Saturday 13 March 2010

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News

Exclusive news from Salestarget.co.uk. Our section will help you stay up to date with the latest happening in the healthcare & medical, IT & telecommunications, finance, FMCG and business sales sectors.

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

RICS: Housing shortage eased in February

(FINANCIAL) - 9/03/2010 - New figures on the UK housing market have revealed more properties were put up for sale during February, easing the problem of the shortages of homes.

Asda

Asda to increase returns policy

(FMCG) - 08/03/2010 - Supermarket giant Asda is aiming to halt the increase of "throwaway fashion" by increasing its returns policy across its clothing range to 100 days.

99p stores

99p stores to increase shop numbers

(FMCG) - 08/03/2010 - Budget brand 99p Stores will have a larger presence on the British high street as it looks to increase the number of shops in its portfolio in response to the increasing number of shoppers visiting the stores looking for a bargain.

RBS

RBS branches buyer 'will need £2bn'

(FINANCIAL) - 08/03/2010 - Potential buyers of Royal Bank of Scotland's network of 318 newly up for sale branches will have to find about £2 billion to support the business, it has emerged.

Snowy village

Rural healthcare must be improved

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 05/03/2010 - Health experts are to call for rural patients to receive better access to healthcare, it has emerged.

World Economic Forum

Aviva profits up after cost cuts

(BUSINESS) - 04/03/2010 - Insurance giant Aviva has posted a 3% rise in full-year operating profits to £3.48 billion after a huge cost cutting exercise that has seen it shed almost 11,000 jobs across the globe.

Santander

Two new market-leading mortgages launched

(FINANCIAL) - 04/03/2010 - Competition in the mortgage market is continuing to push rates ever lower as two new market-leading deals have been launched to tempt homeowners.

Richard Branson

Virgin acquires controlling stake in Assura

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 04/03/2010 - Billionaire tycoon Sir Richard Branson has added to his ever-growing Virgin empire with the acquisition of a controlling stake in a healthcare management company.

Santander

Santander launches cross selling drive

(FINANCIAL) - 01/03/2010 - Santander is extending availability of its 6% Zero Current Account to include customers with one of its investment products.

Prudential

Prudential in talks over AIG deal

(FINANCIAL) - 01/03/2010 - Prudential is in 'advanced talks' to buy the Asian arm of embattled US group AIG, the firm has revealed.

Typing at computer

Campaign to get more people online

(IT/TELECOMS) - 03/03/2010 - A campaign has been launched to get 7.5 million more people in the UK using the internet in the next four years.

ASDA

Asda offers cheaper IVF drugs

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 03/03/2010 - Asda has announced that it is going to sell fertility drugs at cost price.

Orange mobile company

Mobile giants allowed to merge

(IT/TELECOMS) - 02/03/2010 - The merger of Orange and T-Mobile has been approved by regulators.

HSBC

HSBC almost doubles mortgage share

(FINANCIAL) - 02/03/2010 - HSBC has said that its share of the mortgage market in the UK almost doubled last year.

House ads on window

Second home hotspot prices driven up

(FINANCIAL) - 26/02/2010 - House prices can more than double in second home "hot spots", research has shown.

Properties from above

Rightmove announces profit rise

(FINANCIAL) - 26/02/2010 - Property website Rightmove has announced that annual profits rose 2% last year.

Houses for sale

More buyers and sellers enter market

(FINANCIAL) - 01/03/2010 - More buyers and sellers entered the housing market during February, figures have shown.

Lloyds TSB

Lloyds most complained about bank

(FINANCIAL) - 25/02/2010) - More consumers complained about Lloyds Banking Group in the second half of last year than any other financial services company, figures have shown.

For sale signs

House prices fall amid icy weather

(FINANCIAL) - 26/02/2010 - House prices fell for the first time in 10 months in February as buyers stayed home to dodge the snow and ice, it has been revealed.

Virgin 50 years

Virgin announces 100Mb broadband

(IT/TELECOMS) - 25/02/2010 - Virgin Media customers will be benefiting from a 100Mb broadband service by the end of the year, it has emerged.

Microsoft

Microsoft takes Superbrand title from Google

(IT/TELECOM) - 24/02/2010 - US software giant Microsoft has beaten rival Google to be crowned the brand with the best name reputation, according to a survey of industry experts.

