A model for the generation of innovation September 20, 2011 “THE DNA of innovators – or the code for generating innovative ideas – is expressed in the model on the right. The key skill for generating innovative ideas is the cognitive skill of associational thinking. BEHAVIOURAL SKILLS The reason that some people generate more associations than others is partly because their brains are just wired [...]
Downgrade of Italy adds to Eurozone woes September 20, 2011 THE downgrade of Italy’s sovereign debt rating by Standard and Poor’s (S&P) ratings agency was another sounding of the death knell for the Eurozone in its current incarnation. When it announced the revision yesterday from A+ to A, S&P noted Italy’s “weakening economic prospects” and the difficulty of the “fragile governing coalition” being able to [...]
MARKET TOO COMPLACENT ON THE EURO September 20, 2011 YESTERDAY, while London was sleeping and Tokyo traders were just starting their day, Standard and Poor’s downgraded Italy, sending euro-dollar into free fall, as the unit plunged more than 100 points in a matter of minutes. Yet when London traders arrived at their desks, the pair proceeded to stage a comeback recovering all of its [...]
THE TIPSTER September 20, 2011 THE dollar’s strength in recent weeks has seen it really surge against its neighbour the Mexican peso, having appreciated some 14 per cent since mid-July. A break above the peso13.000 level is quite significant for the dollar bulls, meaning a test of peso14.000 cannot be ruled out. Capital Spreads quotes peso13.1270-peso13.1470 for dollar-Mexican peso. We [...]
FOREX ANALYST PICKS September 20, 2011 FOREX STRATEGIST JOHN KICKLIGHTER My pick: Short Aussie-Kiwi, short Aussie-yen, short loonie-yen Expertise: Fundamental analysis with risk management Average time frame of trades: 1 day to 1 week There is a lot of interest this week in the Fed rate decision and constant turmoil surrounding Greece’s slow motion implosion, so I’ll avoid this risk. Instead, [...]
Fly me to the moon (really) September 20, 2011 The era in which the wealthy and intrepid can choose travel to space is fast approaching. Forward thinker Richard Branson has helped commercialise the idea with his Virgin Galactic. But as the idea of leisure space travel catches on, a rival to Branson has emerged. Meet Michiel Mol, the Dutch business-man and co-owner of the [...]
The ingenuity behind Burberry’s magic fashion touch September 20, 2011 LIFESTYLE EDITOR DESPITE the possible onset of another recession, the world cannot get enough of Burberry. With its share price up by four per cent after it unveiled its new collection at London Fashion Week yesterday, it is clear that the brand is doing something very, very right. So what’s its secret? Everyone likes a nice rain-resistant [...]
Audi A4’s new rival: Peugeot 508 September 20, 2011 I DON’T know of anyone that owns a Peugeot 407. I don’t even know of anyone that ever considered owning one, even second hand. This is possibly because it is French and big French cars don’t sell so well in the UK. Or maybe it’s because it wasn’t much of a looker. French, for sure. [...]
CAR TALK September 20, 2011 CHARITY HYBRID CAR AUCTION The UK’s first Fisker Karma Sedan – the luxurious electric hybrid sports car we waxed lyrical about last month – is being auctioned for charity on 8 October. The event, called ARTiculate, takes place at The Roundhouse, Camden and is in aid of Pratham UK, an NGO dedicated to the education [...]
IMF warns US and Europe could lurch into recession September 20, 2011 Europe and the United States could slip back into recession next year unless they quickly tackle economic problems that could infect the rest of the world, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday. The IMF said financial volatility had increased dramatically as investors worried about an escalating debt crisis in the euro zone and a [...]
