Regulators told to put growth before red tape February 24, 2013 REGULATORS such as the Health & Safety Executive will have to consider whether their actions harm economic growth as part of a “no-nonsense approach” to red tape. Business minister Michael Fallon will tonight flesh out plans to force the fifty non-financial regulators – including large quangos such as the Environment Agency – to consider whether their [...]
Zurich Insurance chief says low interest rates threaten industry February 24, 2013 THE chief executive of Zurich Insurance has told City A.M. that low interest rates threaten the business model used by the entire the insurance industry. Martin Senn, the global boss of one of the world’s biggest insurers, said poor returns on fixed-rate investments such as bonds are damaging the market: “If you told me these [...]
Rolex wins title of consumer superbrand for a second year February 24, 2013 LUXURY watch-maker Rolex has come top of an annual chart of consumer “superbrands” for the second year running, leaving Apple and Microsoft trailing in second and third place, a poll published today shows. The iPad and iPhone-maker jumped 16 places to clinch second place, missing out on the top spot to Rolex. Over 2,900 British [...]
Huawei reveals world’s fastest mobile phone February 24, 2013 SAMSUNG and Huawei yesterday became the first in a slew of electronics companies to showcase their latest technology at this year’s international mobile trade show. Mobile World Congress – the industry’s week-long jamboree that officially kicks off this morning – will see some of the biggest players in the market promoting new wares, as well [...]
New competition from the East February 24, 2013 HAZARD a guess which company is now the world’s third-biggest seller of smartphones, behind the obvious frontrunners Apple and Samsung. You might think of Nokia, BlackBerry or Motorola. But none of these three even appears in the world’s top five smartphone sellers, according to research from Gartner. It is Huawei, a Chinese company best known [...]
Firefox squares up to Google and Apple with new mobile platform February 24, 2013 MOZILLA, the organisation behind the Firefox web browser, has launched its own smartphone operating system, a move that will challenge Google’s Android software. The Firefox mobile operating system, targeted at smartphones that sell for £100 or less, will feature on devices made by Alcatel, LG and ZTE, with apps that run on HTML 5 – [...]
Tax breaks set to attract cash to North Sea oil February 24, 2013 INVESTMENT in the UK oil and gas sector will hit a record high this year, as a ramp up in drilling activity looks set to boost the UK economy. According to a report by trade body Oil & Gas UK out this morning, investment in the sector is forecast to rise to at least £13bn [...]
Emerging market hedge funds boom with billions more assets February 24, 2013 EMERGING market (EM) hedge funds boomed in the fourth quarter of last year, led by a surge in macro strategies and India-focused hedge funds, according to new figures. EM hedge funds across the world reached 1,100 by the end of 2012, a new record, while the amount of cash committed also leapt by $11.2bn (£7.39bn) [...]
Pension schemes push back debt reduction by 18 months February 24, 2013 UK pension schemes have been forced to push back their timescales for clearing their debts by one and a half years, a study out today shows. Pension plans now expect to reach their long-term objectives – commonly the stage when they are out of deficit and into surplus – in 12.8 years, up from 11.3 [...]
Carlyle eyes chance to hoover up stricken Axminster Carpets February 24, 2013 AXMINSTER Carpets, the historic carpet maker, could be bought by the same private equity outfit that snapped up failed UK carpet manufacturer Brintons in 2011 if the company files for administration, it emerged yesterday. Devon-based Axminster, which has woven carpets and rugs for aristocracy and royalty since the eighteenth century, is set to appoint Duff [...]