Volkswagen, Europe’s biggest carmaker, on Tuesday clung to its forecast of a recovery in profits this year, despite warning that rising raw material prices and the strength of the euro would damage earnings. The group, which saw pre-tax income slump 19% last year to â,¬1,1-billion, issued an unmistakable profits warning for the current quarter.
Once it was the mighty Jordan river, a crossroads of civilisations and continents, and a favourite of pilgrims seeking baptism in its waters. Now just about the only thing that flows for large parts of the year, keeping the river alive, is sewage. Decades of competition for water have turned the lower Jordan river, running between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, into little more than a drainage ditch.
Bill Clinton is to have another operation to remove scar tissue and fluid from his left chest, following on from his quadruple bypass surgery in September, his office said on Tuesday. The statement said that the procedure was a ”recognised, occasional consequence of open heart surgery”, and carried a low risk.
Looking at the final results posted by Metropolitan Holdings on Wednesday, the group’s strong new life-business growth in most segments shows that it is continuing to gain market share from most of its competitors, particularly in the area of employee benefits, according to Metropolitan CEO Peter Doyle.
First National Bank, a division of FirstRand, has launched its new cellphone banking offering, making every handset in South Africa a banking channel. The new service uses SMS technology for customers to conclude banking transactions, increasing mass-market reach and adding functionality.
The JSE Securities Exchange was firmer in noon trade on Wednesday, despite a stronger rand. Dealers said that the market was primarily order driven, with few clear trends. By 12.07pm, the all share index added 0,24%. Resources rose 0,69%, with the gold and platinum mining indices jumping 1,34% and 1,39% respectively.
Josh Cunliffe of Dainfern Country Club in Johannesburg won the men’s Sanlam South African Amateur Stroke-Play Golf Championship at Wingate Park Country Club on Tuesday. The 21-year-old closed with a 70 in the afternoon’s fourth round for a 10-under-par 278.
A controversial header late in the second half by Chelsea captain John Terry gave the Premiership leaders a remarkable 4-2 win over Barcelona in their Champions League first knockout-round clash on Tuesday. Elsewhere, the dream of Sir Alex Ferguson to give Manchester United a second Champions League title under his stewardship ended — perhaps for good.
Jose Mourinho has admitted that he enjoyed Chelsea’s stomach-churning triumph over Barcelona on Tuesday even more than watching his former club FC Porto triumph in last season’s Champions League final. The acrimony that marred the first-leg encounter between the two sides failed to prevent them from delivering an epic encounter.
All Blacks pair Doug Howlett and Tony Woodcock will make their first Super 12 rugby appearances of the season for the Blues against the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, on Saturday. There are two other changes from the team who sneaked an 18-15 win over the Queensland Reds on Friday.