Oil stocks lead the FTSE 100 lower despite good gains in bank shares March 27, 2012 HEAVYWEIGHT oil stocks dragged Britain’s top shares lower yesterday, reversing earlier gains that had been driven by strength in banks and miners, as investors proved loath to push the blue-chip index back up to 2012 highs. The FTSE 100 index closed down 33.15 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 5,869.55, near session lows having swung [...]
Don’t let banker-bashing hide the beauty and importance of finance March 27, 2012 IN SPITE of all the ugly criticism that the financial community has been getting since the financial crisis began in 2007, there is something beautiful about finance. It can charm those who see beauty in abstraction or who are impressed by the complex systems that make our civilisation work. When I teach introductory finance to [...]
It’s not just the wealthy who should be kept from influencing politicians March 27, 2012 YOU should not be able to buy political influence for £250,000. That is the consensus following the Conservative Party’s donations for access scandal. Well, then, how much should it cost? The popular answer is that political influence, like the NHS, should be free at the point of use. In a democracy people influence politicians by [...]
Making it new for our twenty-first century economy March 27, 2012 IS IT just me, or is something really exciting happening at the moment? Manufacturing has suddenly become sexy again. Politicians, policy makers and even those in the financial world are falling over themselves to talk up the prospects of those of us who like to make things. For a nation built on the back of [...]
As Mad Men begins a new series, should we be nostalgic for the 1960s workplace? March 27, 2012 YES David Hellier The return of Mad Men last night couldn’t come soon enough for those, like me, who long to follow more of the antics of Don Draper and his colleagues. The excitement of working on Madison Avenue in the sixties overwhelms the viewer; the bold colours of the decor in the bars; the [...]
RAPID RESPONSES March 27, 2012 Money troubles [Re: Reform of political funding mustn’t result in taxpayers carrying the bill for parties, yesterday] Membership of the three main parties is less than that of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It will take years for the parties to regain their base, if they ever do. In the meantime, if [...]
Dow Chemical sets infrastructure gold in its sights as a top sponsor March 27, 2012 COUNTDOWN TO THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES 121 DAYS TO GO Q What was your brand’s primary reason for being involved with the Games? A Dow became the official chemistry company to the Games and a worldwide sponsor in July 2010, when it announced its partnership with the IOC. That runs through 2020. Dow has [...]
Helicopter Bernanke hints at QE3 March 27, 2012 THE dollar had a roller coaster ride yesterday as Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke gave an indication that a third round of quantitative easing could be on the cards. Speaking at the National Association for Business Economics Conference in Washington, DC, Bernanke stated that, though there has been some strengthening of labour market conditions, long-term [...]
THE TIPSTER Swiss franc finds itself in neutral territory against the dollar March 27, 2012 WITH the dollar taking a hit this week, the Swiss franc has rallied to four-week highs against the greenback. But right now, the pair is in the middle of nowhere, with good support waiting below to offer buy opportunities at SFr0.8950 and strong resistance sitting above at SFr0.9150. Might be best to wait and see [...]
Nissan Micra: not so cute now March 27, 2012 THE Nissan Micra is not a car that usually sets hearts racing. But with the latest DIG-S model, Nissan is hoping to persuade commuters that you don’t need to buy a a diesel-powered car to achieve great mileage. Its supercharger is bolted to its 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine to squeeze as much fuel economy and power [...]