Building homes

Barratt shows 27% rise in orders

(FINANCIAL) - 24/02/2010 - A major housebuilder has reported a 27% increase in half-year orders and secured around 77% of its full-year requirement.

Cash machine

10% 'permanently in the red'

(FINANCIAL) - 24/02/2010 - Some 10% of people are permanently in the red despite receiving their salary each month, according to new research.

Stratstone

UK car group returns £10m profit

(FINANCIAL) - 23/02/2010 - Britain's biggest car sales group has come out of the red with more than £10 million in profit for 2009, after used car sales improved throughout the year.

DSL

MPs attack broadband tax plans

(IT/TELECOM) - 23/02/2010 - A group of MPs have attacked a Government plan to tax households with fixed telephone lines 50p a month to fund super-fast broadband.

BT

BT slammed over cancellation rights

(IT/TELECOM) - 23/02/2010 - A consumer group has said that BT could be breaking the law by failing to inform customers of cancellation rights.

For sale signs

Over 2,000 mortgage deals in market

(FINANCIAL) - 22/02/10 - The number of different mortgage products available has broken through the 2,000 barrier for the first time in more than a year, fresh figures have shown.

Orange mobile company

Orange and T-Mobile deal for approval

(IT/TELECOM) - 22/02/2010 - European regulators are expected to approve the merger of Orange and T-Mobile, it has been reported.

Nokia mobile phone

Daisy to complete BNS deal

(IT/TELECOMS) - 22/02/2010 - Telecoms provider Daisy Group is to complete a £10.45 million deal to buy voice over IP telecoms (VOIP) firm BNS Telecom.

Houses for sale

Home selling rules 'need overhauling'

(FINANCIAL) - 19/02/2010 - The consumer watchdog has said that rules governing how homes are sold in the UK should be overhauled.

Halfords

Halfords buys Nationwide Autocentres

(BUSINESS) - 19/02/2010 - Car and bike accessories retailer Halfords has bought Nationwide Autocentres for £73.2 million.

Vodafone

Vodafone UK's most valuable brand

(IT/TELECOMS) - 18/02/2010 - Mobile phone giant Vodafone is the UK's most valuable brand, a survey has shown.

For sale

Shortage pushes house prices up

(FINANCIAL) - 15/02/2010 - House prices were up 3.2% during February - the biggest rise since 2007, figures have shown.

Noka MEEGO

Nokia and Intel launch OS system

(IT/TELECOM) - 16/02/2010 - Electronics giants Intel and mobile phone company Nokia have joined forces to launch their own smartphone software.

Northern Rock

Legal & General announces 7% drop

(FINANCIAL) - 18/02/2010 - Insurer Legal & General has announced a 7% drop in worldwide sales for 2009.

Kwik-fit

Kwik-Fit to sell insurance arm

(FINANCIAL) - 15/02/2010 - Car repair firm Kwik-Fit is looking into selling its insurance arm for up to £200 million, it has emerged.

Premier Foods

Hovis behind Premier's profit rise

(FMCG) - 16/02/2010 - Premier Foods has said the success of Hovis bread helped it achieve its 4.5% rise in trading profit in 2009.

Marks & Spencer

Free insulation for M&S employees

(FMCG) - 15/02/2010 - Marks & Spencer has offered free loft or cavity insulation to its 30,000 workers in a bid to kick-start a new sales campaign.

Apple computers logo

Firms bring smartphones to the masses

(IT/TELECOM) - 16/02/2010 - Advisory firm Deloitte has claimed that half a billion smartphones could be sold by 2012.

Domino's Pizza

Domino's Pizza posts rise in profits

(FMCG) - 17/02/2010 - Pizza delivery firm Domino's has announced a 27.8% rise in profits following a recession-led trend for nights in front of the TV.

Lloyds

Lloyds sells 70% stake in esure

(BUSINESS) - 12/02/2010 - Lloyds Banking Group has sold its 70% stake in online insurer esure for £185 million.

iPhone

Drug firms work with new partners

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 11/02/2010 - Drug companies are beginning to work closely with information technology firms to prove the worth of their medicines to insurers and governments.

