Incompetent bosses add to recession May 2, 2012 MILLIONS of managers across Britain lack the necessary leadership and management skills, which is holding back productivity and hitting the economy’s potential, according to an industry study published today. The UK’s eight million managers frequently have an over-inflated view of their own abilities and of their success, the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) [...]
US corporate results round up May 2, 2012 Time Warner revenue up TIME Warner said yesterday its revenue rose four per cent from a year ago, but impairment charges including one from the troubled HBO series Luck kept the media company from recording a higher profit in the first quarter. First-quarter revenue from the company’s TV and cable networks, which include TNT, CNN [...]
Playtech heads to main market May 2, 2012 GAMING software group Playtech said yesterday its first quarter revenues had doubled, helped by strong growth at its casino businesses, and that plans to shift its listing to London’s main market were progressing well. But the group added that it was dropping plans to buy some social gaming assets owned by founder and Israeli billionaire [...]
TNT says UPS deal still on track May 2, 2012 DUTCH parcel delivery company TNT Express said yesterday its acquisition by US group United Parcel Service (UPS) was on schedule, as it reported a return to a first-quarter operating profit. TNT Express said it had first-quarter operating income of €37m (£30m), compared with a €79m loss in the 2011 period. Revenue rose 1.3 per cent [...]
Spirent looks to growth in Asia as it trades above expectations May 2, 2012 TELECOM testing company Spirent Communications posted a 17 per cent rise in quarterly pre-tax profit yesterday as demand for testing wireless, data centre, high speed Ethernet and global positioning systems continued to be strong in Asia and the US. Spirent, which counts Cisco Systems, Alcatel Lucent and Verizon Communications as its customers, said trading in [...]
Young Boris’ guide to electioneering May 2, 2012 BORIS Johnson has avoided making any major gaffes during this mayoral election but The Capitalist has unearthed his 1988 guide on how to win election to the Oxford Union student debating society – and it makes for illuminating reading. In the document Johnson explains that an aspiring candidate must have “a disciplined and deluded collection [...]
Made in Chelsea: producer launches charity film May 2, 2012 TONIGHT a heady mix of film talent, celebrities and investors will fill The Scotch, the hippest new hangout in Mayfair, for the second sponsorship launch party of The One Square Mile film project and charity. Rather than wait for a production company to sign on, producer and writer Leon Butler has decided to go it [...]
HOT AIR PROPELS CITY’S LUNCHTIME PURSUITS May 2, 2012 CITY workers fly high above Exchange Square in the specially designed “Broadgate Balloon”, which will be resident in the Moorgate hotspot for anyone seeking a lunchtime thrill – or birds-eye view into their colleagues’ offices. Fifty people every day can win a ride in the balloon, which will be on site until 11 May.
WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS May 2, 2012 Deloitte Kit Dickson has been appointed partner in Deloitte’s information reporting and withholding taxes group, part of its financial services practice. He joins from KPMG’s investment management practice, where he worked with institutional investor clients. He also previously led KPMG’s EU law group. Reyl Overseas The new subsidiary of Reyl & Cie, the Swiss bank, [...]
BEST of the BROKERS May 2, 2012 BP Deutsche Bank has maintained its “buy” rating on the oil major but lowered its target price from 550p to 525p, saying that this week’s lower than expected quarterly results have proved that turning around performance at a company of this size takes considerable time. ACCOR Credit Suisse has named the hotel group as a [...]
