A three-way split sharpens MPC tensions October 20, 2010 A RARE three-way split has emerged among the members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which earlier this month voted to hold rates at 0.5 per cent and asset purchases at £200bn. Andrew Sentance stuck to his hawkish call of a rise in rates of 0.25 per cent while dove Adam Posen [...]
Takeover Panel poised to reject Cadbury Law October 20, 2010 THE Takeover Panel is today set to reject the most extreme changes to the takeover regime which were mooted in the wake of Kraft’s acquisition of Cadbury, as it concludes a sweeping investigation into the way large M&A deals are governed. The Panel is likely to shy away from the most radical proposals first put [...]
Morgan Stanley slumps October 20, 2010 MORGAN Stanley’s chief executive James Gorman yesterday admitted he was “not satisfied” with the bank’s performance in the third quarter, when it swung into the red due to a poor trading environment and a writedown on the planned disposal of casino operator Revel Entertainment. Morgan Stanley posted a net loss of $0.07 per share, compared [...]
Malcolm Calvert drops appeal against insider dealing conviction October 20, 2010 MALCOLM Calvert, the ex-Cazenove partner released from jail earlier this month after serving just a third of his 21-month sentence for insider dealing, has dropped his appeal against the High Court’s conviction, bringing to a close the most high-profile enforcement case in the City regulator’s history. Calvert, known as “Streaky”, was released from Ford prison [...]
BlackRock says it has stabilised as it beats earnings predictions October 20, 2010 BLACKROCK, the world’s largest asset manager, posted sharply better-than-expected quarterly earnings last night, as it attracted more assets from clients and earned stronger fees on the back of a stock market rally in September. New York-based BlackRock said earnings rose to $551m (£347.9m)?during the three months to the end of September, compared to $317m a [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 20, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES TRICHET OPPOSES DEAL IN EU BUDGET Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank, has refused to endorse the full package of Eurozone sanctions decided by European Union finance ministers this week. The revelation came amid mounting criticism in Germany of a compromise deal that Angela Merkel, the chancellor, agreed with Nicolas Sarkozy, [...]
Not even his voice survived the cuts October 20, 2010 MPs always like to take their medicine with a dollop of sugar, ideally well-mixed with a slather of school-boy sneers and jeers. The public, on the other hand, won’t swallow anything but the bitterest pill when it comes to bad news. So after a casual slap-around at PMQs, only an avalanche of the worst possible [...]
The cabinet’s winners and losers October 20, 2010 WINNER | MICHAEL GOVE WINNER | ANDREW LANSLEY LOSER | VINCE CABLE LOSER | THERESA MAY ANALYSIS Education: After Health and Overseas Aid, Education has got the best settlement, with cuts of just three per cent. The schools budget will increase in real terms from £35bn to £39bn. The capital budget, which was allocated to [...]
Crossrail and Tube spared from savings October 20, 2010 MAYOR of London Boris Johnson yesterday painted the chancellor’s decision to protect the capital’s major transport funding as a triumph, upholding London’s competitiveness as a major economic hub at a time when tax and regulatory changes are hammering the city. Johnson, who has fought a long campaign over the importance of investment in London’s infrastructure, [...]
Markets relaxed about Osborne’s plans October 20, 2010 It was a little like watching spectators at a tennis match in the City yesterday lunch time, as eyes flipped back from Osborne on the TV to prices on dealing screens. But we could have all saved ourselves some mild exertion as any financial market reaction – particularly in gilts and currencies – was difficult [...]