Economic malaise reveals itself behind a global surge in nationalist violence September 20, 2012 ONE of the most extraordinary images of the week was a display of militarised toothpaste tubes at a Nanjing supermarket. Beneath the Chinese flag, the green boxes were artfully arranged into the shape of an artillery gun, with an uncompromising slogan – “The Daioyu islands belong to China!” – between its wheels. The combination of [...]
Ten golden rules of investing September 20, 2012 The efficient market hypothesis is nonsense. Markets are driven by humans, humans are irrational, thus markets are irrational. Occasionally, something happens and investors panic. You should take advantage of these instances, not join the stampede (or, if you are going to rush for the exit, be the first.) Think of a 20 per cent fall [...]
Are there signs that mergers and acquisitions activity might rise over the coming months? September 20, 2012 YES Alexis de Rosnay There have been tentative signs that the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market has picked up over the last few weeks. The key ingredients for a sustained pick up in M&A is the performance of the equity markets in general – it is no coincidence that the bumper years for transactions have [...]
Rapid Responses September 20, 2012 Clegg’s apology [Re: How one ticking economic timebomb is being slowly defused, yesterday] Nick Clegg’s apology wasn’t just confused. It’s another step in the quiet unravelling of the coalition. You can see how Clegg and David Cameron are slowly beginning to reposition their parties in preparation for the next election. Whether either will still be [...]
Open House unlocks London’s hidden gems September 20, 2012 The Gherkin 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 8EP; Sunday 9am-5pm Sir Norman Foster’s spectacular 40-storey office building has become a landmark of the London skyline. Built in the heart of the financial district, it has 360-degree views across the city. Every 10 minutes, groups of 30 people will be shown around this magnificent building. Heron [...]
Pre-Raphaelite exhibition is an ethereal, poetic success September 20, 2012 ART PRE-RAPHAELITE, VICTORIAN AVANT GARDE Tate Britain | **** THE TATE Britain presents the most extensive Pre-Raphaelite exhibition on these shores in 25 years. The collection maps the progress of the brotherhood, paying special focus to the three originators; Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt, and records how they challenged the [...]
Enjoy the glut of new openings near the City September 20, 2012 This Month has seen an unprecedented number of openings across the capital, particularly in the City. The first that warrants attention is NeNe, which is located nearby the lovely, and formerly lonely, Eight Club Moorgate and in the same building as L’Anima. NeNe adjoins Chrysan, the first international venture from the Japanese visionary Yoshihiro Murata. [...]
Hysteria is a coy toothless cartoon September 20, 2012 FILM HYSTERIA Cert 15 | * Hysteria, the story about the invention of the vibrator in Victorian London, could have been the perfect companion piece to Maggie Gyllenhaal’s sexually-charged 2002 movie, Secretary. It promises to be an exploration of female desire, a subject that remains something of a taboo in mainstream cinema. Instead, we get [...]
Now is Good… But it ain’t great September 20, 2012 FILM NOW IS GOOD Cert 12A | *** Now is Good is a mawkish but ultimately effective teen weepie. It follows the last months in the life of terminally ill 17-year-old Tessa (Dakota Fanning) as she ticks off a list of things she wants to experience before death. One of the things on the list [...]
Pitt’s latest is blunt, violent and zingy as hell September 20, 2012 FILM KILLING THEM SOFTLY Cert 18 | **** Killing Them Softly has the kind of script that, in lesser hands, and with lesser actors, could have been laughably bad. But director Andrew Dominik, the man behind the excellent The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, never blinks as he unfurls this ultra-violent, [...]