The Business Matrix: Wednesday 15 August 2012

Russian Railways on track for float

Russian Railways is eyeing a flotation in London that would value the state-owned giant at more than 1.7 trillion roubles (£40bn). The world's third biggest railway's assets include 85,200km of track, 1 million employees and 1 billion passengers. It is planning to sell up to 25 per cent of the business in 2015 or 2016.

Lonmin slumps as trade unions clash

Shares in platinum producer Lonmin dived by nearly 5 per cent as the number of deaths rose to nine at its Western Platinum mine 60 miles north-west of Johannesburg. Lonmin said that the situation remained "volatile" as trade unions clashed with each other and the police in a row about pay.

SuperGroup co-founder quits

One of SuperGroup's three founders, Theo Karpathios, yesterday quit the company "to pursue other interests" eight years after helping to create the Superdry phenomenon. Karpathios owns 14.77 per cent of the clothing company, worth £51m.

Tesco shows signs of recovery in UK

Tesco has delivered the strongest sales of the big four supermarkets over the past month, in the first major sign that a £1bn investment to turnaround its UK business is bearing fruit. Sales grew by 5.1 per cent with Asda next best at 4.9 per cent.