French go back to the future January 26, 2010 REMEMBER the Citroen DS, the futuristic sensation born in 1955 and used endlessly in films of car chases in Paris in the 70s? It was all long and pointy, with a Pope mobile–like cabin, such was the rake of the windscreen and cabin glass. It’s back. Well, the name is, anyway. Citroen has relaunched the [...]
UK economy limps out of recession January 26, 2010 THE UK has officially come out of recession – but only just. Data released by the Official of National Statistics showed the economy grew just 0.1 per cent during the fourth quarter of 2009. Although the figure compares with a decrease of 0.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2009 it still comes way [...]
Consumer confidence up in US but housing market shaky January 25, 2010 CONSUMER confidence in January hit its highest level since September 2008 in the US, according to new data. A decline in job losses in recent months and a resurgent stock market have helped improve consumers’ mood after the US recession that ended last year. Yet concerns remain about the sustainability of the recovery after the [...]
HSBC chief attacks bankers’ bonuses January 25, 2010 HSBC chairman Stephen Green has launched an attack on bankers’ bonuses branding the sums they have been receiving “inflated”. He said bankers would have to accept lower payouts in the future following the furore surrounding their remuneration packages. Green, who is also chairman of the British Bankers’ Association, said: “You’ve had bonuses paid off gross [...]
Siemens sees profits leap after cost cutting January 25, 2010 GERMAN engineering group Siemens has reported a big jump in pre-tax profit despite a sales slump. Siemens has cut its workforce by 22,000 in the past year as well as slashing its administration costs by €2bn (£1.7bn). Its profit rose 23 per cent in the first quarter to €1.48bn from €1.2bn in the same period [...]
Tony Blair takes job at Lansdowne January 25, 2010 TONY Blair is to become a speaker for hedge fund Lansdowne Partners in a deal that is likely to earn the former Prime Minister hundreds of thousands of pounds. The role requires Blair to give a small number of geopolitical talks to the firm’s executives. The former Labour leader’s appointment is surprising, given that Lansdowne [...]
Hedge funds sue Porsche January 25, 2010 FOUR US hedge funds have sued luxury carmaker Porsche and two of its former executives, accusing them of a $1bn (£615m) fraud during the luxury carmaker’s failed takeover bid for Volkswagen in 2008. The lawsuit – filed by Elliott Associates, Glenhill Capital Management, Glenview Capital Management and Perry Capital – was lodged in a Manhattan [...]
All can fail: my new manifesto for the banks January 25, 2010 REGULAR readers of this column will know that I am no fan of many of the proposals being cooked up to reform the banks. I have opposed Barack Obama’s plan to ban retail banks from engaging in proprietary trading; George Osborne’s support of Glass-Steagall, which would break up commercial and investment banks; and Alistair Darling’s [...]
Dubai hit by rating blow January 25, 2010 STANDARD & Poor’s (S&P) pulled its rating on a Dubai investment firm owned by the emirates’ ruling family yesterday, voicing fears over long-term financing and adding to investor anxiety about the Gulf Arab state. The ratings agency cut Dubai Holding Commercial Group (DHCOG), a unit of major investment vehicle Dubai Holding, to B from BB+ [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING January 25, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES CHAIRMAN OF HSBC HITS AT BIG BONUSES Stephen Green, chairman of HSBC and British Bankers’ Association, has hit out at the inflated level and distorted structure of bonuses, predicting future pay-outs will be lower and more rationally calculated. In a video interview with the FT, published on the eve of the World Economic [...]
