How traders can profit from the global grain price slump April 27, 2015 Declines in soft commodities may not last long. A glut of grains on the world market has meant plummeting wheat, corn, and soybean prices. Last year, great weather coincided with high levels of planting in key growing regions around the world, leading to record harvests. Some analysts had worried that sanctions on exports [...]
How not to trade the UK’s General Elections – CNBC Comment April 27, 2015 One month after each of the last six UK General Elections, the average return of the FTSE 100 has been 1.85 per cent. Meanwhile, sterling has fallen by an average of 3.06 per cent against the US dollar. So the lesson is simple: buy the FTSE and sell the pound, right? Clearly – not so. [...]
What the General Election could mean for sterling – DailyFX Tips & Picks April 27, 2015 THERE are many ways the UK General Election could affect the financial markets. But since most FTSE 100 companies have an international exposure, most agree that the effect will primarily be felt by small cap businesses. Unless we get a Tory coalition with Ukip, that is. This could lead to an EU referendum and a [...]
The cost of charismatic leadership: Strong personalities can be distracing April 27, 2015 Companies are better off relying on old-fashioned expertise and openness to feedback. General Electric’s former chief executive Jack Welch is often posited as the archetype of the successful “charismatic” business leader. He rose to fame for setting big goals and communicating them with confidence, and his influence on business more generally has been substantial. [...]
How to limit distractions at work April 26, 2015 Instilling a culture of quality and ensuring a sense of personal responsibility is important. The pace of change at work can be considerable. Unfamiliar technology, team changes, office relocations or new leadership can mean that employees at all levels are often distracted, unfocused and prone to making mistakes. Recent research among more than [...]
High season at Ten Trinity Square: Architect Suzette Vela Burkett on restoring a grand Tower Hill landmark April 23, 2015 One of the city’s finest buildings, Ten Trinity Square, is set to re-open at the end of 2016 as a Four Seasons Hotel, with luxury residences on top. It was opened by Prime Minister David Lloyd George in 1922 as the Port of London Authority and it took 11 years to build. It also hosted [...]
Cook up a storm in Barnes: Scarth House is a rare period property with kitchen space for four ovens April 23, 2015 London is fortunate enough to have a multitude of Victorian and Georgian houses that are still in a good enough condition to be a decent family home. But you don't hear so much about houses that were built in the reign of William IV, who was king for only seven years between 1830-37. But [...]
London barometer: Home buyers and sellers shrug off General Election uncertainty April 23, 2015 It appears that buyers and sellers are getting bored of political uncertainty and this is reflected in the consistent flow of properties coming to the market. Perhaps this will come as a surprise to many people, but the number of offers being agreed is what we’d usually expect at this time of the year. [...]
A vision for the future of King’s Cross: Show apartment is unveiled at The Plimsoll Building April 23, 2015 King’s Cross is one of the largest and most exciting regenerations currently underway in London, and visitors got their first taste of what it would be like to live in one of its apartments last week. The interior-designed show flat at The Plimsoll Building was unveiled on the site next to Regent’s Canal and [...]
London house prices: Could the General Election outcome send the wealthy packing? April 23, 2015 London has a unique property market. Prime and emerging-prime areas of London are driven by people who move to larger and “better” located properties not because they really need to, but because they want to. Nothing soothes a burgeoning ego more than an SW3 postcode. Political rhetoric aimed at plundering this – apparently under-taxed – [...]