BT

BT agrees to £9bn pension deficit plan

(IT/TELECOMS) - 11/02/2010 - BT has agreed to fill a £9 billion pension deficit over the next 17 years - despite some concerns from the regulator.

Guinness

'Britons turn to alcohol during recession'

(FMCG) - 11/02/2010 - Alcohol giant Diageo has claimed people in the UK turned to drink to ease their recession woes, after noticing its sales booming in the second half of 2009.

For sale

Winter weather 'freezes' house prices

(FINANCIAL) - 09/02/2010 - The freezing weather dampened the housing market last month with people delaying their moving plans, according to new research.

On sale

High street's slow start to year

(FMCG) - 09/02/2010 - The snow and icy conditions caused by the big freeze led to the high street recording its worst January for 15 years, figures have shown.

Phil Hope

Health department spends £2.7m on Google

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 09/02/2010 - The Department of Health has spent in excess of £2.5 million advertising on internet search engine Google in the past year, it has been revealed.

Vodafone

Vodafone secures deal with Oracle

(IT/TELECOMS) - 08/02/2010 - Vodafone has teamed up with software company Oracle to provide its staff with mobile services for the next four years, it has been announced.

CSL Sofa

Sofa firm announces record sales

(FMCG) - 08/02/2010 - Sofa specialist CSL has announced record sales for the last year.

Abbey

Santander's plan to float UK businesses

(FINANCIAL) - 08/02/2010 - Santander is considering a £15 billion float of its UK banking interests, it has emerged.

Blacks

Blacks seeks share funds for expansion

(BUSINESS) - 05/02/2010 - Outdoor experts Blacks Leisure hopes to raise more than £20 million through a share placing scheme in a bid to expand the business, the firm has announced.

NHS

Stool smelling to save NHS millions

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 05/02/2010 - A device which identifies stomach bugs by analysing patients' faeces could save the NHS millions, it has been announced.

Unilever

Unilever enjoys strong finish to 2009

(FMCG) - 04/02/2010 - An ad campaign and a selection of new products helped Unilever achieve a 5% increase in sales volumes at the end of last year.

Santander

Santander profits climb 30%

(FINANCIAL) - 04/02/2010 - Santander has said that its profits rose by 30% last year, fuelled by the organisation capturing a bigger share of the UK mortgage and accounts market.

Vodafone

Improved sales boost Vodafone turnaround hopes

(IT/TELECOMS) - 05/02/2010 - Signs of improved sales trends in the UK and Germany have boosted hopes of a turnaround at Vodafone's European division.

For sale

CML warns of 'mortgage rationing'

(FINANCIAL) - 04/02/2010 - A trade body has warned that the UK could face mortgage rationing in the coming years.

Mobile

Mobile phone merger deal under scrutiny

(BUSINESS) - 03/02/2010 - The Office of Fair Trading has raised concerns over the impact that a proposed merger deal between two of the UK's largest mobile phone operators will have on an already saturated market.

ASDA

Asda falls behind major rivals

(BUSINESS) - 03/02/2010 - Asda has suffered a market share drop — its first in over two years — with the recent big freeze contributing to its fall behind its three main supermarket rivals.

New Look

New Look in stock market flotation

(BUSINESS) - 03/02/2010 - Fashion chain New Look is to float on the London Stock Exchange in a bid to repay debts and position itself for further growth.

Windows

Brits increasingly shopping online

(FMCG) - 01/02/2010 - From groceries delivered from the supermarket to your door, to the latest CD or DVD, clothes and much more, there is a whole world of goods available to the internet shopper at the click of a mouse button.

iPad

Apple showcases iPad tablet PC

(FMCG) - 28/01/2010 - Following weeks of speculation, Apple has finally entered the tablet PC market with its new, touch-screen iPad device.

Amazon

Amazon buoyed by Christmas sales

(FMCG) - 29/01/2010 - Amazon's UK chief believes the online retailer can continue to weather the recession storm following strong festive sales.

Hospital beds

'StickSafe' device to lower needlestick injuries

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 02/02/2010 - A new device may slash the number of healthcare workers exposed to blood-borne diseases by needlestick injuries and save the NHS £160 million per year, experts have said.

Cadbury

Kraft looks to seal Cadbury deal

(BUSINESS) - 02/02/2010 - Cadbury's shareholders are to decide whether or not to accept US giant Kraft's takeover offer.

