It’s official: London is now a hotspot of unemployment – business must help tackle it January 18, 2012 T HE latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that unemployment continues to be a major concern in our capital. The overall unemployment rate stands at an alarming 9.9 per cent, the third highest in the UK. These figures are shocking, especially as London is such an economically active and wealthy city, where [...]
Politicians are to blame if we have crony capitalists January 18, 2012 CAPITALISM has a problem. Increasingly it is viewed as a deeply unfair system favouring a small, privileged elite at the expense of everyone else. Our politicians have been quick to join the criticism. Last week David Cameron mooted granting extra powers to shareholders to restrain executive pay. Today he will give a speech on how [...]
To destroy the enemy don’t make it personal January 18, 2012 GOVERNOR Nelson Rockefeller knew that his 1964 campaign for the Republican nomination would be finished if he lost the California primary. He would throw everything at the state to prevent senator Barry Goldwater from not just winning the nomination, but also from capturing the heart and soul of his party. Rockefeller gave his campaign a [...]
RAPID RESPONSES January 18, 2012 J Lewis oversold I agree with Allister Heath on Nick Clegg’s vision of a “John Lewis” society. [Clegg’s Contradictions, Tuesday]. There is a horrible dollop of survivor bias in the discussion about employee ownership. People talk about John Lewis, but by only analysing firms that are still in existence (ignoring all those mutuals that have [...]
Avoid exchange-rate pain in Spain January 18, 2012 DIRECTOR OF FX ADVISORY SERVICES, HIFX I F YOU had invested £100,000 in euros this time last year, it would have bought you €120,000 – almost exactly the same amount of euros as today. Less than four months later you would have only received €111,000. Yes, there are major problems within Europe, but the outlook [...]
Volatile times ahead for the Eurozone mean that FX hedging will be critical January 18, 2012 GIVEN the deteriorating situation in the Eurozone – both political and economic – the outlook for euro-sterling has improved quite a lot in recent months for anyone looking to buys euros. As recently as October the pound dropped to €1.13. It currently trades around €1.20 – a gain of 6 per cent. We now feel [...]
The latest evidence shows many MBA students earn back tuition costs quickly January 18, 2012 BEFORE investing the significant money and time needed to undertake an MBA, potential students should be keen to know the chances of getting a decent return on their investment. Of course, future remuneration isn’t the only motivation for undertaking further study, but if you knew that it would likely cost you more than you got [...]
The nails slithering into style January 18, 2012 SNAKESKIN is in – it’s all over bags, shoes, wallets, belts. But nails? Yes, that too now, if you want the very latest look to slither off the boat from New York. Spotting an opportunity, Donna Haar-Jorgensen, the statuesque founder of the extremely chichi Hand & Foot Spa chain, has introduced snakeskin manis and pedis [...]
3 ways to ditch detox January 18, 2012 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT A leading British liver charity dismissed frenzied January detoxing as “futile” earlier in the month, so what’s the best, safest bet for giving your body a much-needed recharge this January? Watch your weight Research has found that if you’re overweight and you drink, your risk of liver disease increases three times. [...]
EPISODE 42 – WE ENJOY TEA FOR TWO BEFORE BEDTIME January 18, 2012 I place two mugs of camomile tea on the kitchen table and sit, opposite Emma. “What will we be doing in twenty years’ time?” asks Emma. “Twenty years? All I know is that in twenty minutes I’d like to be in bed.” Emma raises her eyebrows and smiles. “Saucy.” “Don’t get your hopes up,” I [...]
