Apple and Samsung bosses begin settlement discussions May 20, 2012 THE CHIEF executives of Apple and Samsung will today meet in a judge-supervised setting in an attempt to settle a legal dispute over patents. A jury trial is scheduled for July to assess Apple’s claims that Samsung has infringed copyright in the design of its smartphones and tablets. Samsung was served with a 373-page complaint [...]
Falling supply lifts London’s house prices May 20, 2012 LONDON’S house prices rose strongly in April, again outstripping the national market, industry data revealed today. Meanwhile a new study shows most parents support their children in buying houses, with 11 per cent giving over £100,000, underlining the tough state of the market. Average asking prices throughout the UK stayed unchanged in the month to [...]
Complex pay plans and delayed bonuses ruin work incentives May 20, 2012 EXECUTIVE pay plans are so complicated that they fail to properly motivate staff, a study from PwC and the London School of Economics warned today, striking a blow to campaigns which push for more deferred remuneration. Executives tend to be “risk averse,” and so do not like complexity and place little value on deferred pay, [...]
Parents’ confidence hit as fears grow for children’s finances May 20, 2012 MOTHERS are more gloomy than ever in fearing that their children have fewer opportunities than they did when they were growing up, a new study showed today. According to a survey by Asda Mumdex, kids remain mum’s top priority, which is why they are spending twice as much on them as they put away in [...]
Squeeze on UK consumers is getting deeper May 20, 2012 LOW WAGE rises and high inflation increased the pressure on consumers in April and May, two reports showed today, threatening to keep the economy in the doldrums. Lloyds’ figures show spending power fell 0.9 per cent in April as incomes fell 1.6 per cent once inflation is taken into account. As a result, consumers have [...]
Pensions savings at record low despite rising retirement hopes May 20, 2012 MOST Brits are failing to save enough for their retirement, even though their forecasts of how much they will need to be comfortable in old age has increased, according to a report published today. Pensions savings hit a record low this year, Scottish Widows’ annual pensions survey revealed. The average saver believes they would feel [...]
Firms pledge school links May 20, 2012 BUSINESSES are backing a campaign to get more young people into work, it was announced today. Firms including Marks and Spencer, Deloitte and Nestle are joining the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development to build links with schools and colleges, and provide more opportunities for vocational education and training. “We also to move beyond constant [...]
Teens forecast large salaries May 20, 2012 THE AVERAGE teenager expects to earn twice the average salary, an RBS study revealed today. English teens believe they will earn £57,000 when they are 35 years old – well above the current £24,000 average. Adults, on the other hand, believe teens will earn £25,000 when aged 35. However, almost 80 per cent of parents [...]
LONDON WEEK AHEAD May 20, 2012 GIVEN property developer British Land’s significant presence in the City, its full-year results will be closely watched this morning for signs of how the Eurozone crisis is hitting the company’s retail lettings. Budget airline Ryanair will also release its full-year results, as will outsourcing group Mitie. The spotlight will turn to the UK high street [...]
WALL ST WEEK AHEAD May 20, 2012 NORMALLY a big decline would set up Wall Street for a technical rebound. But that may not be the case next week, even after the market posted its worst weekly loss for the year and the S&P fell for six straight sessions. With the corporate earnings season drawing to an end and recent US economic [...]
