New EU rules set to boost reinsurance and securities issues August 12, 2010 New EU rules to boost insurers’ financial strength will spur more issues of securities tied to natural disasters and peak mortality risks as the sector moves onto even safer footing, Swiss Re said yesterday. The world’s second-biggest reinsurer and other industry experts expect the Solvency II capital regulations – set to take effect in 2013 [...]
UKTV appoints new boss as Virgin seeks a buyer for the JV August 12, 2010 UKTV yesterday announced a major shake-up of its board just days after it emerged Virgin will sell its stake in the joint venture. Darren Childs will take the helm at the profitable broadcaster, stepping down from his post as managing director of BBC Worldwide Channels. He will replace David Abraham, who stepped down in April [...]
England seal warm-ups August 12, 2010 ENGLAND will warm up for next year’s Rugby World Cup with a double-header with Wales and a Test against Ireland. Martin Johnson’s men line up at Cardiff and Twickenham before travelling to Dublin on August 27 of next year – just two weeks before England’s World Cup opener against Argentina in Christchurch. The national side [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS August 12, 2010 INTERSERVE UBS downgrades Interserve to “sell” from “neutral” with an 180p price target warning it faces “serious headwinds” going forward. Expects significant revenue drop in UK construction of 32 per cent from peak to trough resulting in an 85 per cent fall in divisional profit. Believes support services margin pressure will also persist. ING Deutsche [...]
A high-flying PR success story August 12, 2010 A DEGREE in law couldn’t stifle Anthony Payne, the founder of Peregrine Communications, from unleashing his entrpreneurial spirit. Even when he was completing articles – the early stages of legal training – he took time out to start a pizza delivery business called Moonlight Munchies. Skip forward a couple of decades and Payne is eating [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF August 12, 2010 Spofforth earns Britain gold SWIMMING: Gemma Spofforth led home a British 100m backstroke one-two at the European Championships. Spofforth pipped Lizzie Simmonds, while Liam Tancock took 50m backstroke silver. But golden girl Rebecca Adlington trailed a distant seventh in the 800m freestyle. Erratic Murray into last eight TENNIS: British No1 Andy Murray wobbled badly before [...]
Big corporates help small firms prosper August 12, 2010 IN THE past, corporate social responsibility meant big firms sponsoring a recycling plant, or an art exhibition at one of the major galleries. But now well-known corporate brands are starting to direct their altruistic impulses toward entrepreneurs. At the start of this year, Virgin Media teamed up with Enterprise UK to support young entrepreneurs. It [...]
EMPLOYMENT August 12, 2010 Q. I have been running my own business for two years and am looking to take on my first employee, how do I go about writing a legal contract and how much does it cost? A.It is absolutely crucial to set up a contract, which sets out the arrangements between the employee and employer in [...]
Take a bespoke approach to your retirement plans August 12, 2010 WHETHER it is the shift from final salary to defined contribution pension schemes or the growing disillusionment in the financial sector and the costs of traditional pensions, we are all choosing to take more control over our retirement planning. And rather than choosing a one-size-fits-all stakeholder pension, investors are increasingly opting for the made-to-measure self-invested [...]
PERSONAL FINANCE NEWS August 12, 2010 BEWARE PHONE CALL SCAM HM Revenue & Customs has issued a warning to taxpayers after reports that thieves were making phone calls pretending to be the taxman. According to reports, fraudsters say that you are due a tax rebate and ask for your bank details over the phone. They then try to gain access to [...]
