Pru refuses to commit board to rights issue May 20, 2010 PRUDENTIAL was last night unable to confirm that any of its directors will fully participate in its $21bn (£14bn) cash call, even as they campaign for shareholders to back the move. Members of the insurer’s board, including chief executive Tidjane Thiam and chairman Harvey McGrath, are exempt from taking up all their rights in what [...]
Six short steps to better job interviews January 13, 2010 PREPARE THOROUGHLY Just as the candidate has to prepare for an interview, so does the manager. This should begin well before you have your short-list of candidates. You will need to make decisions about the format of the interview, who is going to participate, where interviews are to be held, what equipment is required if [...]
London Gateway lives on January 4, 2010 PORT operator DP World will go ahead with the foundation stage of its postponed London Gateway project despite the market downturn, it said yesterday. The unit of debt-laden state-owned holding company Dubai World said it had decided to proceed with the construction of essential infrastructure for the planned port and logistics park. The company, which [...]
Savills poised for bumper profits on UK house deals December 17, 2009 ESTATE agent Savills yesterday reported that its profits for 2009 would be “significantly ahead” of previous expectations. The international real estate advisor saw a higher-than-expected level of transactions in the UK prime residential market, as well as an increase in UK commercial market transactions. In Asia, which comprises 40 per cent of Savills’ business, it [...]
Go-Ahead pessimistic on rail arm December 15, 2009 TRANSPORT group Go-Ahead said yesterday that first-half profit at its rail unit would be 50 per cent down on last year due to reductions in government subsidies, but added that its bus business was performing well. The company, which operates its commuter rail franchises through majority-owned joint venture Govia, expects operating profit at its rail [...]
Shipping industry fears Copenhagen summit will agree on new green tax December 14, 2009 THERE were growing fears within the shipping industry last night that government ministers gathered at the Copenhagen climate change summit would impose a green tax on shipping. There was thought to be growing support at the talks for a global tax or an emissions trading scheme for shipping and aviation. The British government favours emissions [...]
How you can get a pay rise, even in a recession November 18, 2009 1 DO YOUR RESEARCHIt’s important you find out how your salary compares to that of other people working in your sector – if you’re paid at or above the average for people in your position, demanding a pay rise is going to be unrealistic, especially in the current climate. There are a number of online [...]
How to get yourself headhunted November 11, 2009 PEOPLE in the City are beginning to shift their feet. After sitting tight in their jobs throughout the downturn, workers are sniffing out new roles in increasing numbers, according to figures from recruitment firm Morgan McKinley – it said yesterday that the numbers of those looking for a new position in October were up six [...]
Managers can take steps to prevent stress in the office October 7, 2009 IT’S hardly a stretch to work out that economic gloom will exacerbate workplace stress. And that means more than just a few tough deadlines – it can cause serious mental health issues. The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health says that such problems cost UK organisations about £26bn each year. The latest Health and Safety Executive [...]
The 10 tips to make sure that you perform at that vital job interview May 27, 2009 JOB interviews are terrifying at the best of times. In a depressed job market where interviews are few and far between, it’s even more important to be an expert in getting them right. The first thing, of course, is getting the interview. “If you’re out of work looking for work, flexibility is the key right [...]