard Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210.50 –5.50 237.00 123.50
Barratt Development . . . . . . . . . .138.40 +6.40 193.31 40.82 G4S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266.90 –1.00 269.40 171.90 Morrison Wm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .282.20 +5.80 298.40 233.50 Talvivaara Mining . . . . . . . . . . . .391.30 –3.00 428.00 124.00
BBA Aviation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174.90 +2.60 184.20 58.25 Genesis Emerging Mkts Fd . . . . .450.00 — 452.40 370.00 Mothercare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .678.50* –6.50 694.00 356.00 Tate & Lyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .418.70* –28.80 481.40 225.75
Bellway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .814.00* +22.50 927.50 515.00 GKN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124.30 +0.30 131.30 36.45 Murray Intl Tst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .801.00* +19.00 802.00 512.00 Taylor Wimpey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41.51 +1.92 54.90 12.25
Berkeley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .860.50 +25.00 1071.00 716.50 GlaxoSmithKline . . . . . . . . . . . .1293.50* –2.00 1347.00 982.00 National Express. . . . . . . . . . . . .194.00 –2.30 294.83 78.45 Telecity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .383.50 +3.50 407.90 155.00
BG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1191.50 +28.50 1198.50 836.50 Go-Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1325.00 –24.00 1577.00 845.00 National Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .652.50* –15.00 714.50 511.00 Templeton Emrg Mkts . . . . . . . . .555.00 –2.00 557.00 235.00
BHP Billiton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2091.00 –9.00 2104.00 1025.00 Grainger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137.90* –0.60 194.62 39.93 Next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2059.00 –42.00 2139.00 1039.00
BlackRock Mining . . . . . . . . . . . .580.00 –5.00 585.00 233.00 Great Portland Estates . . . . . . . .291.60 –2.30 301.00 127.11 Northumbrian Water . . . . . . . . . .270.80* –1.80 281.90 203.00 Tesco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412.00 –0.05 437.05 301.40
BlueBay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .327.60 +2.60 393.00 63.00 Greene King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .427.70* +6.70 547.45 279.35 Old Mutual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112.90 –0.90 122.30 30.50 Thomas Cook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240.20 +0.40 303.50 165.40
Booker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46.01 +0.22 49.50 20.50 Halfords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411.50* –3.70 442.10 216.75 Pace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203.40 –6.60 243.80 39.50 Tomkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206.40 +0.70 207.20 99.50
Bovis Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .434.80 +17.60 571.00 341.75 Halma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247.00* –0.90 256.00 140.75 Partygaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .271.00 –5.00 298.50 157.25 Travis Perkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .849.00 +20.50 888.00 198.63
BP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .623.30 +3.90 626.20 400.00 Hammerson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400.00 –7.20 624.50 212.25 Pearson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .869.50 –3.50 897.50 566.50 TUI Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262.20 +0.60 294.75 208.25
Brit Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196.20 –5.50 207.90 185.20 Hargreaves Lansdown . . . . . . . .308.00 –4.00 314.30 158.50 Pennon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .537.00 –1.50 566.50 372.00 Tullett Prebon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .295.40 +2.10 436.20 105.25
British Airways . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198.70 –1.20 243.30 111.30 Hays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108.60 –0.90 114.00 67.25 Persimmon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500.00 +31.00 534.50 247.25 Tullow Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1338.00 +6.00 1346.00 570.50
British Amer. Tob . . . . . . . . . . .2044.50 +12.50 2055.50 1481.00 Henderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131.10 +0.60 142.10 50.00 Petrofac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .995.00 –10.00 1078.00 320.75 UK Commercial Prop. . . . . . . . . . .81.20 +2.40 81.50 50.50
British Empire Tst . . . . . . . . . . . .427.00* +1.80 451.80 304.00 Heritage Oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .495.30 +22.80 630.00 161.00 Petropavlovsk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1171.00 +13.00 1343.00 345.00 Ultra Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . .1395.00 –4.00 1410.00 1010.00
British Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .458.70 +0.80 535.26 295.00 Hikma Pharma . . . . . . . . . . . . . .516.00 +2.00 530.00 308.50 Premier Farnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174.50 +1.20 180.90 112.50 Unilever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1931.00 –24.00 2024.00 1226.00
Britvic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .403.00* –2.40 411.30 204.25 Hiscox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .320.70 –4.00 364.30 272.50 Premier Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36.58 +0.26 47.00 24.00 United Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .489.10* –7.40 620.50 429.00
Brown(N.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .259.50* –3.80 275.80 183.75 Hochschild Mining . . . . . . . . . . .353.80 +4.40 366.40 101.00 Premier Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1255.00 +36.00 1431.00 512.78 Utd Business Media . . . . . . . . . .467.00 –3.00 520.50 364.75
BSkyB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .568.50 –2.00 593.00 398.25 Home Retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .280.20* –3.30 336.50 180.40 Provident Financial . . . . . . . . . . .935.00 +1.00 986.00 736.00
BT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142.80* –1.80 151.00 70.20 Homeserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1729.00 +19.00 1752.00 849.50 Prudential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .628.50 –17.00 665.00 195.40 Vedanta Resources . . . . . . . . . .2835.00* +5.00 2865.00 492.75
Bunzl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .663.00 +3.00 679.50 473.00 HSBC Hldgs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .736.50* –3.90 766.80 270.37 PZ Cussons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262.00 +0.90 274.60 144.25 Victrex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .831.50 +4.00 840.50 400.75
Burberry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600.00* +3.50 617.00 194.25 Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .593.50 +7.00 615.50 367.00 Qinetiq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166.00 –1.00 179.10 123.00 Vodafone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138.80* –3.70 146.60 111.20
Cable & Wireless. . . . . . . . . . . . .147.10* +0.40 170.00 125.10 ICAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .445.20* +9.10 478.30 199.20 Randgold Resources. . . . . . . . .5270.00 –55.00 5450.00 2425.00 VT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .520.50* –4.50 606.00 412.75
Cadbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .776.50 +4.50 819.50 484.25 IG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .384.00 +2.00 392.30 159.25 Reckitt Benckiser . . . . . . . . . . .3270.00 +10.00 3390.00 2403.00 Weir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .805.50 +29.50 814.50 302.00
Cairn Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .355.20 +8.70 358.90 319.50 Imagination Tech Gp . . . . . . . . . .266.10 +12.10 270.00 55.50 Reed Elsevier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .502.50 –5.50 570.00 403.75 Wetherspoon(J.D.) . . . . . . . . . . .441.00 +11.00 551.00 270.00
Caledonia Invs . . . . . . . . . . . . .1644.00* +15.00 1759.00 1081.00 IMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .560.50 +8.50 564.00 214.00 Regus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92.00 –0.20 120.50 43.00 WH Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .493.00* –2.90 551.00 306.75
Capita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .730.00 –12.00 791.00 608.00 Imperial Tobacco. . . . . . . . . . . .1950.00 +15.00 1988.00 1412.00 Rentokil Initial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115.10 +0.10 119.70 37.25 Whitbread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1396.00 +1.00 1425.00 686.50
Carillion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .306.50 +0.60 319.60 192.00 Inchcape. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28.90 –1.02 36.74 5.82 Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89.50 +0.25 112.00 77.45 William Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188.20 –4.30 243.25 141.04
Carnival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2150.00 –11.00 2218.00 1224.00 Informa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .323.60 +3.10 339.10 216.00 Rexam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285.50 +0.10 323.64 188.89 Witan Inv Tst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .450.50 +1.00 451.00 276.50
Carpetright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .947.00 –18.50 999.00 346.00 Inmarsat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .686.50 –15.00 717.50 378.25 Rightmove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .517.00 +9.50 610.50 156.25 Wolseley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1410.00 +49.00 1570.00 907.03
Carphone Warehouse . . . . . . . . .195.70* +7.10 216.10 88.25 Intercontl Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . .903.50 +5.00 926.50 433.75 Rio Tinto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3637.50 +4.00 3667.00 1111.93
Catlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .336.00 –7.00 401.79 270.00 Intermediate Capital . . . . . . . . . .295.80 +2.60 332.00 79.71 RIT Capital Partners . . . . . . . . .1027.00 –11.00 1052.00 715.00 Wood Group (John). . . . . . . . . . .330.30 +5.80 354.90 175.75
Centrica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274.80 –4.10 288.75 212.50 Intertek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1237.00 –13.00 1368.00 753.50 Rolls Royce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .499.10 –4.90 505.50 252.50 WPP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .615.50 +4.00 620.00 349.75
Charter Intl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .778.50 +0.50 782.00 305.75 Intl Personal Fin . . . . . . . . . . . . .232.40 +12.60 239.80 58.25 Rotork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1229.00 +11.00 1267.00 667.50 Xstrata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1218.50 –10.50 1247.00 288.75
Chemring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2980.00 +14.00 2993.00 1794.00 Intl Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311.20 –4.20 318.40 190.60 Royal Bank Of Scot . . . . . . . . . . . .35.87 –0.81 58.25 10.00 Yell Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38.79 –0.81 86.00 11.75
Close Bros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 711.00 +4.50 806.50 384.25 Invensys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .316.60 +5.80 320.90 136.00 Royal Dutch Shell A . . . . . . . . .1926.50 –4.00 1951.50 1362.00 LONDON TOP 250 BY MARKET CAPITALISATION
Cobham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .252.00 +1.10 254.10 163.90 Investec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .460.10 +9.50 487.20 164.75 Royal Dutch Shell B . . . . . . . . .1855.00 –4.00 1897.00 1315.00
COLT Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142.60 +0.80 144.20 72.25 ITV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57.35 +0.55 59.65 16.50 RSA Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126.70 +0.70 150.20 113.10 * Ex-Dividend † Suspended
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .456.50 –7.30 470.10 275.00 Jardine Lloyd Thompson. . . . . . .482.30 –2.70 514.00 387.75 SABMiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1841.00 +14.00 1858.00 906.00
Cookson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463.00 +0.60 481.40 202.75 Johnson Matthey . . . . . . . . . . .1602.00* –4.00 1641.00 856.50 Sage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229.60 +3.60 239.20 158.90 www.interactivedata.com

