Focus on Chiswick: Why are families flocking to west London? November 13, 2014 Many people seem to think that, between oligarchs buying up prime central London and renters occupying the trendy suburbs, the capital is becoming a place of transition. But there’s one place that’s defying that trend: Chiswick. This ancient country retreat, which was once part of Middlesex, is every inch the traditional London village. [...]
Private view: On the market in Chiswick November 13, 2014 CHISWICK GATE Prices on application Luxury developer Berkeley Homes presents this family project close to the Grade-I listed grandeur of Chiswick House. A collection of three, four and five bedroom townhouses are available, along with one, two and three bedroom apartments, with access to private landscaped gardens. For more information and to register your interest [...]
The George Clooney effect: Venice’s Palazzo Molin del Cuoridoro is a rare medieval masterpiece November 13, 2014 Two months ago, Paris was overshadowed as the romance capital of the world by Venice. This had everything to do with George Clooney, Hollywood’s smoothest eternal bachelor, choosing the city to host his wedding to British human rights barrister Amal Alamuddin. The world’s media swooped on the waterlogged cultural hotspot and it received some [...]
Leadership goes wrong when you just don’t listen November 13, 2014 Always jumping in with the solution won’t curry favour with staff. Unsurprisingly, some of the most inspiring leaders I have met are also the most skilled listeners I know. They empathise, even if they don’t agree. They make me feel like they care about me and my views, and that makes me care about [...]
Psychometrics: Behavioural tests are a secret weapon for any business November 12, 2014 Behavioural tests are vital to productivity. In the world of work, success comes from the crucial combination of individuals having the right skills for the role, and also a working style that matches their business environment. While a CV is useful for determining the former, how can businesses gain an additional understanding of [...]
The Narendra Modi effect: Why Indian stocks could keep on soaring November 11, 2014 Of the 1,559 equity funds monitored by FE Trustnet, the top seven performers over the last 12 months have all been India specialists. Eighth spot is held by a biotech fund, but the next six spots are again occupied by funds focused on India. Out of the top 20 funds, 16 are India equity [...]
Back to the 90s: What’s in store for 2015 markets November 11, 2014 US equities will stay in bull mode, but the problems for Europe look likely to persist. As we approach the end of 2014, many investors will be reviewing the performance of their portfolios, with a view to repositioning them ready for 2015. Here are my thoughts on where the major markets are heading. [...]
Success overkill: Unusual lessons for businesses November 11, 2014 “Last mover advantage” may be the only way to reach the top. We are inundated with advice on success – what it looks like, and how you get there. Famous quotations applied to business range from the frank (“if you’re going through hell, keep going,” said Winston Churchill) to the fanciful (“all our dreams [...]
Everything you need to know about spread-betting charges November 10, 2014 Pay close attention to the overnight holding fee and spreads. After a relatively quiet summer, traders are finally seeing global market volatility pick up again. The Vix equity volatility index, for example, hovered between 10 and 12 for long stretches of June and July, but was back up above 20 a few weeks ago. [...]
Q&A: Why transparency should be at the heart of pricing November 10, 2014 What are the current problems with pricing in retail FX and why are some traders concerned? It all comes down to transparency and trust. At present, the standard practice for trading and quoting FX is very opaque, and traders don’t know how much of a mark-up or commission is added to the quotes. In addition, [...]