Fed in no rush to taper but QE is losing force January 8, 2014 MOST of the Federal Reserve’s rate-setting board now believe that the positive effects of quantitative easing are diminishing as purchases continue, while insisting they were in no rush to speed up the new tapering programme. “A majority of participants judged that the marginal efficacy of (QE) purchases was likely declining as purchases continue,” according to [...]
Flying high: London’s Air Ambulance 25 years old today January 8, 2014 LONDON’S Air Ambulance service, which has been dispatched to more than 30,000 critically injured people in the capital, celebrates 25 years of service today. It is now seeking help to acquire a second helicopter and to recruit additional pilots and fire crew to extend its daylight flying hours in the summer months. “I urge people [...]
Growth creates drought of London job candidates January 8, 2014 A SKILLS squeeze is hitting London while companies across the UK are also finding it increasingly hard to find appropriate staff, a report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG reveals today. As the economy recovers, employers are reporting a shortage of skilled candidates for vacancies. According to the survey, the drop in availability [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 9 January 2014 January 8, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES UK mobile services in Channel tunnel British Eurotunnel passengers will finally be able to use mobile phones under the sea following an agreement between the Channel tunnel operator and UK telecoms groups to provide the same sort of voice and data services that have been available to the French since 2012. China offers [...]
I agree with Nick, tweets Ed Balls January 8, 2014 LABOUR’S Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has set fingers tapping on Twitter again, this time by seemingly pledging his allegiance to Nick Clegg. In an interview in New Statesman magazine Balls said he could understand why the Liberal Democrat leader had formed a coalition with the Conservatives, adding that he would not be averse to discussing [...]
Skip the visa queue – pay January 8, 2014 THE GOVERNMENT could be about to hand wealthy investors an easy way around the visa queue by handing over cash in return for citizenship. Investor visas could be awarded to the highest bidder, or potential citizens offered the chance to donate money to good causes, including building new hospitals or universities, in return for leave to [...]
RBS to cut jobs to reduce costs January 8, 2014 ROYAL Bank of Scotland is expected to announce job cuts next month as part of plans to reduce its cost base. Chief executive Ross McEwan, who took the helm last October, said he wanted to cut the group’s cost base, reducing its cost to income percentage target to the mid 50s from its current 65 [...]
Fairfax buys Blackberry debt January 8, 2014 FAIRFAX Financial Holdings is set to buy another $250m (£150m) worth of BlackBerry’s debt, providing the struggling smartphone maker with much-needed cash. The move by Fairfax, the Canadian property and casualty insurer run by investment guru Prem Watsa, will double the company’s holdings of BlackBerry’s debt. Fairfax also owns a 9.9 per cent equity stake [...]
Terra Firma staff see pay double on bumper year January 8, 2014 STAFF at Terra Firma, the private equity firm controlled by seasoned investor Guy Hands, saw their salaries and bonuses double during the last financial year, according to figures released yesterday. Wages and salaries jumped to £35.6m for the year ending 31 March 2013, up from £17.6m during the year-ago period. The company had 91 staff [...]
Greek ministers hail recovery and hint at bond issue in 2014 January 8, 2014 SENIOR Greek ministers were in a bullish move as the country took up its six-month presidency of the European Union, claiming that the troubled Mediterranean state could return to the bond market this year. Speaking at the presidency’s launch ceremony yesterday, finance minister Yannis Stournaras and foreign minister Evangelos Venizelos talked up Greece’s recovery from [...]