Strong energy stocks fail to Wall St inches up


offset poor day for Vodafone ahead of jobs data
the previous session, with sentiment Among pharmaceutical stocks, 2.1 per cent after Credit Suisse
THELONDON helped by strong figures from J
Sainsbury.
AstraZeneca rose 1.2 per cent after
the firm settled a US patent row over THENEW YORK upgraded Bank of America to “outper-
form.” The stock, a Dow component,

REPORT The supermarket group delivered a


better-than-expected third-quarter
trading update, helping its shares
Nexium with Israel’s
Pharmaceuticals, protecting the
Teva

Anglo-Swedish drugmaker’s top-sell-


REPORT climbed 3.3 per cent to $16.93, while
the KBW Banks index shot up 4.1 per
cent.
climb 3.2 per cent. ing heartburn drug from immediate The Dow Jones industrial average

B T
RITAIN’S top share index “Sainsbury’s is doing well, and generic competition. Peer Shire rose HE DOW and the S&P 500 rose gained 33.18 points, or 0.31 per cent,
inched lower by the close yester- that's helped maintain positive senti- 0.3 per cent. yesterday after Bank of America to end at 10,606.86. The Standard &
day, as weakness in heavy- ment, but all eyes are on payrolls Tobacco companies were higher, and General Electric rallied on Poor’s 500 Index added 4.55 points, or
weight Vodafone offset modest today,” said James Hughes, strategist with British American Tobacco up 0.6 positive broker comments, but 0.40 per cent, to 1,141.69. But the
gains from energy stocks. at CMC Markets. per cent, buoyed by a JPMorgan target investors were cautious a day before Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 1.04
Investors shrugged off a decision The keenly awaited US non-farm price hike, and an upgrade to "buy" the release of key monthly non-farm points, or 0.05 per cent, to 2,300.05.
from the Bank of England which left payrolls data, due at 1.30pm today, is from Nomura on Wednesday. payrolls data. The CBOE Volatility Index hit a new
interest rates on hold at 0.5 per cent forecast to show a loss of 8,000 jobs in Imperial Tobacco also put on 0.8 per US stocks have rallied over the past 16-month intraday low at 18.70,
and kept the scale of its asset pur- December after a surprisingly small cent. month as investors have become before paring back around the clos-
chase programme unchanged at total of 11,000 job losses in November. Drinks firms were also in demand, more optimistic about the economy. ing bell at about 18.98, a drop of 1 per
£200bn. Energy stocks were the biggest with Diageo and SABMiller up 0.6 Job growth would bolster that view cent. The move down may suggest a
The FTSE 100 index ended down prop for the index, supported as and 0.7 per cent. while a weak report could disappoint. lack of bearish hedging bets ahead of
3.32 points, or 0.1 per cent, at crude stayed close to $83 per barrel. Plumbing supplies group Wolseley “I don’t think there is going to be a today’s jobs report. The index closed
5,526.72, retreating slightly after clos- BG Group, BP Royal Dutch Shell and added 3.6 per cent, extending number that is too good,” said Jack at 19.06, down 0.5 per cent.
ing at a fresh 16-month high on Tullow Oil gained between 0.5 and Wednesday's advance. Ablin, chief investment officer at GE shares rose 5.2 per cent to
Wednesday. 2.5 per cent. Harris Private Bank. “Investors will be $16.25 after JP Morgan raised its price
Vodafone was the heaviest drag on But miners were under pressure, ANALYSIS l FTSE100 willing to look past the potential for target on the stock to $22 from $20,
the blue-chip index, off 2.2 per cent, retreating after gains on Wednesday, 5,600 5,526.72 higher interest rates.” saying investors underappreciate
with downbeat comments from its with copper prices falling back after 7 Jan But Ablin said investors may be set- potential earnings recovery at the GE
US mobiles business partner Verizon touching a 16-month peak as 5,500 ting themselves up for a fall by taking Capital finance unit.
Communications one factor hitting investors fretted over possible tighter 5,400 too rosy a view of today’s number. A majority of retailers reported bet-
the mobile phone giant. monetary policy in China, the world's Yesterday’s small move higher ter-than-expected December sales
Verizon chief executive Ivan top metals consumer. 5,300 pushed the Dow industrials and the sending the S&P retail index up 0.8
Seidenberg said on Wednesday Xstrata, Antofagasta, Anglo 5,200
S&P 500 to new 15-month highs, con- per cent.
Verizon’s profit fell more than ana- American and BHP Billiton dropped tinuing the equity market’s slow Still, Abercrombie & Fitch sank 9.8
lysts expected in 2009. 0.4 to 1.5 per cent. 5,100 upward trend of recent weeks. per cent to $32.67 after December
But the blue-chip index clung close Defensive stocks gained, helping to 5,000 The top performer among S&P sec- sales fell 19 per cent, and American
to its high since September 2008 set limit the FTSE 100’s losses. 2 Oct 30 Oct 19 Nov 9 Dec 31 Dec tors was the financials, which gained Eagle Outfitters slid 3.1 per cent.
Lifestyle THE JOY OF 15
PALM SPRINGS
| Reviews IN MONDAY’S
TRAVEL SECTION

