New banking regulation mustn’t be the medicine that killed the patient June 17, 2012 IN THE four years since the start of the financial crisis, we have walked a tightrope between enough and too much regulation; between the commendable aim of protecting consumers, markets and financial stability on the one hand, and the tendency of politicians, looking to voter concerns and media headlines, to be seen “to do something”. [...]
Will the City ever be representative of the diversity of London’s broader workforce? June 17, 2012 YES Ric Berke Globalisation has changed the working landscape, and the City is no different. London is one of the world’s leading financial centres, staffed by top talent from across the globe, creating a truly diverse workforce. As a City recruiter, I can confirm that roles are filled by the strongest applicants and hiring decisions [...]
RAPID responses June 17, 2012 Broken spring [Re: Are shareholder revolts over executive pay a coherent response to poor performance?, Friday] The shareholder spring is another example of a public spurred on by a militant minority, and fuelled by a mixture of jealousy and ignorance. Anyone earning more than double the average wage has been branded a fat cat and [...]
Businesses should be planning for the scenario of a Eurozone collapse June 14, 2012 WITH Greece going to the polls on Sunday, the Eurozone crisis continues to dominate. While we are in uncharted territory – there is no legal or jurisdictional framework that allows for a euro collapse, or exit from the currency by one or more countries – businesses can assume three scenarios to set plans against: a [...]
Nimble thinkers can leave long-term visionaries locked in a time warp June 14, 2012 IN WESTERN Texas, they’re building a clock in a mountain designed to last for 10,000 years. The project, backed by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos and many other tech luminaries, will take decades to complete and is the centrepiece of a movement to encourage more long-term thinking. The foundation behind it makes a point of [...]
Sky under threat as BT takes fight to football rights June 14, 2012 BSKYB’S delight at remaining the primary broadcaster for live football in the UK is not unreserved. Increased competition from the likes of Al Jazeera and ESPN has forced it to pay handsomely for the privilege, and the entry of BT into the market threatens its pre-eminence more powerfully than any of its previous competitors have [...]
Are shareholder revolts over executive pay a coherent response to poor performance? June 14, 2012 YES Carol Arrowsmith The 2012 AGM season has witnessed high levels of shareholder activism, focused on the bellwether issue of executive pay. The UK tends not to regulate these issues, believing that companies should follow good practice or explain their position – “comply or explain”. This year we are seeing shareholders challenge some companies – [...]
RAPID RESPONSES June 14, 2012 Accounting error [Re: Accounting rules place box ticking above prudence, Wednesday] Unfortuantely, Syed Kamall has made fundamental errors in his article. The accounting rules proposed by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) don’t allow balance sheet inflation. They are also not yet finalised and the IFRS rules relevant to banks weren’t in operation during the financial crisis. [...]
Osborne should reject the Vickers report in his Mansion House Speech June 13, 2012 GEORGE Osborne is a flip-flop chancellor – but on all the wrong policies. One area where a u-turn would be welcome is on the implementation of the Vickers report. However, In his Mansion House speech tonight, he will signal an intention to plough on as before – accepting both the good and the bad. Let’s [...]
Obama’s campaign stumbles over claims he doesn’t feel economic pain June 13, 2012 AWEEK after the US Department of Labour announced the country had experienced its worst job growth for a year, President Barack Obama told the gathering herd of reporters at the White House that “the private sector is doing just fine.” Within an hour, Mitt Romney’s campaign had produced a web video. Within a day, the [...]