Buyer beware: Probe past headline figures February 29, 2012 EACH year, the Financial Times (FT) creates an interactive guide to the world’s best executive MBA (EMBA) programmes. Its headline figures are the result of a weighted formula – average alumnus salary contends with diversity indices and career progress rankings — and schools make proud use of these findings in their marketing. Described as a [...]
UK schools can give global benefits February 29, 2012 THE PRESSURES of globalisation have inspired many senior managers either to leave Britain for their executive MBA (EMBA) or to join one of a growing number of joint programmes between British and foreign business schools. One such course is the Trium, a partnership between the LSE, New York University: Stern and the HEC School of [...]
FTSE jumps on prospect of new cash injection from ECB February 28, 2012 THE FTSE 100 crept into positive territory yesterday, with miners tracking metal prices higher as the anticipation of cheap European Central Bank loans flooding the financial system boosted the outlook for raw materials demand and for lending. London’s blue-chip index closed up 12.36 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 5,927.91, as gains were capped after [...]
Dow closes above 13,000 milestone February 28, 2012 THE DOW closed above 13,000 for the first time since May 2008 yesterday and the Standard & Poor’s 500 also hit a milestone, as buoyant US consumer confidence data and a sharp drop in oil prices nudged the nearly five-month rally forward. The S&P 500 closed above 1,370, its May 2011 intraday high, a move [...]
Accommodating the greatest show on earth by calling on a global team February 28, 2012 COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 149 DAYS TO GO Chris Hale explains why it makes sense to be the official hotel services provider to this summer’s Games Q. What was your brand’s primary reason for being involved with the Games? A. There are many compelling reasons why we have chosen to be a [...]
Lower volatility drives flows into higher yields February 28, 2012 AS a result of lower FX market volatility and high daily trading volumes, combined with rock-bottom dollar yields, traders have been driven into long risk positions in the hunt for gains. Higher-yielding Canadian and Aussie dollars and even the euro have been targets for trading on the risk trend. This trend was given another boost [...]
CONTINUING THE DOVISH BOE TREND February 28, 2012 UK BRANCH MANAGER, EASY-FOREX DESPITE signs of improvement for the UK economy, the pound traded at the month’s low versus the US dollar and a 10-week low versus the euro last week. A weaker pound was initially triggered after the release of the minutes for the Bank of England’s (BoE) February policy meeting. The minutes [...]
HSBC leads banking shares down despite bumper profit February 27, 2012 BRITAIN’S leading share index ended lower yesterday, pressured by weakness in banking issues after international leaders said more money was needed from Europe to help ease the region’s debt crisis, and with heavyweight HSBC falling after its results. Eurozone countries pledged at a meeting of finance leaders of G20 economic powers on Sunday to reassess [...]
S&P at its highest since mid-2008 February 27, 2012 THE benchmark S&P 500 closed at its highest level since mid-2008 yesterday, extending gains for a third session as oil prices retreated after a recent rally and data showed further improvement in the US housing market. The S&P and the Nasdaq both eked out gains, while the Dow closed barely lower. An industry group reported [...]
Trade the month end balancing act February 27, 2012 AS February draws to its inevitable conclusion, what impact does the passing of another month have on the markets? Though Treasuries or corporate bonds show no significant end-of-month effects, there is a noticeable and measurable effect in equity and in forex markets. THE FIX IS IN Month-end fixings relate to the moves that portfolio managers [...]
