‘Bond market tantrum risks’: Gilt traders brace for Labour leftward pivot as Starmer future uncertain
ECONOMISTS’ VIEWS: ARE RETAIL SPENDING AND CONSUMER MORALE ON THE UP? February 26, 2012 DAVID MILLER | CHEVIOT ASSET MANAGEMENT “As inflation pressures dissipate, the lack of wage growth becomes less of a problem – people realise they have money to spend and get their confidence back. Yet it’s too early for a recovery to be apparent” MICHAEL HEWSON | CMC MARKETS “It’s going in the right direction. When [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS February 26, 2012 HAYS Citigroup has downgraded the global recruitment company from “hold” to “sell” following first-half results last week, which saw earnings before tax of £63m in line with estimates. The broker is sceptical about Hays’ UK business, saying that it lacks strategic direction. Though it lifts its target price to 75p on earnings upgrades, the rating [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD February 26, 2012 Today A diverse group of FTSE 100 reporters will kick off a busy week in the corporate calendar this morning, with banking giant HSBC likely to be top of many investors’ watch list. Analysts are expecting the bank’s geographical diversity to offset any potential weakness in it investment banking division, with profits expected to hit [...]
THE WALL STREET WEEK AHEAD February 26, 2012 A RALLY on Wall Street will be put to the test this week, with the S&P 500 at its highest level since before the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. The broad index is up 8.6 per cent for the year, closing at 1,365 on Friday. The S&P 500’s close was the highest since June [...]
The energy policy paradox: cheap tariffs for the savvy mean higher bills for most February 26, 2012 AT A time when energy bills are soaring, many families will be angry that British Gas reported profits last week of over £500m. It follows the news ten days ago that EDF’s profits rose to almost £1.6bn and announcements from the other “Big Six” energy firms are due in the coming weeks. But politicians and [...]
London needs to have world-class education for all February 26, 2012 IN 2004 the opening of Mossbourne Academy marked a turning point in the London Borough of Hackney. Built on the site of the former Hackney Downs school (described by the then government as the “worst school in Britain”), Mossbourne became a symbol of academic excellence in one of the most deprived parts of London. Under [...]
Build for the future to keep the City running February 26, 2012 THE recent Court of Appeal hearing regarding the St Paul’s protest will be welcome news to many working in the City. Although peaceful protest is a democratic right and often sparks important debate, it is equally important that the rights of people working in the City are also respected. The mess and nuisance generated by [...]
RAPID RESPONSES February 26, 2012 Fluid thinking [Re: Time to invest in infrastructure we actually need, Monday] Water shortages will continue to be a problem unless we tackle them, but unfortunately the real solutions are not “sexy”. A national water grid is impractical, economically and environmentally, and a major undertaking. It couldn’t be done in the near future. Any comparison [...]
Powder rules on the mountains of Japan February 26, 2012 SKIING in Japan has been on the radar of dedicated powder seekers for a number of years. The snow that falls upon Japan’s resorts has to be some of the best in the world; it is light, dry and very often chest deep. Now that word has leaked out about Japan’s fantastic skiing opportunities – [...]
TRAVEL NOTES February 26, 2012 New palatial property in Marrakesh The Oetker Collection – which includes Le Bristol in Paris and the du Cap Eden Roc on the Cote d’Azur – is to unveil a deeply seductive new property, Le Palais Namaskar. Set in 50,000 sq m of Balinese-inspired scented gardens and designed by Philippe Starck protégée Imaad Rahmouni, the [...]
