Why the tide is against the iron ore mining giants – CNBC Comment September 22, 2014 Mining firms have put on a brave face over the past 18 months. I warned last year that the super-cycle had popped, despite the largesse still being exhibited by the industry in the mining hub of Perth. Since then, billions of dollars have been extracted from cost savings, economies of scale are being wielded to [...]
Shifting your time frame can improve risk-reward ratios – Daily FX Tips & Picks September 22, 2014 With FX volatility picking up and trends turning parabolic, it’s easy to miss out on strong trends. One good example is the current 830 pips rally in dollar-yen. Traders that are not long now probably feel that they have missed too much already, and so hesitate to trade. Risk-reward ratios with longer time frames will [...]
Why the humble business card is in rapid decline September 22, 2014 But there’s still space for the analogue antique in our digital future. Few corporate rituals have proved as enduring as the exchanging of business cards. Some Brits may not think twice about stuffing several of them into a pocket or bag, with only the vague intention of retrieving them (crumpled and torn) later on. [...]
Bring In Your Parents Day 2014: Why it pays to listen to your parents September 21, 2014 All of us have turned to our parents for support at some point in our lives, but how many of us regularly look to them for career advice? According to recent LinkedIn research, one in three parents has no idea what their child does at work, which might go some way to explain why their [...]
How to give the perfect pitch in three easy steps September 18, 2014 Don’t depend on PowerPoint, and be sure to start confidently. Perfect business pitches are the stuff of legends. We’ve all heard stories of someone bumping into a wealthy investor in a lift or at a sports event, and convincing them to depart with several million to fund a new business. And with the rise [...]
Why business must work with politics for the good of society – ACCA Comment September 17, 2014 The relationship can be dysfunctional, but collaboration works to the benefit of all. On the day that Scotland votes on the most tightly contested constitutional issue the United Kingdom has ever faced, questions have been raised about the relationship between business and politics. The two are undeniably intertwined; arguably business and politics are [...]
Love your job and work hard. Avoid these two myths posing as career advice September 17, 2014 Hard work isn’t all, and following your heart may well end in tears. "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life,” Confucius is thought to have said. It’s a rousing thought. But like numerous other seductive one-liners posing as career advice, it hides more than [...]
Peer-to peer can help you take control of investing September 16, 2014 But make sure you pay close attention to the possible risks OPPORTUNITIES for savers to take control of their investments are increasing. The liberalisation of pension rules, announced in this year’s Budget, marked a watershed in the freedom savers can have over their money. But reform hasn’t been limited to pensions. In December 2012, the [...]
How to be more influential at work September 16, 2014 Even small changes, like always using highly precise numbers, can boost your persuasiveness, says Steve Martin. Everyone wants to be more persuasive and influential – particularly at work, where the ability to build relationships, convince the undecided, persuade clients and position yourself for the next great job is crucial. But how to accomplish this? [...]
Peer-to-peer lending can provide alternative saving options September 16, 2014 How can peer-to-peer (P2P) lending provide a reliable alternative to banks for your saving plans? Zopa has a strong, nine-year track record in the UK, with bad debts averaging just 0.25 per cent since 2010. While some other peer-to-peer platforms give loans directly to an individual or business, Zopa spreads risk by lending [...]