London’s FTSE 100 ends down after weak oil stocks weigh on the market March 22, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index ended slightly lower yesterday, as weakness in oil stocks outpaced firmer drugmakers, as the US House of Representatives approved a healthcare reform bill, and with miners also in demand. The FTSE 100 ended down 5.58 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 5,644.54 after a volatile session which saw the index dip [...]
Green rules pushing up energy prices February 25, 2010 ENERGY prices are too high in Britain, even after the recent cuts in gas prices. But those tempted to join in the populist rage at British Gas-owner Centrica’s results yesterday – UK profits hit a new record, though global earnings fell – need to understand all of the forces at play. It is true that sometimes [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING February 10, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES BOCOM EYES $500M PRIVATE EQUITY FUND Bank of Communications is to launch a US dollar private equity fund in the latest sign of mounting Chinese interest in the asset class. BoCom International, the bank’s overseas arm, said on Wednesday it was targeting a $500m fund that would invest in mainland groups. The fund [...]
Meet the man who would be king: a radical dressed in Liberal clothing February 23, 2010 THE Liberal Democrats have never held much sway in the City. Their traditional supporters prefer a sleepy, polite way of life – not the cut and thrust of the Square Mile. If the opinion polls are to be believed, however, Nick Clegg is set to play the role of kingmaker in a hung parliament after [...]
The Queen’s Speech starts election race November 18, 2009 THE government yesterday laid down battle lines for the next general election with a politically charged Queen’s Speech that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats dismissed as “pointless”. The legislative programme outlined by the Queen in the House of Lords contained moves including a widely-expected Financial Services Bill, which will allow regulators to veto bankers’ bonuses [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 16, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES BURBERRY LOOKS TO WIN OVER FRIENDS ONLINEBurberry, the fashion brand that has gone from classic to cutting edge, is to launch its own social networking site next month. The clothing group hopes the move will deepen its relationship with customers and attract new devotees. Called artofthetrench.com, the site will initially feature users sending [...]
Where the smart money should be heading next year December 16, 2009 AT THE start of 2009, there was a very real chance that we would enter another Great Depression and the banking system was still on its knees. But the past 12 months have been an astonishing year in the markets – stock market indices have risen sharply beyond all expectations and major countries returned to [...]
MPs jump on Brown’s fuel rebate plans August 11, 2008 Gordon Brown’s plans for a fuel rebate for all families on child benefit were rubbished yesterday for being “indiscriminate”, with the payment set to help the rich as well as the poor. It emerged yesterday that the Prime Minister is mulling proposals to give £150 to the 7m families who receive child benefit, to help [...]