Morale boost among British consumers January 30, 2012 JANUARY is often considered the most depressing time of the year, yet a leading index of consumer morale has surprised economists by reaching a seven-month high during the opening weeks of 2012. Softening inflation and lower energy prices could be behind Brits reporting a less negative evaluation of their economic wellbeing, according to GfK NOP, [...]
London home prices buck trend January 30, 2012 HOUSE prices in England and Wales remained flat at the end of last year, according to government figures released yesterday. Yet the data revealed vast discrepancies between different regions, with prices continuing to rise in London. While the average cost of a house in England and Wales stayed at around £160,000 in December, the typical [...]
Retailers exceed green promises January 30, 2012 Firms are cutting waste at a faster rate than expected, and making business savings as a result, a report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) argues today. Retailers had aimed to send less than 15 per cent of waste to landfill by 2013, but sent only 14 per cent in 2011 – well ahead of [...]
BoE ups corporate bond sales January 30, 2012 The Bank of England increased operations in the corporate bond markets in an effort to improve market functioning in the fourth quarter of 2011, it revealed yesterday. The Bank buys corporate debt on the secondary markets in times of major sell offs, and sells its stock when necessary, all with the aim of providing pricing [...]
Pension fund assets hit record January 30, 2012 Global pension assets hit a record high of $28 trillion (£17.9 trillion) in 2011, up four per cent on 2010’s figure, a Towers Watson study said yesterday. Global pension fund assets have grown at over six per cent on average each year since 2001. However, liabilities growth outstripped asset expansion in 2011.
HERE’S ONE THEY DIDN’T PREPARE EARLIER: GAMES SHOW STALLS January 30, 2012 BE PREPARED – such an important quality. Especially when you are planning a large-scale sporting event that will bring widespread chaos – sorry, a million extra economy-boosting visitors – to the capital. But panic not, because the organisers of the London Olympics have got it all under control with an £8.8m strategy to help the [...]
Fujifilm lobs lifeline to fellow Japanese company Olympus January 30, 2012 CAMERA maker Fujifilm has offered the hand of partnership to Olympus, which is still reeling from the exposure of its $1.7bn fraud, citing similar operations in their medical equipment divisions. Since ex-chief executive Michael Woodford blew the whistle on Olympus’ accounts cover-up, the Japanese company has been reportedly seeking a corporate alliance, seeing an equity [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 30, 2012 WHITBREAD Credit Suisse has cut its rating for Premier Inn and Costa coffee owner Whitbread from “outperform” to “neutral”, saying that downside risks at the company are increasing. The broker expects a two per cent decline in revenue per average room at Premier Inn in 2013, which leaves its earnings per share estimates seven per [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS January 30, 2012 AnaCap Financial Partners AnaCap, the European financial services private equity firm, has promoted Justin Sulger and Fabrizio Cesario (pictured), head of credit opportunities and head of mergers and acquisitions respectively, to partner. Sulger joined AnaCap in July 2006 as part of the business services team, before expanding the firm’s risk and liability management arm. Cesario [...]
EPISODE 44 – EAST OF PERTH: G’DAY ZOMBIE January 30, 2012 I look and feel like a zombie. I’m pale, nursing a Great British cold and hugging what shadow I can find in unrelenting sunshine and 40˚C temperatures. Actually, maybe that’s more vampire than zombie. I’ll ask Noel when I call home. He’ll know. I spent the best part of a full 24 hour day airborne, [...]