Letters to the editor January 27, 2013 Debt mechanics [Re: Economic perfect storm: The four trends that killed Western growth, Tuesday] An excellent summary of our economic troubles. But I have an inflation-related observation. Tim Morgan refers to a “shift to immediate consumption” as the cause of debt growth. But it’s wrong to blame consumers. Our economic policy is to blame. Morgan’s [...]
Pricey funds may pay off over time January 27, 2013 INVESTORS are often told that minimising costs should be a priority. However, there are certain instances where paying a little bit extra can reap rewards. This may be the case when it comes to choosing between open-end funds and close-end funds. Recent research from Winterflood has shown that, over the long term, closed-end funds (despite [...]
Standing out from the crowd in a new market January 27, 2013 CROWDFUNDING started in the 1990s and aimed to bring together people with similar interests to fund a project or business. Since 2008, however, following the decline in bank lending to small businesses, it has found a new face. Large numbers of private investors are linking up through online platforms to companies – usually early stage [...]
The big bad business of exploiting eager interns for free labour January 27, 2013 THE disillusioned young worker struggles out of bed at dawn and heads off to a menial and mindless job, offering only pitiful pay, poor treatment, and long hours. Happens in Asia, right? Africa? Well it happens here too. I met two people recently with worrying stories. Betti was excited about the world. She had just [...]
Credit ratings may require revision January 27, 2013 THE debate about business financing has reached an unpleasant standstill. Depending on who you listen to, banks are either refusing to lend, firms are too scared to borrow, or a hodge-podge of other factors is making one or the other do both or neither. It’s a mess. What’s lost is an idea of the mechanics [...]
St Moritz Gourmet Festival insiders’ guide January 27, 2013 AT THE heart of fine living is the art of fine dining. And both are flamboyantly showcased at the annual St Moritz Gourmet Festival this month. Every year the rich and famous flock to St Moritz for the season, and the town prides itself on the exquisite food and wine it has to offer them. [...]
Badrutt’s Palace hotel: a history January 27, 2013 THE INCEPTION of winter tourism to the Alps is attributed to one man – Johannes Badrutt. A hotelier of the late 19th century, Badrutt bet a group of English summer alpine tourists that they would love the winter sunshine of St Moritz as much as the summer meadows. They did. He opened the grande dame [...]
Ben Fogle: everything I’ve done has built up to swimming the Atlantic January 27, 2013 I’M SERIOUSLY afraid of heights and I’m not the best swimmer,” Ben Fogle says as I catch up with him over the phone just after he landed in New York before jetting off to Buenos Aires. But scared isn’t exactly the first word that springs into mind when you think of the 39 year-old father [...]
Cup defeat won’t force Spurs boss to splash out January 27, 2013 LEEDS UNITED 2 vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 SPURS boss Andre Villas-Boas believes his squad has sufficient depth, despite suffering an embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Leeds United just days before the transfer window slams shut. Attacking midfielder Clint Dempsey started up front for Tottenham at Elland Road yesterday, yet his glancing header [...]
Murray cheered by form despite Djokovic triumph January 27, 2013 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray insisted losing a grand slam final had never felt so good after narrowly failing to make history in a titanic climax to the Australian Open yesterday. World No1 Novak Djokovic fought back from a set down to beat Murray 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-3,) 6-3, 6-2 and become the first man in 46 [...]
