PEMBROKE: Kick for Nike

The outburst from Eric Cantona places Nike, his sponsor, in an unenviable position. The shoe company tried to boost its street cred by running a controversial advertisement featuring the Frenchman confessing to foul behaviour, including spitting and fighting, while shrugging ambiguously into the camera. The ad has now backfired alarmingly and the company risks the reflected animosity of a nation. "While we do not condone the behaviour, we are sticking with our athlete," said Nike bravely. "At le ast until our review has reached a conclusion."

With concern about share prices demonstrating an eerie ability to anticipate important announcements, the Stock Exchange decided to issue definitive new regulations concerning price-sensitive news today. How do we know? Because news of the announcement

was prematurely flashed up on our Reuters screens after lunch yesterday.