What the Sunday papers said
The Sunday Papers
Conran, Britain's biggest private restaurant chain, has taken a big hit from its American restaurant and store business, slashing profits in half.
Whitbread is to introduce 1,500 personal trainers to its David Lloyd fitness chain in a bid to boost profits. Last week the hotel and restaurant company played down talk that it was interested in buying the Pizza Express chain.
The past 12 months have been some of the worst in recent history for Britain's restaurants chains. The problem has been magnified in london because of the dearth of tourists and cutbacks in City jobs.
The Independent on Sunday
The "Punting in the City" sharewatch column says investors should look at Enterprise Inns. The company offers low-risk, dependable earnings, is resilent to economice forces currently hurting the pub sector and is on a low price to earnings multiple. Current price - 589p.
The Sunday Express
Las Vegas gambling giant MGM Mirage is considering opening a UK casino and is to launch an online gaming site based in the Isle of Man as a possible launch pad.
Cigarette companies are braced for bad news today when a Bill banning tobacco advertising is set to be agreed by MPs.
The Mail on Sunday
Shares in Bulmers, the troubled cider maker, lost 42 per cent last week to stand at a lowly 114p. Ten months ago, before the maker of Strongbow issued the first of five profits warnings, the shares were north of 400p.
The Sunday Telegraph
Investors could be forgiven for avoiding cider after the accounting shocks of HP Bulmer last week. In contrast, Merrydown, the drinks group which produces the cider of the same name looks a solid business. It could well benefit from the woes of its bigger and troubled rival. Buy at 40.5p.
The Business
Hilton, the international hotels groups, is in talks with rival Queens Moat Houses over a franchising deal that eould mark its entry to the German market.
The Observer
Taxes are set to rise again in April to plug a £7bn gap in public-sector finances, against an anticipated rise of £5bn.
Britain's housing market is overheating and there is a growing risk of a slump in property prices, says Abbey National, one of the country's biggest mortgage banks.
