Saudi soap opera: The petro-kingdom’s day of reckoning is now approaching fast January 25, 2015 I have never understood the world’s fixation with soap operas; why obsess about EastEnders when the real world is so often far more dramatic and even less plausible? Even more to the point, why worry about 80s American re-runs Dallas and Dynasty when we have the true-to-life House of Saud, the world’s most prosperous family, [...]
Practise what you preach – especially if you’re working for a regulator January 25, 2015 It’s an old saying, but you really must practise what you preach. And this is especially important when you work for a regulator of any sort. Having taken up the position of deputy chairman at Quindell this month, Jim Sutcliffe stepped down from his position as chairman of the Codes and Standards Committee at the [...]
The City is well-placed to help fast-growing economies diversify January 25, 2015 A recent statistic has been stuck in my mind over the past few weeks. I read that the G7 nations currently account for around half of the world’s total economic output, but that the figure will fall to about a quarter by 2050. This simple fact explains why countries like the UK are so keen [...]
As Three’s owner eyes up O2, will more sector consolidation prove negative for consumers? January 25, 2015 Kester Mann, principal operators analyst at CCS Insight, says Yes. A move from four mobile operators to three will undoubtedly raise concerns among UK consumers that they’ll end up paying more for mobile services. Indeed, evidence in other European markets, notably Austria, points to an increase in prices following similar in-market consolidation. Mobile users in [...]
Rihanna vs Topshop: Three things businesses need to know about using celebrity images and endorsements January 23, 2015 Rihanna's “We Found Love” was one of the biggest hit songs of the autumn of 2011. Some readers may remember the furore surrounding the video shoot when the farmer, whose land the video was shot on, took a dislike to Rihanna’s dancing style and dress sense. Yesterday, we saw the next instalment in another dispute [...]
How to give a good speech – a cheat’s guide January 23, 2015 I know, I know. I have heard it all before. You meant to spend more time researching, you really wanted to get coaching, you intended to get input from friend or colleagues. But you didn’t. And now you are in trouble. The speech you have to give is this weekend, tomorrow, this evening or, worst [...]
Davos 2015 World Economic Forum: Top execs gather for grand old Duke of York January 22, 2015 It takes a lot to overshadow a quantitative easing programme on the scale of the one announced by the European Central Bank yesterday, but the Duke of York’s private life somehow managed it. Squeezed eight-deep into the Salon Rotary at the Belvedere Hotel, bosses from BP, Citi, Marks & Spencer and Diageo turned up to [...]
Why the Libor scandal is just the latest chapter in Britain’s obsession with punishment January 22, 2015 Britain’s enduring obsession with punishment has resurfaced in its response to the Libor scandal. The number of UK traders charged for Libor-related offences by the Serious Fraud Office has reached 13, placing Britain far ahead of other European countries in its tally of prosecutions for benchmark manipulation. Investigations continue and the UK authorities have indicated [...]
The Eurozone desperately needed Mario Draghi’s QE stimulus – but the euro isn’t safe yet January 22, 2015 European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi has done what many in the markets had hoped for, and announced a massive package of QE of over €1 trillion – promising more if need be. This is much bigger than had generally been expected, indicating Draghi’s determination to deal decisively with the Eurozone’s deflation problem. If [...]
Burns Night 2015: American Scots are being deprived of haggis – it’s time to overturn the ban January 22, 2015 It’s Burns Night this weekend, and yet millions of Americans of Scottish descent will be unable to enjoy Scotland’s national dish, the haggis. Since 1971, the US government has banned the export of haggis to America, and so Boisdale has initiated a campaign to change this. This resulted in Lord McColl of Dulwich raising questions [...]