Dog

Pet retailer set for £950m sale

(BUSINESS) - 27/01/2010 - Private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is reported to have agreed a deal to buy Pets at Home, the UK's biggest pet retailer.

DFS

Pair plan bid for DFS

(FMCG) - 01/02/2010 - Furniture group DFS could be sold to Private equity firm Permira and veteran retailer John Lovering, it has been revealed.

For sale

House prices rise 0.1% in January

(FINANCIAL) - 01/02/2010 - Average property prices rose by just 0.1% last month as the housing market began to show signs of slowing down, figures revealed.

Remote control

High definition TV boost for BSkyB

(IT/TELECOMS) - 28/01/2010 - Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has attracted a rush of new customers during the past three months thanks to its high-definition (HD) TV service.

Medicine

Five day 'morning after' pill welcomed

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 29/01/2010 - Pro-choice campaigners have described the successful trials of a contraceptive pill that is effective for up to five days after unprotected sex as an "exciting" development.

Lab tech

Fast track NHS drug scheme praised

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 27/01/2010 - "Strong progress" is being made by a Government scheme designed to speed up patient access to potentially "life-changing" medical advances, industry leaders have said.

AA

Compensation culture 'pushing up car insurance'

(FINANCIAL) - 28/01/2010 - A surge in personal injury claims is responsible for a record rise in car insurance premiums, the AA has said.

Keyboard

Broadband to hit 500 million

(IT/TELECOM) - 29/01/2010 - Research has shown that during 2010 broadband subscriptions across the globe will rise to half a billion.

Apple

Apple set to launch tablet computer

(FMCG) - 27/01/2010 - Apple is inviting the world to see its new "creation" with the technology giant expected to launch its new tablet computer on Wednesday - kickstarting a £600 million a year industry.

Garden shop

All rosy at garden centre chain

(FMCG) - 26/01/2010 - A UK garden centre chain is once again enjoying success after a name change helped it return to its roots.

Financial institution

ISA season shows early start

(FINANCIAL) - 26/01/2010 - The ISA season made an early start in 2010 as banks and building societies competed for savers' money, research has shown.

Bradford & Bingley

Europe clears bank break-ups

(FINANCIAL) - 26/01/2010 - European officials have cleared the break-up of the failed Bradford & Bingley (B&B) and the Dunfermline building society.

BT

BT offers 3,000 young apprenticeships

(IT/TELECOM) - 25/01/2010 - Thousands of youngsters are being offered the chance to work and train with telecoms firm BT, it has been announced.

Horby

Hornby buoyed by pre-Christmas rush

(FMCG) - 25/01/2010 - Despite worries over a fragile UK market, model toy maker Hornby has said it has seen a major boost in pre-Christmas orders.

For sale

Consumers 'expecting price 2010 rises'

(FINANCIAL) - 25/01/2010 - Most consumers fully expect to witness steadily increasing house prices during the coming 12 months, a poll has revealed.

Matalan

Matalan buoyed by strong Christmas figures

(FMCG) - 14/01/2010 - Matalan has announced strong Christmas results boosted by a surge in demand from savvy customers looking to defy the pitfalls of a recession-hit festive period.

John Lewis

John Lewis benefits from big thaw

(FMCG) - 22/01/2010 - Retailer John Lewis claims the improving weather is driving a welcome rise in sales.

Car factory

Car production slump revealed

(FINANCIAL) - 22/01/2010 - Motor traders have predicted a positive year ahead despite car production slumping in 2009 and commercial vehicle (CV) production also suffering a tough year.

Pat McFadden

Agency workers given new pay rights

(BUSINESS) - 22/01/2010 - The Government has finalised plans for new rights for 1.3 million agency workers, including the same pay, holidays and working conditions as full-time staff.

Starbucks

Starbucks sales soar as profits treble

(FCMG) - 21/01/2010 - Strong December sales have seen profits at Starbucks more than triple in the last quarter, topping off a resurgent year for the world's largest coffee chain which had suffered badly in the midst of the global recession.

Pills

Pill hope for MS sufferers

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 21/01/2010 - Multiple sclerosis sufferers have been given fresh hope following the successful trials of two new drugs that could be made available on the NHS by the end of 2011.

