The EC proposals for audit reform: A costly mistake December 1, 2011 THE European Commission has pulled off some feat with its proposals for audit market reform this week. It has united businesses, investors, the Big Four (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers) and even on some points emerging and mid-sized auditors in their criticism of the proposals. How? Because the measures the Commission proposes won’t [...]
Looking the other way on the lip of the abyss December 1, 2011 WE ARE approaching an economic event horizon. “Almost anything could happen in the next few months,” says Paul Tucker, deputy governor of the Bank of England, advising banks to prepare to withstand the worst. The exceptional coordinated action of central banks on Wednesday has been widely seen not just as offering temporary relief to the [...]
RAPID RESPONSES December 1, 2011 Criticism, audited I welcome Mario Cientanni’s support for our proposals to increase audit exemptions [Red tape around audit is proving hard to untangle, yesterday]. I don’t agree that banks will continue to require audits as a condition of borrowing, and the British Bankers Association backs this up. We realise that not all companies will wish [...]
Christmas gift guide December 1, 2011 • Stocking fillers • Gadgets • Ages 16-24 • For men • For women
STAYING COSY December 1, 2011 SPENCER HART SLIPPERS, £550 Bespoke midnight blue velvet slippers with black silk grosgrain trim from the cool kid of Savile Row. www.spencerhart.com UNIQLO CASHMERE SCARF, £24.90 Super-soft, affordable love for your neck. shop.uniqlo.com TOPMAN XMAS SOCKS, £3 Irresistably cute and cuddly. www.topman.co.uk BANANA REPUBLIC RUFFLE TRIM GLOVE, £17.50 Snug, girly and elegant. bananarepublic.gap.eu
FOR THE KITCHEN December 1, 2011 JOHN LEWIS CONNOISSEUR GLASSWARE COLLECTION £20-£35 An affordable way to make your parties stylish. www.johnlewis.co.uk MUJI OLIVE WOOD MORTAR & PESTAL, £14.95 Nifty little vessel for crushing herbs and…whatever else. www.muji.eu TIFFANY & CO MUG, £25 The ultimate receptacle for hot drinks has to be a Tiffany mug decorated with London’s most famous sights. www.tiffany.co.uk SWISSGOLD [...]
TASTY TREATS December 1, 2011 MAISON DU CHCOLAT CHOCOLATE COFFRETS, £40.50-£170 This “Christmas in Paris” set of divine chocolates shows off the French chocolatier’s famous ganaches. www.lamaisonduchocolat.co.uk PIERRE MARCOLINI XMAS TREE BOX OF CHOCCIES, £26 Praline-filled chocs in double milk, pistachio nuts and nougat flavours. www.marcolini-eboutique.com PIERRE HERME 40-MACARON ASSORTMENT, £71 A gift box from the legendary Parisian macaroon man [...]
ON TREND December 1, 2011 PRADA CANDY, £71 (80MLS) Spicy and fun new one from Prada. At all major retailers. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN CLASSIC SILK SCARF, £165 A snazzy way to pay tribute to the late designer – and the the persistent skull trend. www.harveynichols.com VALENTINO VALENTINA, £71 The new scent from Valentino is floral and delicate, like a summer’s day. [...]
AUDIO VISUAL December 1, 2011 OPTOMA DS211 PROJECTOR, £220 A compact, durable projector for movies, presentations and – if you must – slide shows. Amazon.co.uk MONITOR AUDIO iDECK 100, £300 A premium but not unaffordable iPhone dock that will give you crystal clear sound. monitoraudio.co.uk ZUMREED X2 HYBRID HEADPHONES, £108 Join the fashion for gigantic headphones with this cherry red [...]
MOBILES December 1, 2011 SAMSUNG GALAXY NEXUS, FREE WITH £34 CONTRACT* Google and Samsung’s latest tie-up is their best yet – a great Android advert. google.co.uk/nexus APPLE IPHONE 4S, FREE WITH £36 CONTRACT* The original – and probably still the best – blockbuster smartphone, the 4S is the gadget to have. apple.com/uk MOTOROLA RAZR, FREE WITH £36 CONTRACT* Motorola [...]