Love triumphs on the road to hell


What has to be the bleakest
road movie ever sets a deeply
gloomy tone for the new year
Alec Baldwin and
Film Meryl Streep star
as divorcees having
THE ROAD an affair.
Cert: 18
hhhII
IT’S hard to imagine a less happy future
than the one conjured up by this adapta-
tion of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-
winning novel. In last month’s disaster
flick 2012, we had the ultimate
Hollywood apocalypse, in all its vapid, dig-
itally-created stupidity. Now we have the
serious, literary version of the end of his-
tory, as the final, bedraggled remnants of
humanity shuffle around a blasted land-
scape following some unnamed extinc-
tion event. The earth is on fire, the sky is
clogged, plant and animal life has ceased
to exist along with any form of civilisa-
tion, and survivors are reduced to canni-
balism. It’s not exactly full of jokes.
Amid all this devastation are Viggo
Mortensen’s wretched, nameless traveller
and his young son, played by newcomer offers. It is, at times, painfully moving – to but endearing architect. ach and a permanent tan. Turns out,
Kodi McPhee. Refusing to surrender to the the point where you start to wonder if your Streep’s character will speak to women though, young and beautiful women aren’t
feral, kill-or-be-killed existence of the rest, emotions aren’t being exploited as much of all ages because she is that terrifying a bundle of joy either and after an unex-
they alone seem still to be in possession of as your nightmares. figure so rarely dealt with in Hollywood: pected night of sex at their son’s gradua-
some kind of moral compass, and it Charlize Theron appears in flashback as an older single woman wondering if love tion in New York, Jane and Jake embark on
points south. Starving but for the odd sal- Mortensen’s wife, and Robert Duvall will ever come her way again. Younger an affair that does not have the outcome
vaged bit of tinned food or crunchy makes an eye-catching cameo as a grizzled, women will regard her example anxious- you might expect. After teetering on the
insect, they travel down America in the haunted fellow traveller. But the real star is ly, while older ladies will feel – at last – brink, the film decouples from the typical
desperate hope of finding deliverance. McCarthy and his brutal, bitter vision of represented positively on screen. romantic pattern, leaving us with some-
Director John Hillcoat, who made humanity’s downfall. Fans of his writing Indeed, Jane Adler is far from a total thing closer to reality – but still rosy
2005’s exceedingly tough Australian west- should be satisfied with this faithful ren- female pity case: she has three healthy, enough for Hollywood, naturally.
ern The Proposition, has certainly cap- dering; for the rest of us, it is possibly too happy children and she owns a successful Zoe Strimpel
tured the shattering bleakness of much misery to take. restaurant and bakery in Santa
McCarthy’s book. This is a film that looks Timothy Barber Barbara. There are lots of
astonishing, with epic, ruined landscapes food porn shots with her SIX OF THE BEST
and an atmosphere of unbearable loss IT’S COMPLICATED cooking and eating that
FILMS, MUSIC, GAMES
and futility. It must be the most horrific, Cert: 12a humorously echo
hopeless vision of our future ever com- Streep’s role in last
mitted to film. So why would you want to hhhhI year’s hit Julie and Julia. THEATRE – Red actor and father-to-be of Wood’s
watch it? And she’s really quite Alfred Molina stars as expres- baby, Aaron Johnson.
Well, at it’s core is the tender tale of LAST year, Emma Thomson and attractive – for any age. sionist painter Mark Rothko in
love between father and son, played with Dustin Hoffman tackled the inse- But all this doesn’t John Logan’s two-hander at the ART – Claude
awesome conviction by Mortensen and curities and perils of middle stop her feeling Donmar Warehouse. Monet
McPhee – Mortensen will get a lot of age romance in Last Chance glum about a Mayfair gallery Helly
attention come awards season. As the Harvey. Now it’s Meryl long-standing sex FILM – Tokyo Story Nahmad shows its not
man who will sacrifice anything for his Streep as mom-of-three drought while her Japan’s Yasujiro Ozu is thought by just publically-funded
son’s survival, even when death seems Jane Adler caught ex-husband has some to be cinema’s greatest direc- institutions that put
more humane, his nameless protagonist is between ex husband gone off and mar- tor, and his masterpiece is showing on great
motored by an instinct even more primal Jake (Alec Baldwin) ried a twenty- at the BFI and Curzon Mayfair Impressionist
than the savagery of those he’s escaping – and Adam (Steve something with a exhibitions.
that is the one kernel of hope the film Martin), her shy washboard stom- MUSICAL – Blood Brothers
Former Sporty Spice Melanie SHOW –
Chisholm has won critical acclaim The Pitmen
and brought new life to the West Painters
ALSO OUT THIS WEEKEND End’s longest-running musical. Lee Hall’s entertaining
story of 1930s miners
TIMOTHY BARBER FILM – Nowhere Boy who became darlings
Artist Sam Taylor Wood’s biopic of of the art world has
John Lennon’s early years of rock- returned for a second
’n’rolling, starring 19-year-old run at the National.

Chas Cole for CMP Entertainment presents


in association with Alan Wood

JUST 4 TONITE
FILM DVD MUSIC
SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK & ROLL Andy HAMLET Film of the RSC’s stage produc- NICK CAVE AND WARREN ELLIS Cave and PAUL
Serkis puts in a sterling performance in this
biopic of Blockhead-in-chief Ian Dury.
tion starring David “No longer Doctor Who”
Tennant.
Ellis provide a haunting soundtrack to this
week’s bleak, post-apocalypse film, The Road.
CARRACK
IN CONCERT
DAYBREAKERS Willem Dafoe and Ethan COLIN Entertaining Brit zombie flick that LAWRENCE ARABIA New Zealand’s indie
Hawke – no, come back – battle world-domi- garnered attention and acclaim last year, songwriter delivers an album of orchestral, WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY
nating vampires with crossbows. Okay, don’t. having been made for about £2.50. psychedelic pop, titled Chant Darling.
LONDON BARBICAN
020 7638 8891
IT MIGHT GET LOUD Documentary on the THE COVE Deeply (pun intended) moving ELVIS He would’ve been 75 today, hence a
www.carrack-uk.com
electric guitar, with axe-wielders Jimmy underwater eco-documentary about 75th anniversary collection of many of The
www.cmplive.com
Page, the Edge and Jack White. dolphins. King’s most celebrated hits.
16 Lifestyle | TV& Games CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010

BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL4 FIVE


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6pm BBC News
6.30pm BBC London News
6pm Eggheads
6.30pm Great British Railway
6pm London Tonight
6.30pm ITV News
6pm The Simpsons
6.30pm Hollyoaks
6pm Michaela’s Zoo Babies
6.25pm Live from Studio Five:
TV PICK
7pm A Question of Sport – The Journeys 7pm Emmerdale 7pm Channel 4 News Topical reports.
40th Anniversary 7pm Live Darts: BDO World 7.30pm Coronation Street 7.30pm CHOICE My Daughter 7.30pm Chris Barrie’s Massive
7.30pm The Impressions Show Championships: The two 8pm Countrywise Amy Speed: The history of aerial
with Culshaw and Stephenson; remaining quarter-finals at the 8.30pm Coronation Street 8pm River Cottage Spring combat; Five News Update
BBC News Regional News Lakeside Country Club. 9pm CHOICE Dancing on Ice Collection 8pm Knight Rider: The team
8pm CHOICE EastEnders 8.00pm Mastermind 10pm ITV News at Ten 9pm Celebrity Big Brother: Live searches for a murderer in its
8.30pm QI 8.30pm An Island Parish 10.30pm London News 10pm 8 Out of 10 Cats own ranks; Five News at 9
9pm Silent Witness 9pm History of Now – The 10.35pm FILM Something’s 10.35pm Celebrity Big Brother: 9pm FILM Murder at 1600:
10pm BBC News Story of the Noughties Gotta Give: Romantic comedy, Live Political thriller, starring MY DAUGHTER AMY
10.25pm Regional News 10pm Nurse Jackie starring Jack Nicholson and 11.05pm David Blaine: Vertigo Wesley Snipes. 1997. CHANNEL 4, 7.30PM
10.35pm The National Lottery 10.30pm Newsnight; Weather Mitch Winehouse discusses his daughter
EuroMillions Draw 10.45pm FILM
Diane Keaton. 2003. 12.05am 4Music: Mercury 11.10pm Police Interceptors:
11.05pm Three Men Go to 12.50am Ladette to Lady; ITV Prize Sessions Officers chase the drivers of a Amy’s superstardom, and explains how
Blades of Glory. Premiere. Comedy,
with Will Ferrell. 2007; Weatherview
Ireland News Headlines 12.25am 4Music: 4Play: Mumford & stolen BMW X5. the family deals with tabloid scrutiny
12.25am Sign Zone: School of 12.05am Darts: BDO World 1.45am FILM Anything Else: Sons 12.40am Celebrity Big Brother: 12.10am SuperCasino and issues surrounding addiction.
Saatchi 1.25am Sign Zone: School Championships Woody Allen’s romantic comedy, Live 3.50am Beach Volleyball 4am The FBI Files 4.55am Rough
of Saatchi 2.25am Sign Zone: Ugly 12.55am Darts Extra with Jason Biggs. 2003. 3.35am- 4.45am St Elsewhere 5.35am Sali Guide to Islands 5.10am Neighbours
Beauty 3.25am-6am BBC News 2.55am BBC News 5.30am ITV Nightscreen Mali 5.45am-6.10am The Hoobs 5.35am-6am Nick’s Quest

SKY SPORTS 1 World 5am Spirit of Yachting 9pm Criminal Minds 10pm CSI: USA 11pm Big Brother’s Big DISCOVERY HOME &
SATELLITE & CABLE

7pm Premier League Preview 5.30am-6am Tracking Eero Crime Scene Investigation 12am Mouth 12.10am Celebrity Big
Supernatural 1am Criminal Brother: Live 5.05am-6am HEALTH
7.30pm Live Football League BRITISH EUROSPORT 7pm The Baby Lab 8pm Jon
10pm Premier League Preview Minds 2am Paul McKenna: I Can Switched
6.20pm WTA Tennis 7.20pm Make You Thin 3am Charmed and Kate Plus 8 9pm Raising 10
10.30pm Football League Dakar Rally 7.30pm Eurogoals HISTORY Kids: The Hayes Way 10pm Joy
4.40am 60 Minute Makeover
Weekend 11.30pm PDC Awards Flash 7.40pm Freeride Spirit 7pm Cities of the Underworld of Sextuplets: Harris Family
12am Football League 1.30am
5.30am-6am Home Shopping EASTENDERS
Show 7.55pm African Cup of 8pm Tuva Gold 9pm Deep Sea 11pm Mystery Diagnosis 12am BBC1, 8PM
Premier League Preview 2am Nations Preview 8.10pm BBC THREE Detectives 10pm The Lost Raising 10 Kids: The Hayes Way
Football League Weekend 3am 1am Joy of Sextuplets: Harris Glenda’s arrival goes down badly with
Strongest Man 9.10pm Ski 7pm Top Gear Bolivia Special Pyramid 12am Tuva Gold
Premier League Preview Family 2am Mystery Diagnosis Ronnie and Roxy as they try to
Jumping 10pm Dakar Rally 8.15pm FILM War of the 1am Cities of the Underworld
3.30am Football League 5am- Worlds 2005. 10.05pm 2am Ax Men 3am-5am 3am Jon and Kate Plus 8 4am understand why their mother failed to
10.45pm Poker 11.45pm-
6am Football League Weekend 12.30am Dakar Rally EastEnders 10.35pm Kill It, Mega Movers Bringing Home Baby 5am-6am contact them sooner.
Cook It, Eat It – Fast Food Baby Tales
SKY SPORTS 2 ESPN 11.35pm Family Guy 12.20am DISCOVERY
7pm European Tour Golf 9pm 7pm ESPN Kicks 7.15pm French Russell Howard’s Good News 7pm Mythbusters 8pm How Do SKY1
USPGA Tour Golf 11pm Live Rugby 7.45pm Live French 12.50am Almost Famous 3 They Do It? 8.30pm How It’s 7pm The Simpsons 8pm Got to
USPGA Tour Golf 3.30am NFL: Rugby 9.30pm Total Italian 1.50am Sun, Sex & Holiday Made 9pm Wartime London Dance 9pm Ross Kemp Middle
Total Access 4.30am PDC Football 10pm UFC Unleashed Madness 2.45am Kill It, with Harry Harris 10.30pm East: Gaza: Part one of two. The
Awards 5am Powder 11pm UFC All Access 11.30pm Cook It, Eat It – Fast Food Destroyed in Seconds 11pm actor examines the Israeli-
Adventures 5.30am-6am MMA Live 12am Total Italian 3.45am Almost Famous 3 Extreme Engineering 12am Palestinian conflict. 10pm Road
World Sport Football 12.30am NBA Action 4.45am Russell Howard’s Wartime London with Harry Wars 11pm Football’s Next Star
1am Live NBA Basketball Good News 5.15am-5.30am Harris 1.30am Destroyed in 12am Road Wars 1am Miami
SKY SPORTS 3 3.30am UFC Unleashed Greek Uncovered Seconds 2am Extreme SWAT 1.50am Road Wars DANCING ON ICE
7pm Tennis 10pm WWE: Late 4.30am-5am MMA Live Engineering 3am First World 2.40am Don’t Forget the Lyrics ITV1, 9PM
Night – Smackdown 12am E4 War 3.50am Industrial 3.30am Nothing But the Truth Preview of the return of the pro-
WWE: Late Night – Bottom Line LIVING 7pm Hollyoaks 7.30pm My Revelations 4.40am Kings of 4.20am Battlestar Galactica celebrity contest and a look back on
1am Elite League Ice Hockey 7pm Ghost Whisperer 8pm Paul Name Is Earl 8pm Friends 9pm Construction 5.30am-6am How 5.10am-6am Are You Smarter the stars of previous series. Ray Quinn
3am Tight Lines 4am Race McKenna: I Can Make You Thin Supernanny 10pm Wife Swap Does That Work? Than a 10 Year Old? performs a duet with Maria Filippov.

