Birmingham Post

Unilever Shares Lift After Sales Growth ; House Holdgoods in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Unilever shares were given a lift yesterday after the consumer products giant reported better-than-expected sales growth in its third quarter. The firm said price rises in the wake of "unprecedented" cost pressures drove the 8.3 per cent increase, although it added volumes were holding up well after a 0.6 per cent gain in the three months to September 30.

Standard Life Is Riding Out the Market Turmoil ; Insurance in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Shell Makes Pounds 72m a Day As Profits Soar ; in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell yesterday joined the profits bonanza from record prices with a 71 per cent jump in third quarter earnings. The firm made a mammoth EUR10.9 billion between July and September - a period when oil prices hit a peak above EUR147 a barrel.

Furore at Mandelson's Defence of Property Tax ; Commercial Property British Property Federation Hits Out at Business Secretary

Trade groups have reacted with fury after business secretary Lord Mandelson said a hugely unpopular tax on empty properties was "good news for tenants". Lord Mandelson said the "bombsite Britain" tax - which resulted in a national campaign yesterday backed by Birmingham City Council - would bring down rental prices.

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Homebuyers Refusing to Move Unless Discounts Are Offered ; in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk Proprerty Prices Will Have Fallen by 16 Per Cent by the End 2008

House prices fell by nearly 15 per cent over the past year and are set to fall further as the UK slides into recession. The latest Nationwide Building Society survey yesterday showed that the average house is now worth nearly pounds 30,000 less than a year ago after prices fell for the 12th month in a row in October.

Jam House Owner's Profits On the Slide Along with Share Price ; in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Nightclub operator Luminar, owner of the Jam House in St Paul's Square, saw its shares slide yesterday after it reported a deterioration in sales and City analysts slashed profit forecasts. Britain's biggest nightclub group said profits before tax and exceptionals fell topounds 8.4million for the six months to August 28, down from pounds 13.4 million a year ago.

China Alters Tariffs On Shipped Goods ; Exports in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

China will raise export rebates on textiles, toys, clothes and some other products, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation have said. They said a total of 3,486 products, involving labour-intensive and value-added items, would benefit from the move.

Brown Call Over Eu Money ; Funding in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday urged High Street banks to take up the offer of pounds 4billion of EU money to make credit more easily available to small businesses. Mr Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling said the new money from the European Investment Bank- EIB) could make a significant difference if it is passed on as loans to struggling companies by the banks.

Value of Diamonds Is On the Slide ; Sales in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Metalrax Board Restructuring ; Engineering in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Banks Are Taking Their Misery Out On Businesses ; in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Businesses are being hit by 'stealth' charges and changes in conditions imposed on them by banks because of the credit crunch, a Birmingham law firm has said. Suzanne Gilhooly, of Harrison Clark, with offices in Worcester and Birmingham, warned businesses not to just accept additional fees and increased charges imposed on them by commercial banks suffering from the global crisis.

Nat West Launches Shariah Mortgage ; in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

NatWest Business Banking is entering the Islamic financial services market with the launch a shariah-compliant commercial property mortgage product. The product, introduced in response to demand, will not charge interest in accordance with Islamic law.

Why Are Some Still Hankering After Insane House Prices? ; City View in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

The really worrying thing about yesterday's latest house price squelcher from Nationwide is that some sellers are still holding out for inflated prices. At least, that is the conclusion that Nationwide economist Fionnuala Earley arrived at after puzzling over why, even in a credit squeeze, the number of completed house sales last month as a proportion of the available mortgages - the turnover rate - was at its lowest level since records began in 1974.

Astrazeneca Posts Promising Figures ; Drugs in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

AstraZeneca yesterday upped its earnings guidance for the year after reporting better-than-expected third-quarter profits. The group said pre-tax profits rose to EUR2.44 billion (pounds 1.48bn) in the three months to the end of September, up 29 percent, helped by currency movements.

Rolls Royce Calms Investors ; Engineering in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Rolls-Royce reassured investors yesterday by revealing it secured pounds 5 billion of new orders since the end of June. While unwilling to forecast the effect of the economic downturn, Rolls described trading at its four businesses as good and said it remained in line with expectations.

Dvd Rental Lifted by Stay-at-Homes ; Internet in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Marketing Students Are Recognised ; Graduation in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Boots in Fine Health As It Staves Off Credit Crunch ; Graeme Evans in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

The billionaire boss of Alliance Boots yesterday described trading as "relatively resilient" after first-half revenues rose 11.3 per cent on a year earlier. Executive chairman Stefano Pessina, who led a pounds 11.1 billion takeover of the business last year, added its financial position was strong after long-term funding arrangements were put in place prior to the banking crisis.

Mountain Ambitions ; in Association with Www.Rbs.Co.Uk

Name: Alan Charters Age: 50