Banks are becoming more popular despite crisis June 9, 2009 AS a pollster, it’s not so often that survey results fly in the face of your expectations, but preparing some BrandIndex data for a talk at the Association of British Insurers conference, I had two surprises. Looking at the “buzz” tracking for three baskets of brands – banks, utilities, and separately financial services (providers of [...]
The winner from the tuna debacle? Nobu June 9, 2009 THE speed with which Pret a Manger and M&S have put to use The End of the Line, a film about the overfishing of bluefin tuna that hasn’t even been released yet, is astonishing. Another movie points the finger at our cruel, environment-wrecking ways and before you can say “skipjack”, the tuna sandwich is struck [...]
HSBC launches Russian project June 9, 2009 HSBC is moving into retail banking in Russia, in a bid to take advantage of the country’s burgeoning middle class, which the bank said was “relatively undamaged” by the recession. Europe’s largest bank opened its first retail branch in Moscow yesterday and is planning three more in the Russian capital and another in St. Petersburg. [...]
Guilty plea in banker death June 9, 2009 TWO men have pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Barclays Wealth chief operating officer Frank McGarahan, who died after trying to break up a street fight in the early hours of 28 September last year in Norwich. Tom Cowles, 22, and his brother Ben, 21, admitted to manslaughter after initially denying a charge of murder. [...]
My crush is ruining my concentration June 9, 2009 DEAR VEXED: I’m working hard and am on track for promotion. The only problem is that a beautiful woman has joined the company and I cannot stop thinking about her. You could call it a crush – I’m worried it’s an obsession. I can barely concentrate. What should I do? Mark, 32, wealth manager FIRST [...]
IG profits soar as markets stabilise June 9, 2009 SHARES in IG Group got a lift yesterday after the spread-betting firm said that it expects its full-year adjusted pre-tax profit to rise by 29 per cent to £125m, boosted by higher fourth quarter revenues. The group said in a trading statement that a strong rally in the equity markets led to higher client trading [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS June 9, 2009 DawsonsThe law firm has hired Stephen Morrall as a new partner to its expanding corporate commercial team. Morrall joins from Middleton Potts, where he worked for over 20 years. He has a particular interest in cross-border M&A, joint ventures, banking and cross border security, international trade and employment law. Morrall will also help the firm [...]
CLIPPED WINGS June 9, 2009 AUSTRALIAN flag carrier Qantas expects demand for passengers to drop by five per cent next year, it said yesterday. Chief executive Alan Joyce said it would cut capacity and expected next year to be “very tough.”
BEST OF THE BROKERS June 9, 2009 LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE (LSE)Analysts at Bernstein upgraded the LSE to “outperform” with a target price of 950p, based on the potential for cost-savings, a low interest rate environment and a strong post-trade environment to drive stock outperformance. The broker believes that consensus earnings for the group are understated and forecasts four per cent above average [...]
Lloyds closes C&G outlets June 9, 2009 LLOYDS Banking Group is to withdraw its Cheltenham & Gloucester (C&G) brand from the high street in a move that will see the bank wield the axe over up to 1,660 staff as it streamlines in the wake of its takeover of HBOS. The bank said it would close all 164 branches of C&G within [...]