COFFEE BREAK
Copyright Puzzler Media Ltd, www.puzzler.com
3 6 3 6 34 11
1
QUICK CROSSWORD
2 3 4 5 6

SUDOKU KAKURO 3

4
3

4 11
24
16
7 8
Place the numbers from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so that each 24 37
9
Fill the grid so that each block 10 28
row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers 37
from 1 to 9 to solve this tricky Sudoku puzzle. adds up to the total in the box 17 10 10 11 12
above or to the left of it. 7 34 7 7
You can only use the digits 1-9 32 7
7 and you must not use the 8 20 4
13

14 15
1 5 same digit twice in a block.
The same digit may occur 4 23
6

24 16 17
5 4 6 2 more than once in a row or
column, but it must be in a 13
13
6
6
6 18 19

6 4 separate block. 23
4
5
4
24 3 3
2 9 14 4 4
20 21

4 5 7 2 ACROSS DOWN

7 3 6 8 n 1 Named or telephoned (6) 1 Hottasting pod (6)

8 1 4 WORDWHEEL N G
4 Right Said ___, 1990s pop
group (4)
7 Day of ___, attack on Pearl
2 Tragic Shakespearean
king (4)
3 Home improvement (without
Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have Harbor (6) help!) (inits)(3)
4 9 2 7 1 ten minutes to find as many words as possible, M A 8 You ___ I’m No Good, Amy 5 French vehicle maker (7)
none of which may be plurals, foreign words or
proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters
or more, all must contain the central letter and N
I A
Winehouse song (4)
10 Prefix before Alamos and
6 ___ French, Lark Rise to
Candleford actress (4)
07/01/10 letters can only be used once in every word. There
Angeles in two US towns (3)
12 Language spoken in
9 ___ People, 1992 Shirley
SOLUTIONS KAKURO is at least one nine-letter word in the wheel.
L T northern Spain (6)
MacLaine film (4)
11 Small clipon Apple iPod
14 (Of metal) turned a device (7)
QUICK CROSSWORD 8 6 6 9 8 2 5
reddishbrown colour (6)
9 7 8 7 9 3 1 SUDOKU 2 6 5 7 9 1 4 8 3 15 19th letter of the Greek
12 ___ Ditto, lead singer of
CO NN I E I GO R 4 1 2 6 4 1 Gossip (4)
R O A E I 8 1 4 6 3 2 5 9 7
3 9 7 9 7 3 alphabet (3) 13 Romeo and ___,
I N T E N T GR I T
1 8 4 2 6 8 4 1 7 9 3 4 8 5 6 1 2
M L E M Z 6 8 9 3 7 4 2 5 1 18 Yarn woven across the Shakespeare play (6)
EO S K E N Y AN 2 1 9 7
3 5 7 2 1 8 9 6 4 width of the fabric (4) 16 One of a pair of identical
9 2 5 3 8 5 9 7
S
K
H
I L
E I
L E D
N
Y E
A
N 7 1 3 2 8 1 WORDWHEEL 4 2 1 9 5 6 3 7 8 19 Spiced sausage (6) children (4)
H R P G O 6 9 7 6 1 3 5 4 8 1 2 9 7 3 6 20 All You ___ Is Love, Beatles
I D L E T A I P E I The nine-letter word 17 Mountain range where the
2 4 6 9 8 6 8 1 7 2 5 6 3 8 4 9 song (4) River Po rises (4)
C E I G N
1 3 8 7 9 7 9 was FLAUNTING 9 3 6 8 4 7 1 2 5
K E Y S T R I V E T 21 Giant’s Causeway rock (6) 19 Weep (3)
Punter
17

| Racing

RACING TRADER | BILL ESDAILE, OUR RACING EXPERT, TAKES AN EARLY LOOK AT THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

13/2 Go Native and 16/1 Weapon’s


Amnesty look likely Festival types
Cheltenham Festival
O
VER the next nine or so weeks rently heads the betting for the RSA
between now and the start of this Chase at a best-priced 9/2 after his scintil- Noel Meade’s Go
year’s Cheltenham Festival, we will lating chasing debut at Newbury last Native Trading Strategy
continue to add to our ante-post month. However, he missed his intended Picture: ACTION
IMAGES In association with
portfolio that already contains Somersby engagement at Cheltenham over New
for the Arkle at 20/1 (now as short as 13/2 Year and those odds are pretty skinny
with Boylesports). With heavy snow deci- about a horse who has only run once over
mating this weekend’s racing action, I fences.
have picked out a couple more Festival The really interesting thing about the
fancies… current market for the RSA Chase is that
First up, I cannot understand why GO plenty of the leading contenders are far
NATIVE is still available at 13/2 for the from guaranteed runners. Long Run hails
Champion Hurdle after proving his from the same stable as Punchestowns
Fighting Fifth triumph was no fluke by and connections have already not ruled

I
landing the Christmas Hurdle at out a tilt at the Arkle. Mikael D’Haguenet got food poisoning over Christmas because
Kempton. Noel Meade’s seven-year-old has has had a host of problems and has yet to my mother got her timings muddled up
now won three Grade One hurdles and in make his debut over fences – he could eas- when it came to cooking the stuffing. Funnily
my book should be clear favourite for the ily be aimed over hurdles instead – while enough, I got my timings muddled up a few
hurdling crown. He arrived at the front Diamond Harry is another currently in days later by not locking in a profit on Double
too soon at Kempton and would have the top five in the betting who has yet to Dizzy as it jumped the last at Cheltenham with a
been a far more convincing winner if his jump a fence in public. clear lead and then treaded water up the hill.
cards had been played later. I’m therefore very interested in Irish Over the coming weeks, this column will flag
The guaranteed strong pace in the raider WEAPON’S AMNESTY who is a pre- up a number of trading opportunities at this
Champion Hurdle will play to his vious Festival winner (last year’s Albert year’s festival. We will look to back one at a
strengths and I would be hugely surprised Bartlett) and has already had four runs decent price and then look to lock-in a profit in-
if he doesn’t arrive at the last cantering. over fences. He relishes cut in the ground running come March.
Don’t forget that he won last year’s and a strongly run three miles and he The first trading opportunity is Noel Meade’s
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, so the chal- should get his ideal conditions at Go Native in the Champion Hurdle. Last year’s
lenges of winning at the Festival hold no Prestbury Park in March. Admittedly, he Supreme Novices’ winner looks cracking value at
fears. I expect him to be produced late has been a bit clumsy over his fences and 7.5 on Betdaq for all the reasons highlighted
after the last and more importantly, I has even ended up on the floor, but to my opposite. However, the sensible trade will be to
expect him to win. He wouldn’t want the eye, his jumping improves as the pace lay back our stakes and more in-running as our
ground any softer than Good to Soft – if quickens. POINTERS... selection arrives at the last full of running. The
you ignore his latest two runs on soft There is a danger that connections key is to make a profit and not have to find out
ground, he has won all of his five other may opt to switch back to hurdles, but I GO NATIVE 13/2 Champion Hurdle whether our selection will actually go through
starts. think they’ll go for the RSA Chase and the WEAPON’S AMNESTY16/1 RSA Chase with his effort and win the race.
Nicky Henderson’s Punchestowns cur- general 16/1 is simply too big. I expect Go Native to trade at possibly as
short as even money approaching the last flight,

INSIDER
which is exactly the time to hit the escape but-
the

ton. If you have 10pts to win on Go Native now,


you should aim to try and lay back 40pts at
evens in-running. That means if he wins the race
you would make a 35 point profit and if he loses,

