Bank of England holds interest rates at 0.5 per cent as inflation forecasts are pushed back October 8, 2015 Rate-setter Ian McCafferty failed to persuade any of his colleagues to join him in voting to lift official interest rates from their record lows this month as the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) pushed back its inflation forecast. The MPC – which voted eight to one to hold rates – changed its tone [...]
Even Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership victory hasn’t improved Labour’s fortunes in Scotland, according to new poll October 8, 2015 Jeremy Corbyn’s electoral success had led to optimism that Labour can regain some ground in Scotland that was lost in the 2015 General Election. A new poll, however, has suggested that the election of the new leaders of UK and Scottish Labour has had no immediate impact “on the standing of the party in Scotland, where it [...]
Forget Deutsche Bank losses – outlook for German banks has improved, says Moody’s October 8, 2015 Moody’s has upgraded the outlook for Germany’s banking system from negative to stable – despite its biggest bank, Deutsche Bank, saying last night that it will lose over €6.2bn (£4.6bn) in the third quarter. The ratings agency said the move “reflects the removal of uncertainty surrounding government support following the introduction of a banking resolution framework in the country. [...]
Tech review: I fought the Smart Glider… and the Smart Glider won October 8, 2015 Last week I had an altercation with a tiny robot. I was flipped high into the air by an electric scooter and landed hard on my left arm, fracturing my wrist and elbow and irreparably destroying what little self-respect I had on me at the time. It was scooter carnage. Of course, it would [...]
Mining and Tesco shares help FTSE 100 to a six-week high – London Report October 8, 2015 Surging mining stocks and a surprise rise in Tesco’s shares buoyed the London market yesterday, with the FTSE 100 ending at its highest closing level since the summer. The blue-chip index finished up 0.2 per cent at 6,336.35 points – its highest closing level since 20 August. The FTSE came down off its earlier intraday [...]
Best of the Brokers for 08 October 2015 October 8, 2015 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com OLD MUTUAL Barclays upgraded the insurer from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating, noting that operations are “robust” across the firm;s key business units. The broker added that Old Mutual “offers attractive emerging market growth superior to most European peers, [...]
Blending business and technology to make part-time MBAs accessible October 8, 2015 Imperial College Business School’s part-time MBAs offer new formats to fit around busy professional lives PART-TIME MBAs are becoming increasingly popular, fuelled by rapid technological advancement at leading business schools and students’ determination not to let go of an already successful career. The benefits of completing a part-time MBA are vast. You will achieve all [...]
Mundane meetings: Making a getaway – don’t hit ‘accept’ too hastily and bag a seat by the door October 8, 2015 Meetings are like a box of chocolates, but not in a good way. Occasionally informative and thought-provoking, all too often they are time consuming, irrelevant and poorly planned. Worst of all, you don’t know what you’re getting until you’re inside the meeting room, having put off other potentially important commitments. Many meetings are a [...]
Megabrew: AB InBev says SABMiller’s latest offer rejection “lacks credibility” October 8, 2015 The Megabrew saga continues: after brewing giant SABMiller rejected an offer from rival AB InBev worth £42.15 per share yesterday, AB InBev has now hit back, saying the refusal "lacks credibility". Yesterday afternoon SABMiller said the deal "substantially undervalues [the company], its unique and unmatched footprint, and its standalone prospects". But today, in tug-of-war-fashion, AB InBev replied that it's "surprised" the board of SABMiller – excluding directors nominated by Altria, who [...]
Bad bosses shouldn’t make jokes if they want to keep their staff happy October 8, 2015 As the boss of the Wernham-Hogg Paper Company, David Brent once said: "When people say to me: would you rather be thought of as a funny man or a great boss? My answer's always the same. To me, they're not mutually exclusive." But he was wrong, according to a new study. New research from the University of Missouri shows [...]