Intel launches improved Pentium Businesses were promised enhanced performance and
Posted by adminIntel launches improved Pentium Businesses were promised enhanced performance and speed as the world's leading personal computer makers helped Intel launch its latest chip, the Pentium II processor. In March Wace revealed losses of pounds 2.04m had replaced profits of pounds 20.5m in 1996, but said it expected a recovery in the second half of 1997, which it now says will not be achieved.. The terms of a supply agreement with Hallmark, continued losses at an Irish plant, a reduction in demand for spirits labels and competition in the printing market were among the reasons cited for the difficulties. The shares plunged 40p, before recovering to end 33.5p lower at 41p, on the announcement that the group would report operating losses both at the half-year and full-year stages in 1997. The group said the improvement in its US businesses had not come through as expected, while a range of problems had hit European operations. Wace warns again on profits Shares in Wace more than halved at one point yesterday after the printing services group shattered market expectations with its third profits warning in 12 months.
They are unhappy that the company has used pounds 260m of the surplus to declare a pensions holiday and cover future liabilities for fund members who took early retirement from the company.. Unilever to meet pensioners Unilever, the Anglo Dutch consumer goods giant, attempted to diffuse a rebellion from some of its 44,000 pensioners over use of an pounds 800m pension fund surplus. Niall FitzGerald, chairman, told shareholders at the group's annual general meeting in London yesterday that he would meet pensioner representatives for talks on 19 May to try to sort out the grievances. This would be bad in general and bad for us because this is our home country." The comments came as BP announced record profits before tax and exceptional items of pounds 755m for the first three months of the year, an increase of 19 per cent. Earnings from exploration and production surged by 24 per cent to pounds 913m, while BP said there were signs that profit margins from refining and retailing were improving after last year's slump. The company also warned that it would need to spend at least $100m (pounds 62m) solving the millennium computer problem Investment column, page 22.. Two of Henry Cecil's leading candidates for the fillies' Classic, Fascinating Rhythm and Fiji, were announced as doubtful runners yesterday, while another, Jean Lesbordes' Mousse Glacee, was also the subject of disturbing rumours, although these proved harder to substantiate.
The remaining televised events are both maidens and difficult to call, though Solo Mio (2.40) must go close.Assuming that Entrepreneur remains sound, there will be few major upheavals in the Derby market between now and 7 June, but the same seems unlikely to be true of ante-post betting on the Oaks. In particular, they look for a favourite in a wide stall in a race with a decent alternative drawn between three and eight, near enough to the rail to get a good position but not so close that a slow start will remove all hope.It seems unlikely that any horse all week - perhaps all season - will fit the first requirement more completely than Break The Rules, who is the morning-line favourite for the Walker Smith & Way Handicap but will be closer to the River Dee than the running rail as he leaves stall 17. Statistically, though, at least one of today's runners is likely to develop into a Group One winner, as the list of horses which have competed here in the last 10 years indicates. Old Vic, Belmez, Quest For Fame (who did win the Derby), Moonax, Toulon and Luso have run in the Vase and gone on to record victories at the highest level, and two of today's runners - Panama City and Ghataas - are sufficiently unexposed to be capable of almost anything between now and the autumn. Ghataas was second to Poteen - third in the 2,000 Guineas - on his only start as a juvenile, and broke his maiden last month with more ease than a half-length margin suggests.