T
he chances of racing this week- in to question and RUBENSTAR could perform best from the front so a the horse I fancy to give us that is you would still make 30 points.
end at any racecourse in the UK be the horse to have a few pounds on fierce pace is likely - opening the door FIELD DAY at 33/1. The 2000
must be slim. However, if they to warm the cockles. for AEROPLANE to pick up the Guineas market centres on St If you are interested in profiting from trading on the
do go ahead at Lingfield tomor- Even though a field of only five pieces and break his duck over a mile. Nicholas Abbey and possibly rightly sports exchanges, why not book onto one of Centaur
row, the most appropriate winner will runners has been declared for the Looking ahead to the 1000 so. However, the value lies with Academy’s courses based in the City. More details
be Melt in the 3pm. Unfortunately 2.40pm contest, it looks very com- Guineas, Special Duty has all the ARCANO on the exchanges where he can be found at www.centauracademy.com
Melt’s running ability must be called petitive. Four of those have tended to form, but I’m after a bit of value and is priced at around 16/1. or by calling 020 7877 5050

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18 Punter | Football CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010

FOOTBALL TRADER | BEN CLEMINSON HAS TEAMED UP WITH BETTORLOGIC


TO BRING YOU THE CITY AM FOOTBALL TRADER ...the home of form

Liverpool to begin their


climb back up the table
LIVERPOOL

TOTTENHAM

SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS


LIVERPOOL put in another lacklustre dis-
play when they were outplayed by strug-
gling Reading in the FA Cup last weekend
and things are still not right at Anfield.
However, they notched back-to-back
Premier League successes for the first
time since September when they won at
Villa Park over Christmas which will give
their fans hope that the tide is beginning
to turn.
Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham are hav-
ing an excellent season and are currently
four points clear of Liverpool. They are on
a decent run with 10 points from their
last 12 and they beat the Reds at White
Hart Lane in August, but you have to go
back to 1993 for the last time they won at
Anfield. In fact, Spurs’ record away at the
Big Four is nothing short of atrocious.
That victory at Anfield was their last
three points at the Big Four and their win-
less streak now stretches to 65 games.
Since 2006/07, the North London side’s
record at Big Four teams in the league is Liverpool’s last 13 home wins have been by at least two goals. Picture: ACTION IMAGES
W0-D3-L11 with seven of those defeats
coming by at least two goals. They also has been the place to be for high scoring extra top quality betting analysis make
haven’t done particularly well at current games this season with eight of the 10 sure you log-on to the recently launched
top-half sides this season, losing two and games featuring a minimum of three thebettingchannel.tv from 9-11am
drawing two of their four games. It goals. The both teams to score market is Monday-Saturday. Former Sky Sports pre-
should be pointed out that Liverpool’s as short as 4/6 with Hills which may be senter Alan Bentley and co-host Simone
record at Anfield against current top half- due to Liverpool finding the net in all 10 Thomas discuss the daily betting oppor-
sides isn’t much better – going W1-D1-L2, and conceding in eight. tunities with panelists such as Mark
but they generally do well here against There has been an average of 3.7 goals ‘Couch’ Winstanley, Perry Groves and
Spurs. per game at Anfield this season with no Alan Brazil.
Reds supremacy buyers at 0.6 with game seeing less than two and goals buy-
Sporting Index should be aware that 12 of
Liverpool’s last 13 home wins have come
ers will also be pleased to hear that seven
of Spurs’ 10 away games have produced at
POINTERS...
by at least a two-goal margin, which may least three. Liverpool to win at 10/11 with Boylesports
well interest goal buyers as well. Anfield For those of you looking for some Buy total match goals at 2.8 with Sporting Index

shorter in the next few weeks. all competitions, Hull have shed 12 goals,
HULL Chelsea haven’t exactly been firing on while Chelsea have scored seven goals
all cylinders recently and have drawn and conceded none in their two trips to
three of their last five league games, but the KC Stadium since 2007.
CHELSEA they are traditionally very strong against Carlo Ancelotti will have highlighted
bottom six sides. Prior to this season they the next few weeks as absolutely vital in
had won all of their last 19 away at such his team’s quest for the Premier League
TOMORROW – 12.45PM SKY SPORTS opposition and although they have lost at title and will be eager to make a positive
Wigan and drawn at West Ham, they start. They have two home games after
HULL have had a few tough games recent- should be much too good for Phil Brown’s this one and a comfortable win here will
ly and it doesn’t look like getting any eas- men. give them the momentum to kick on.
ier with Chelsea and Tottenham next. The Tigers have lost all five home Sporting Index quote Chelsea supremacy
They were comprehensively beaten by games against the Big Four since they at 1.7-1.9 and I’d be happy to buy at that
Wigan in the FA Cup last weekend and were promoted, all of them by the HT / FT figure.
although that may prove a blessing in dis- result and four by at least two goals. They
guise, they look doomed to me. We have also lost 59 per cent of their 27 POINTERS...
backed them to be relegated at 4/7 on games home and away since April 2009,
Betdaq pre-Christmas and they are now as 13 by the HT / FT result and 10 by two or Chelsea HT / FT at EVS on Betdaq
short as 2/5 which will surely get even more goals. In the past four games across Buy Chelsea supremacy at 1.9 with Sporting Index

at the beginning of the season and are season. They have also lost 10 of their last
MANCHESTER CITY unbeaten in their nine games at 11 trips to top-half sides and seven by the
Eastlands, winning six and five of those HT / FT result in their last eight such meet-
coming by the HT / FT result. ings.
BLACKBURN Since the start of last season City have Rovers have drawn five of their last
an excellent record at home against bot- seven in the league so it won’t be a sur-
tom-half sides winning 11 of 14 and 10 of prise to see Sam Allardyce set out a defen-
MONDAY – 8.00PM ESPN those coming by the HT / FT result. They sive formation to try to frustrate City. I
have won their last three home league can’t really see this one being a thriller,
IT has to be debatable whether this games and top-half teams with the same but Mancini’s side should have too much
match, along with a number of other three-game record have won 24 of 41 strength for a Rovers side who look des-
weekend fixtures, will even get the go- home contests against bottom-half sides tined for an almighty relegation scrap.
ahead, but if it does Roberto Mancini will (W24-D12-L5) since 2004/05.
be confident he can continue his 100 per
cent start with Manchester City. His side
Blackburn haven’t won in their last
eight Premier League encounters and
POINTER...
are playing with the confidence they had have lost seven of their 10 away games this Man City HT / FT at 11/10 on Betdaq
CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2009 Sport 19

Results
Fixture chaos 13
9
CRICKET
THIRD TEST MATCH
South Africa v England
CAPE TOWN: South Africa drew with England

as big freeze
SOUTH AFRICA: First Innings 291 (Kallis 108, Boucher 51, Anderson
5-63)
ENGLAND: First Innings 273 (Prior 76, Cook 65, Morkel 5-75, Steyn 4-
74)
SOUTH AFRICA: Second Innings 447-7 dec. (Smith 183, Amla 95)
ENGLAND: Second Innings
8 (Overnight 132-3)
I Trott b Steyn................................................................................................42

hits weekend
J Anderson c Prince b Harris ....................................................................9
P Collingwood c Kallis b Duminy ..........................................................40
12 I Bell c Smith b Morkel ..............................................................................78
11 5 M Prior c de Villiers b Duminy ..................................................................4
14 7 S Broad c de Villiers b Harris ....................................................................0
G Swann not out............................................................................................10
10 G Onions not out ..............................................................................................0
B1 lb4 w1 nb1 ........................................................................................7
6 Total (9 wkts., 141 overs) ..........................................................296
Fall: 101, 107, 129, 153, 160, 272, 278, 286, 290.
Championship games at Reading, 18

