How to ensure twenty-first century companies invest for the long term March 4, 2015 In the twentieth century, firms were predominantly capital-intensive and competed on cost efficiency. Companies with the most efficient factories could outcompete their rivals and become market leaders. The twenty-first century firm is different. Competitive success now depends increasingly on product quality and innovation. These in turn hinge on a company’s intangible assets, such as its [...]
Living standards are finally recovering – but we ignore poor productivity at our peril March 4, 2015 The metamorphosis of Labour’s attack lines on the economy has been a sight to behold. In the early years of this Parliament, the party argued that spending cuts were being implemented “too far and too fast”. After that came the infamous “flat-lining growth” hand gesture, and finally the “cost of living crisis”. This latter criticism [...]
We can protect the City’s interests in Europe – and we now have the proof March 4, 2015 Wednesday 4 March 2015 could come to be seen as a defining moment in Britain’s relationship with the rest of the EU, and for the City of London in particular. This is because of a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) yesterday, which upheld a vital British claim protecting the City from Eurozone [...]
As the government sells its stake in Eurostar for £757m, is this a good deal for taxpayers? March 4, 2015 Lord Paul Deighton, commercial secretary to the Treasury, says Yes There is no value in government owning assets that it doesn’t need to. It ties up resources that could be used for other objectives, like investing in new infrastructure or paying down debt. Eurostar is such an asset. It is managed on a commercial basis [...]
Upwardly mobile March 4, 2015 This week a record-breaking 92,000 people congregated in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress, where the likes of Samsung and LG announced an eclectic mix of smartphones, smartwatches and even smart sofas. Here are some of the best – and weirdest – gadgets we’ve seen. KODAK IM5 Rumours of the once-giant US camera maker’s demise remain [...]
Four steps to smarter networking March 4, 2015 To break from the crowd and build more effective connections, use these simple strategies. Career success is hardly a matter of sitting quietly at your desk every day. A 2012 study of over 6,000 executives in the US and Europe by French researchers concluded that those who had more developed professional networks were more likely [...]
Cricket Comment: England need player like KP March 4, 2015 He’s a matchwinner and was unfairly let go but a comeback looks unlikely to me KEVIN Pietersen’s sacking last February was unfair and it was a shame for English cricket the way it happened but the timing of incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves seemingly handing him a lifeline has created an unwelcome distraction. England have [...]
Premier League: Gomis scare as Spurs maintain top four chase March 4, 2015 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 SWANSEA CITY 2 TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted a hangover from Sunday’s Capital One Cup final defeat to Chelsea had threatened to engulf the club before his side maintained their Champions League aspirations with victory over Swansea. There were concerns for Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis, a player with a history of fainting, [...]
Premier League: Mourinho reveals how Matic sustained a Wembley injury March 4, 2015 WEST HAM UNITED 0 CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho revealed midfielder Nemanja Matic twisted his ankle celebrating their Capital One Cup win after eking out three points at West Ham last night. Midfielder Eden Hazard’s goal kept the Blues five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand [...]
Australia crack record World Cup score in Afghanistan thrashing March 4, 2015 CO-HOSTS Australia smashed a World Cup record total of 417-6 during their 275-run mauling of Afghanistan in Perth yesterday. Opener David Warner smacked 178 while Steve Smith hit 95 and Glenn Maxwell 88 as Australia surpassed India’s 413-5 against Bermuda in Port of Spain in 2007. The winning margin was also a tournament high and [...]
