Ontelly

Wake Up to Money - 03/06/2010

Logo for Wake Up to Money - 03/06/2010

News and views from the business world with Jeremy Naylor and Andy Verity. Network Rail has announced a 75% slump in profits. Pre-tax profit this year is less than a third of last year's £1.5bn. We ask Philip Haigh, business editor of Rail Magazine, if passengers will experience anything different as a result. The latest British Airways cabin crew strike is set to end. Unite have been providing those on the picket lines with 'strike pay' of £30 a day, which has totalled almost £1 million. Rory Murphy, former assistant general secretary of Amicus, analyses how much longer Unite can afford these payouts. Petrol and diesel have become cheaper in the past week but the cost of a barrel of oil has risen by $5 to just under $75, meaning prices could rise once again. We ask Brendan McLoughlin, founder of the price comparison site Petrol Prices.com, whether prices may come down any further. A new survey says that Lexus and Toyota cars may have been subject to recalls over recent months, but UK owners still rate them highly. Brian Walters, senior director for European research operations at JD Power and Associates, explains why the Lexus is so popular.