WEATHER Bowling: Morkel 28-9-51-1, Steyn 35-11-74-2, de Wet 12-5-23-


BY FRANK DALLERES Sheffield Wednesday, Preston and 1, Harris 40-14-85-3, Kallis 14-4-28-0, Duminy 12-3-30-2.
Watford are off, as are all but three 22 Umpires: D Harper & A Hill.
UNCERTAINTY hangs over what matches in Leagues One and Two. TRIANGULAR TOURNAMENT: Bangladesh v India (Dhaka);
remains of the weekend’s sporting In rugby the fixtures at Sale, Bath, Bangladesh 296-6 (Imrul Kayes 70, Mohammad
Mahmudullah 60no, Tamim Iqbal 60) v India 297-4 (M S
schedule after heavy snow and sub- Harlequins and Gloucester have been Dhoni 101no, V Kohli 91, S K Raina 51no). I ndia (2pts) beat
zero temperatures claimed more fix- postponed. Tonight’s Magners League Bangladesh by 6 wickets.
tures yesterday. games at Ulster and Connaught have GOLF
Four of tomorrow’s Championship also been called off. 2
football matches have already been
1 EUROPEAN TOUR AFRICAN OPEN (East London Golf Club,
East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa)—11st rnd (Gbr &
called off, the League One and League GAME OFF | WHICH FIXTURES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED 17 Irl unless stated, par 73): 66 Titch Moore (Rsa), Patrik
Two programmes have been decimat- Sjoland (Swe), Mark f Haastrup (Den), Trevor Fisher Jnr
(Rsa), Richard Sterne (Rsa). 67 Tjaart Van Der Walt (Rsa),
ed, and all 10 Scottish Cup games FOOTBALL 12. Raith v Airdrie Utd Thomas Aiken (Rsa), Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Keith Horne
have been postponed. Rugby union’s Championship 13. Ross County v Inverurie (Rsa).
Premiership and Magners League (all Saturday): Loco Works TENNIS
have also been badly hit, while several
horse racing meetings have fallen vic- 1. Sheff Wed v Peterborough 14. Livingston v Dundee ATP QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN (Doha)—QQtr-final: (5)
Viktor Troicki (Ser) bt Lukasz Kubot (Pol) 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1),
tim to the weather. 2. Preston v Doncaster RUGBY UNION (2) Rafael Nadal (Spa) bt Steve Darcis (Bel) 6-1 2-0 ret, (1)
With more blizzards forecast 3. Watford v Sheff Utd Premiership: 23 Roger Federer (Swi) bt Ernests Gulbis (Lat) 6-2 4-6 6-4.
throughout Britain, further cancella- 4. Reading v Newcastle Utd 15. Bath v Northampton (Sat) 21 3
tions are expected today. All 10 of the Scottish Cup 16. Harlequins v Leeds (Sat) TODAY’S DIARY
weekend’s top-flight football fixtures 4 Coca-Cola Championship
(all Sat): 17. Sale v Saracens (Sat) 15 16
are slated to go ahead, but Premier West Brom v Nottm Forest (7.45) ........................................................................
League sides will anxiously monitor 5. Albion v Stirling 18. Newcastle v Gloucester (Sun)
CRICKET
conditions over the next 24 hours. 6. Ayr v Brechin HORSE RACING: 20 Triangular Tournament: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dhaka).
Midweek games at Blackburn, 7. Edinburgh City v Montrose 19. Fontwell (today) 19 RUGBY UNION
Manchester City and Arsenal were all 8. Forfar v St Johnstone 20. Wincanton (Sat)
postponed. Clubs will be mindful of The Magners League (7.05):: Leinster v Glasgow (8pm).
9. Inverness CT v Motherwell 21. Ffos Las (Sat)
having to refund travelling fans in 10. Kilmarnock v Falkirk 22. Sedgefield (Sat)
the event of a postponement and will SPORTS EDITOR JON COUCH
look to make early decisions today. 11. Morton v Celtic 23. Hereford (Sun) email sport@cityam.com

Ballack criticises Blues policy Portsmouth deny player fire sale


FOOTBALL leave the Premier League’s bottom

team. England goalkeeper David


ture the Premier League title. But Chelsea and that is not a good idea if PORTSMOUTH chief executive Peter James, Younes Kaboul and Kevin-

FOOTBALL
Ancelotti has guided them to the top you want success. Jose Mourinho, Storrie insists there will be no mass Prince Boateng are all tipped to leave
BY FRANK DALLERES
of the table since joining from AC Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari exodus of players in the January but Storrie insists only “one or two”
CHELSEA midfielder Michael Ballack Milan in the summer, and Germany all came and went before Guus transfer window despite the club’s players could exit – and only at the
admits the club’s quest for glory has star Ballack believes the Italian will Hiddink had some time with us last financial problems. discretion of club owner Ali Al-Faraj.
been hampered by its ruthlessness last longer than his predecessors – season, but it feels like Carlo is here to The troubled Fratton Park outfit “That’s something the owner of the
towards managers – but is confident and prove more successful. stay and that has to be good news. face a winding-up order from Her club will decide, whether financing
current boss Carlo Ancelotti will steer “I’m part of a team that is ready to “This team has connected with Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and will come into the banks or through
them to silverware. start winning the big prizes again Ancelotti and all the players believe are also subject to a transfer embargo his own funds or if we have to sell one
Blues owner Roman Abramovich and it feels like we now have a manag- he is a man who can work for us, for unpaid player fees. or two players then he will make that
has dispensed with four managers er who will bring stability to the which is a tribute to him because he The club paid its players late yester- decision,” Storrie said. “One or two
since Ballack arrived at Stamford club,” said Ballack, whose side visit has come into a dressing room full of day for the third time this season, people think because of the press cov-
Bridge three-and-a-half years ago – in Hull tomorrow. “We have had too highly experienced players who all fuelling speculation that a host of erage that there’s some kind of fire
which time they have failed to recap- many coaches during my time at have their own opinions and beliefs.” Avram Grant’s stars are desperate to sale on – that’s not the case.”

