Santa rally in sight as FTSE jumps again – London Report December 18, 2014 THE FTSE 100 enjoyed one of its best days of 2014 yesterday, as the US Federal Reserve’s pledge for a “patient approach” to any interest rate increase lifted stock markets around the world. Financial services company Old Mutual and British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) were among the best performers on the blue-chip [...]
Oracle and Yellen send S&P 500 up – New York Report December 18, 2014 THE S&P 500 closed out its biggest two-day advance since November 2011 yesterday, extending a Federal Reserve-fuelled rally from the previous session, while tech shares jumped after Oracle results. The Dow industrials recorded the best one-day percentage gain since December 2011. The S&P 500 posted its biggest daily percentage gain since January 2013 and is [...]
Listening is the most underrated leadership skill December 18, 2014 Knowing when to shut up will help you earn the respect of colleagues. AS A leader, sometimes the most inspirational thing you can do is simply to listen to people. Speeches and tough decision-making no doubt have a place in business, but the lost art of just hearing people out is often forgotten amid [...]
Henry IV Parts 1 and 2: An RSC hit at the Barbican December 18, 2014 Barbican | ★★★★☆ The Henry IV plays occupy an odd place in Shakespeare’s canon. They have the dimensions of a soap opera, spanning the breadth of society for the entire duration of a reign. They’re tonally inconsistent, flashing from palace to pub, and sparse of incident. Tense battles conclude with the blackest of comedy, [...]
Unbroken film review: Angelina Jolie’s debut feels like torture December 18, 2014 Cert 15 | ★★☆☆☆ Unbroken is the inspirational story of one side-parting’s survival against the odds. Global conflict, aviation disaster, regular beatings from a sadistic Japanese prison guard nicknamed “the Bird” – the list of hardships endured by this hairstyle makes for harrowing reading. The hardy parting even survives 40 days at sea in a [...]
Films of the year: Our critics pick the best movies of 2014 December 18, 2014 With choice quotes from City A.M.’s film critics GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL ★★★★★ Anderson’s world is so lovingly crafted that checking into the Grand Budapest hotel is nothing short of a joy. UNDER THE SKIN ★★★★★ Scarlett Johansson has few lines, and barely wavers from a vacant stare into nothing, but it [...]
Exclusive: Liverpool still in mix for top four, insists Barnes December 18, 2014 CRISIS club Liverpool can still finish in the top four this season but only if the Anfield hierarchy maintains faith in under-fire boss Brendan Rodgers, according to Reds great John Barnes. Rodgers’ position has become precarious just months after falling agonisingly short of the Premier League title, following the club’s worst start to a domestic [...]
Instagram post KOs Balotelli for Arsenal match December 18, 2014 CONTROVERSIAL Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is set to miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal after he was last night handed a one-match ban for an offensive social media post. Balotelli was also fined £25,000 and ordered to attend an education course for republishing an image of video game character Super Mario that contained the [...]
Sport Comment: Mike Ashley taking the biscuit in rations row December 18, 2014 MIKE Ashley may not – on the face of it – have much in common with Marie Antoinette, but he is similarly distanced from the reality of the eating habits of the common people. The Newcastle United owner and vastly wealthy Sports Direct founder has allowed his spiky relationship with the media at St James’ [...]
Pietersen fires selectors taunt December 18, 2014 DEBUTANT batsman Kevin Pietersen top-scored for Melbourne Stars yesterday in their Big Bash opener before sending a message direct to the England selectors. The 34-year-old former England captain struck 66 from 46 balls in a losing cause against Adelaide Strikers to record his first half-century in 16 innings. While fielding on the boundary, Pietersen said [...]
