Wall St down on Euro fears November 9, 2011 US STOCKS tumbled three per cent yesterday in the market’s worst day since mid-August as a spike in Italian bond yields signalled the European debt crisis had worsened. All 10 S&P sectors were down, but S&P financials were the hardest hit on worries about European exposure, dropping 5.4 per cent. US stock markets have grown [...]
Labour’s plan for business: Government should unite profit with social purpose November 9, 2011 WHEN private equity firm NPM Capital and the current management bought out a sleepy Dutch carpet manufacturer called Desso in 2007, they were seeking to do what all successful investors do: to find a gap in the market from which they could profit. And profit they have. Following the buy out, Desso’s market share rose [...]
Prohibition fuels firestorm of new dangerous drugs November 9, 2011 IN THE restless pursuit of pleasure, human beings will try almost any substance when circumstances require. During prohibition, Americans resorted to drinking toxic moonshine and inhaling ether. Second-rate substitutes and legal highs are seldom as pleasant as the real thing and are sometimes more dangerous, but at least you don’t have to worry about getting [...]
Europe needs to admit that it has a problem November 9, 2011 THE finger of blame usually points away, but sometimes we should turn it round, and point it at ourselves. As individuals, societies and countries we are more often than we normally realise the architect of our own problems. Greeks don’t like paying taxes and love early pensions, and end up with a bankrupt government. The [...]
RAPID RESPONSES November 9, 2011 Curing Japan AS A seasoned Japanese business professional, David Crow’s article [The Japanese disease, yesterday] made me smile with agreement, saddened with frustration and duty-bound to build upon its analysis. I commend Crow’s accurate observation of our cultural traits, but I would ask why characteristics which once made Japan great now fail to serve us [...]
Making sure you have got your family covered November 9, 2011 ONE child in 20 has a parent die before they finish full-time education, says Money Saving Expert. That’s a pretty frightening statistic, but it’s even more frightening when you then find out that more than half of the population doesn’t have life insurance. So why are so many people choosing not to take out life [...]
Modelling a return to the old currencies November 9, 2011 THOUGH the debates and political squabbling will continue to rage on in the gilded offices of politicians and central bankers, we have reached the point where many will be looking at the practical side of a return of one or more of the old European currencies. But which will be the first to fall? The [...]
Window shop your way to career success November 9, 2011 MORGAN McKinley reported a nine per cent rise in the number of people seeking new employment opportunities in financial services last week. But with tales of redundancies covering the financial pages, ensuring you hear about the best opportunities first is ever more important. Indeed, recruiter Astbury Marsden, who also had a report out last week, [...]
Learning the language of leadership November 9, 2011 THE LANGUAGE OF LEADERS: CEOS ON COMMUNICATING TO INSPIRE, INFLUENCE AND ACHIEVE RESULTS BY KEVIN MURRAY Kogan Page I’VE been working in business communications for almost 40 years,” says Kevin Murray, the chairman of the Bell Pottinger Group. “I’ve worked with a lot of organisations and a lot of leaders. None were stupid, but some [...]
Playback services at a glance November 9, 2011 WHEN the BBC pioneered the internet TV and radio service BBC iPlayer in 2007, it changed the face of terrestrial television. Tailored TV viewing had truly arrived – a more engaging service that made programmes more freely available. Broadcasters are savvy to the demands of viewers and have embraced the smart TV and the age [...]