Pacquiao-Mayweather clash off SPORT | IN BRIEF


BOXING mediation on Tuesday and Murray and Robson eye history McLeish coy on £11m Jones bid Man dies at Lakeside darts

Wednesday he was still unable to bro- TENNIS: Andy Murray and Laura Robson FOOTBALL: Birmingham boss Alex DARTS: A man who went to Lakeside to
MANNY PACQUIAO’S promoter insists ker a compromise. will be aiming to secure Great Britain’s McLeish is staying tight-lipped about his watch the BDO world championship was
the prospective super-fight with Floyd “There’s no chance ever of sal- first Hopman Cup final appearance when interest in Sunderland striker Kenwyne yesterday found dead under the frozen
Mayweather is off after mediation vaging it,” Pacquiao’s promoter Bob they face Russia today in Perth. Jones. lake at the tournament’s venue.
failed to resolve differences between Arum said. “I knew this was going to World No4 Murray and 15-year-old McLeish has admitted having bids “It’s a tragedy,” said Robert Holmes of
the pair. happen. There is no chance for it ever Robson have struck up something of a rejected for Celtic’s Aiden McGeady and the British Darts Organisation. “A body
Pacquiao pulled out of the pro- to happen.” rapport, winning both of their Group B Liverpool’s Ryan Babel, but is coy about a was taken from the lake and it was
posed 13 March bout after Arum blames the row on games against Kazakhstan and Germany. reported £11m offer for Jones. someone who had been here to watch
Mayweather’s camp insisted on ran- Mayweather himself. He added: “I’ve “We haven’t played that much together “We have made enquiries about a lot the darts. The weather has played a
dom drug tests in the build-up. been saying this for years: He’s a psy- and it takes a bit of time,” said Murray. of people,” said McLeish. “I don’t want to major part in this.”
Former judge Daniel Weinstein was chological coward who doesn’t want “But I think we’ve done pretty well.” confirm or deny a bid has gone in.” The water at the centre of the com-
brought in to act as an impartial to fight anybody with a chance of Spain have already qualified for the Birmingham are poised to clinch a deal plex, which has frozen over, has now been
negotiator, but after nine hours’ beating him.” final by winning Group A. for Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel. fenced off.

Q. What is the total number of miles for a round trip


between Portsmouth and Sunderland football clubs?
For more remarkable figures, talk to F&C Investments. www.fandc.com A. 672 miles.

Issued and approved by F&C Fund Management Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Head Office: Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY.
Registered in England No. 2170242. A registered company limited by shares.
Sport
20 CITYA.M. 8 JANUARY 2010

BIG FREEZE HITS


WEEKEND FIXTURES
FIND OUT WHAT’S ALREADY
BEEN POSTPONED: P19

I’ll prove I’m


Onions makes still a great
South Africa at Man City,
says Vieira
weep again as
England draw


FOOTBALL
BY FRANK DALLERES
FRANCE legend Patrick Vieira has
vowed to show he is still one of the
best midfielders in the world by play-
ing a starring role for Manchester
City.
Battling tourists hold on to 1-0 series lead but skipper The Inter Milan enforcer, 33, flew
to England yesterday to undergo a
Strauss hits out at hosts’ ball-tampering allegations medical and put the finishing touch-
es to a deal set to be for an initial six
months.
City boss Roberto Mancini, who
subject and if you’re going to make signed Vieira for Inter in his last job,

CRICKET
BY JON COUCH allegations, you’ve got to be very clear is hoping the former Arsenal captain
or confident that is exactly what the will help push the ambitious
ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss other team were doing. Eastlands outfit into the top four.
last night slammed South Africa’s “I’m very comfortable with our Vieira, meanwhile, is eager to repay
“malicious” actions in the ball-tam- actions. It’s always a bit of a shame Mancini’s faith and find the form
pering row after his side battled to a when these things rear their head, needed to earn a recall to the France
hard-earned draw in the third Test in and we’ll be making sure that some- squad for this summer’s World Cup
Cape Town. thing like this doesn’t happen again.” in South Africa.
Tail-ender Graham Onions saw off Strauss was full of praise for his “I want to go to the World Cup and
a fierce Proteas bowling onslaught for batsmen for surviving some hostile I need playing time,” said Vieira, who
the second time in the series to help South African bowling to cling on for fell down the pecking order at Inter
the tourists protect their 1-0 lead a draw on the final day. Ian Bell (78) after Jose Mourinho replaced Mancini
going into the final Test in and Paul Collingwood (40) looked like as manager.
Johannesburg next week. steering England home after battling “It’s over, after a year in Turin [with
But it was the simmering tamper- through a session and a half before Juventus] and three-and-a-half years
ing row which dominated the post- four wickets in the space of 64 balls in Milan. I have objectives and I can’t
match reaction after the hosts set up a dramatic finale. achieve them by staying at Inter
confirmed they had “raised con- But after Graeme Swann had seen where I am not part of the coach’s
cerns” to the match referee after off six balls from the dangerous Dale choice.
Stuart Broad was caught trapping the Steyn, No11 Onions heroically sur- “What is important for me is to go
ball with his studded boot on day vived Morne Morkel’s final over to to Manchester City, to show the coach
two. The South Africans opted not to match his efforts in the first Test in that I am the same as I was during
make a formal complaint, yet Strauss Centurion and lead England to safety. the period when he was at Inter. All
still expressed his anger, insisting Strauss added: “It wasn’t fun the this will help me get into the France
they were wrong to go public with first time [at Centurion] and the sec- team.”
their concerns. ond was a lot worse. We started today Vieira’s signing is expected to be
“I do think to a certain extent that outsiders to get the draw and we confirmed today and is likely to mark
the South Africans announcing it to knew it would take something spe- the start of another busy spell in the
the media – without being totally cial. Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell transfer market for super-rich City,
clear in their minds what they were played two exceptional innings. who are owned by Abu Dhabi’s
going to do, whether they were going “Graham Onions – he’s a legend Sheikh Mansour. Argentina left-back
to put in a formal complaint – is a lit- isn’t he? We keep asking our No11 to Cristian Ansaldi, currently of Russia’s
tle bit malicious,” he said. do the job for us and he’s done it Rubin Kazan, is tipped to be the next
“Ball-tampering is a very sensitive twice for us.” Graham Onions survived a late barrage to preserve England’s series lead. Picture: GETTY arrival for around £4m.

Venter: I did not mean to say ref was dishonest


The South African is accused of was not one particular incident, going to be at Saracens for a long debate. The laws relating to the break-

RUGBY UNION EXCLUSIVE


BY JON COUCH implying Rose was influenced at half- the comments were part of an time so we need to have an under- down are inconsistently interpreted.
time after saying he became a “differ- on-going process. standing.” “It is a problem across the country,
SARACENS director of rugby Brendan ent referee” in the second period as “What that process is and Premiership leaders Saracens at 12 Premiership clubs and even at
Venter last night told City A.M. he Saracens let slip a lead to suffer back- how English rugby can bene- have thrown their weight behind the RFU where Rob Andrew was say-
never intended to question the to-back Premiership defeats. fit as a result is a matter for us Venter with chief executive ing after the autumn internationals
integrity of referee David Rose, after But City A.M. columnist Venter, and the Rugby Football Edward Griffiths adding: “I think that there were problems at the
landing himself in hot water with right, has exclusively revealed his Union to discuss at the what Brendan did at the week- breakdown.”
post-match remarks at last weekend’s comments towards the referee were hearing, but at least we end was raise an issue that is Meanwhile, Saracens have offered a
Premiership defeat to Leicester. taken out of context and intends to have made our views very live in the game. unique money-back guarantee to fans
Venter has been summoned to discuss a way to rectify any misunder- known. “He has received who purchase a half-season ticket at
appear before a Rugby Football Union standing with rugby chiefs. “Hopefully we quite a lot of support Vicarage Road for the remainder of
disciplinary panel on 19 January after “I had never intended to say the ref- can try to work since then and so I the campaign. Sarries have a mini-
being charged with misconduct for eree was dishonest in any way,” with the RFU to think he has started mum of six home games left, includ-
his comments on Premiership offi- Venter said. “We were winning the try and resolve an open, honest ing two at Wembley, and will give a
cials and various law interpretations. game at the time of the complaint. It these issues. I’m and healthy full refund if they lose any of them.

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