Inflation relief helps push FTSE to its highest close in six weeks June 19, 2012 BRITAIN’S leading share index hit a six-week high yesterday on growing hopes for concerted economic stimulus measures from central banks, with a fall in UK inflation seen as increasing the chances of another Bank of England move. Consumer price inflation (CPI) eased unexpectedly in May to its lowest in two and a half years due [...]
Hopes the Federal Reserve will extend stimulus lifts US stocks June 19, 2012 US stocks rose yesterday on hopes that the Federal Reserve will agree to extend stimulus measures as the economy struggles to recover and the Eurozone’s debt crisis gets worse. The S&P 500 has gained 7.2 per cent from a five-month intraday low reached on 4 June. The benchmark index closed above its 50-day moving average [...]
Explore beyond limits: Acer sets its sights on emotional branding June 19, 2012 COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 37 DAYS TO GO Q What’s your brand’s primary reason for being involved with the Games? A Acer is proud to be the world-wide computing partner of the Olympic movement. We feel we share the Olympic values, and have a deep respect for the sports and its athletes. [...]
What Britain must do to win back investors from a surging Germany June 19, 2012 BRITAIN is on the verge of losing its foreign direct investment (FDI) crown. After a 15 year record as the leading European destination, the investment tide has begun to flow away. While the UK remains Europe’s top destination for inward projects, we will lose this crown to Germany, within two years, unless action is taken. [...]
Government must stop meddling and leave pay decisions to shareholders June 19, 2012 DEMANDS for government intervention to limit executive pay are misguided. As the WPP vote against Sir Martin Sorrell’s pay and other AGMs this spring showed, shareholders can act – corporate governance is their responsibility. The only way that governments can improve corporate governance is by removing obstacles to shareholder action. Government regulation of corporate governance [...]
Just 42 per cent of Greek people are for austerity June 19, 2012 VICTORY for the centre-right New Democracy party in Greece’s election has been widely hailed as a victory for pro-bailout and pro-austerity forces. However, the fine print tells a different story. Even though a broadly pro-bailout government is now likely, a renegotiation of the bailout terms is almost inevitable given austerity fatigue. Only 42 per cent [...]
Is Microsoft likely to find success with the launch of the Surface Windows 8 tablet? June 19, 2012 YES Steve Dinneen Can Microsoft’s new tablet beat the iPad? No. Apple’s category- defining product had a US tablet market share of around 73 per cent last year and it shows no sign of slowing. But Microsoft’s offering can still be a success – the market for tablets is growing exponentially (by 91.7 per cent [...]
RAPID responses June 19, 2012 Marital business [Re: Selling off unproductive assets is liberating music to a capitalist’s ears, yesterday] Anthony Evans says he has merged his CD collection with his wife’s, and she has made unofficial assurances that the new entity now belongs to him. I’m afraid his wife now sees the entire collection as a problem. After a [...]
The euro may rise despite the crisis June 19, 2012 THE Eurozone is in crisis and it is impossible to argue otherwise. For years, the governments of member states spent more than they were able to collect from their citizens in taxes. So they went to the debt markets to make up the shortfall. The markets took the view that the stronger Eurozone nations would [...]
Lexus makes automotive alchemy June 19, 2012 Believe it or not, this is the fourth generation Lexus GS model, a car that has been in production since 1993, quietly going about the business of offering buyers a unique alternative to the more familiar premium saloons like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF. Unique? Really? Well Lexus does things a [...]