Morrisons

Morrisons enjoys surge in Christmas sales

(FMCG) - 21/01/2010 - Sales of canapes and sausage rolls among other party treats helped Morrisons to see increased sales of 6.5% this Christmas.

Carphone Warehouse

TalkTalk's X-Factor sales boost

(IT/TELECOM) - 20/01/2010 - Another 36,000 customers signed-up with broadband provider TalkTalk in the third quarter, the company has said.

Trinity Quarter

Recession-hit developer holds talks

(BUSINESS) - 20/01/2010 - The developer behind a major shopping centre stalled by the recession has said it is in talks with potential tenants.

Comet

Kesa hopeful of World Cup boost

(FMCG) - 20/01/2010 - Kesa Electricals hopes the World Cup and digital switchover will increase demand for televisions after the Comet parent group reported a fall in UK sales.

ITV

ITV advertisers charging bid rejected

(BUSINESS) - 19/01/2010 - An ITV proposal to alter the rules governing how much the broadcaster can charge advertisers has been rejected by the Competition Commission.

Apple

Deloitte forecasts £600bn worldwide NetTab industry

(IT/TELECOM) - 19/01/2010 - A business advisory firm has predicted 2010 will be the "breakout year" for tablet computers, starting a £612 million global industry as consumers buy into the latest technological craze.

Railway pub

Big freeze on pub drink sales

(FMCG) - 20/01/2010 - January's severe weather meant a cooling down for JD Wetherspoon's New Year sales figures, as heavy snow prevented drinkers from getting to its pubs.

Gordon Brown

Future technology to change job landscape

(IT/TELECOM) - 14/01/2010 - People could be flying spacecraft rather than commercial planes and helping to manufacture flying cars in 20 years time, according to a new report.

Primark

Primark sees sales increase by 19%

(FMCG) - 15/01/2010 - Strong performances in the UK and Spain helped Primark increase its sales by 19% in the final quarter of 2009.

Housing market

Housebuilder Bovis sees sales rise

(BUSINESS) - 15/01/2010 - Housebuilder Bovis Homes' latest reported sales have given some hope of a recovery in the market.

Halfords

Halfords reaps rewards of big freeze

(BUSINESS) - 15/01/2010 - Halfords has emerged as the big winner from Britain's big freeze after the car parts and bike specialist reported a surge in demand for car maintenance products as drivers readied themselves for the icy weather.

Abbey

Santander opens doors for business

(FINANCIAL) - 11/01/2010 - The familiar logos of Abbey and Bradford & Bingley (B&B) will today start to disappear from our high streets as Spanish banking giant Santander kicks-off its re-branding programme.

Steve Webb

42,000 to cut workers' pensions

(FINANCIAL) - 13/01/2010 - Thousands of employers are to cut their contributions to their workers' pensions due to the Government's pension reforms, the Liberal Democrats claimed.

Andy Burnham

Call to ban under-18 tanning salons

(MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE) - 13/01/2010 - Calls to ban tanning salons from allowing under-18s to use sunbeds have been backed by both a pop star and Government minister.

Housing market

Housing market supply increases

(FINANCIAL) - 12/01/2010 - The mismatch between supply and demand on the housing market has eased as more homes have come onto the market, research has shown.

Greggs

Mince pie sales boost Greggs

(FMCG) - 13/01/2010 - Bakery firm Greggs sold over one million mince pies a week over the Christmas period.

Tesco

Retailers enjoy merry Christmas

(FMCG) - 12/01/2010 - Retailers enjoyed better Christmas sales figures than they had "dared hope for" as a rush for winter warmers helped confidence return to the high street, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said.

Poundland

Strong sales figures for Poundland

(FMCG) - 11/01/2010 - West Midlands-based retailer Poundland has announced plans to open new stores after the chain revealed that Christmas sales had increased by a third.

Credit cards

Supermarkets' cards outperform banks'

(FINANCIAL) - 12/01/2010 - Marks & Spencer and Tesco have the happiest credit card customers, outscoring high street banks in customer satisfaction among credit card holders, according to research.

Argos

Argos owner predicts £20m increase

(FMCG) - 14/01/10 - Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group has said its annual profits will be £20 million better than expected.