Mortgage lending jumps ahead of Funding for Lending Scheme August 20, 2012 MORTGAGE lending jumped sharply in July, according to industry data published yesterday, with the government’s new Funding for Lending Scheme expected to boost loans further through August. Gross lending rose eight per cent to £12.7bn in the month, reversing the fall to £11.7bn in June, the Council of Mortgage Lenders revealed. However, analysts warn the [...]
Technology firms look to hire more staff despite double dip August 20, 2012 BRITISH technology firms are defying the recession according to an industry survey published yesterday, with businesses planning on expanding through the economic downturn. The sector has performed strongly in recent months with 51 per cent of company bosses saying their business prospects improved over the past six months, and 34 per cent saying prospects were [...]
City Moves | Who’s switching Jobs August 20, 2012 Investor Relations Society The professional body for the investor relations profession has appointed John Gollifer as its new general manager. He succeeds Michael Mitchell, who retires at the end of 2012. Gollifer is a former head of investor relations for the Singapore Exchange, and was involved in establishing the Investor Relations Professionals Association in Singapore. [...]
BEST of the BROKERS August 20, 2012 INVENSYS UBS has maintained its “buy” rating on the software group, but upped its target price to 280p from 240p after re-assessing the firm’s valuation. The broker says a few months ago the company’s share price was over-discounting but now appears fairly valued. COMPASS GROUP Panmure Gordon has a “buy” recommendation on the food and [...]
Wall Street flat after six week rallying boom August 20, 2012 US stocks were flat yesterday, on signs of fatigue after a six-week run of gains, as the European Central Bank quelled speculation about the form of market intervention that may be taken to stem the region’s debt crisis. Despite the lethargic trading, Apple shares hit a new high, becoming the most valuable public company of [...]
FTSE slides lower as commodities and banks hit by economic worries August 20, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index fell yesterday, easing further from four-month highs hit last week, weighed by a slide in banks and commodity stocks as expectations for stimulus measures in China and Europe took a slight knock. The European Central Bank sought to quash speculation about the shape of its new bond-buying plans and the Bundesbank [...]
The Eurozone’s new quick fix risks papering over much deeper cracks August 20, 2012 WITH European politicians still nursing their holiday sunburns, speculation has already returned to the Eurozone crisis. Unsurprisingly, the focus is again on European Central Bank (ECB) intervention, not least because its president Mario Draghi’s commitment to “do whatever it takes” to save the euro may now require him to follow through. The main plan being [...]
The cigarette display ban is a smoking gun in the war on free expression August 20, 2012 THERE’S something odd about my local Tesco. Since April, the kiosk at the entrance has looked incredibly dull. As I was recently trying to work out why, I saw a sign saying that all cigarettes and tobacco-related products must now be hidden behind closed doors – to comply with UK regulations. As an economist, I [...]
As David Cameron relaxes in Mallorca, is the UK a better place to go on summer holiday? August 20, 2012 YES Patricia Yates What’s not to love! Consistently in the world’s top 10 most visited destinations, last year saw around 31m overseas visitors come here to enjoy what we have to offer. From West End theatre to cutting edge art, from castles to stately homes, Britain is renowned for its diverse culture and the depth [...]
Rapid Responses August 20, 2012 Universities work [Re: Release our business schools from the dead hand of state regulation, yesterday] Professor Len Shackleton’s proposed “shake-up” of UK higher education is wrong on a number of fronts. For a start, he fails to recognise the success of our world class universities which, despite years of under-investment, continue to deliver for this [...]
