Wall Street may be heading for a pullback as earnings season starts October 7, 2012 WALL Street may be bracing for a pullback as US earnings season begins this week – if the clouds of profit warnings from bellwethers ranging from FedEx to Hewlett-Packard lead to a downpour of lower profits, or even losses. Thanks to aggressive stimulus plans from central banks around the world, the Standard & Poor’s 500 [...]
Dear Prime Minister: 45 MPs sign letter criticising BAE/EADS merger October 7, 2012 THE proposed takeover of BAE systems by EADS raises a significant number of issues which have profound consequences for Britain. Not only does Her Majesty’s Government have an obligation to make a political decision on the takeover, as the guardian of the “golden share”, but it also has a duty to safeguard Britain’s national security [...]
India’s long journey towards reform holds lessons for the City’s future October 7, 2012 LOOKING back at Europe from New Delhi – and the City delegation’s business visit to India – it is clear that reform tops the agenda in both places. Whether it is Vickers, Liikanen or Singh, the detailed reasons behind reform may be different. But the desired overall outcome is the same: to create stable jobs [...]
It’s now time for Chelsea and John Terry to say sorry October 7, 2012 FOR the past year, I have often been the only person in a room defending John Terry, the captain of Chelsea Football club and former England captain, against charges of racism. I still believe, as the Football Association (FA) asserted last week, that Terry is not a racist, regardless of the outburst he made against [...]
As the Conservative conference begins, will the party recapture the political initiative? October 7, 2012 YES Alex Singleton It’s easy to underestimate David Cameron and write him off as wishy-washy. But he’s actually one of the most determined men in politics, who will ruthlessly ditch policies that he deems electorally damaging. His reshuffle last month gave a clear indication that he is listening to critics. Some want to write him [...]
Rapid responses October 7, 2012 Dirty subsidies [Re: We just need the political will to reduce destructive energy prices, Friday] Matthew Sinclair’s long rant against climate change policies showed a remarkable ignorance of the economics of energy. As the energy regulator Ofgem has pointed out, the primary driver of electricity price rises over the past eight years has not been [...]
Turtles can turn into gazelles in a good incubator October 7, 2012 IT IS one of the saddest scenes in nature. On a deserted beach, mother turtle struggles up the sand, and laboriously digs a hole to lay her eggs. Sometime later, hundreds of tiny baby turtles scramble out and start heading down the beach towards the water. The birds, in a frenzy, scoop up such an [...]
British SMEs should export their way to prosperity October 7, 2012 FOR entrepreneurs limited by our shores, now is time to leave Britain on the nearest plane, train or automobile. Not to emigrate to a more business friendly environment (at least, not just yet) – but to embrace what made this country great: international trade. Research commissioned by Barclays reveals some good news for companies weighing [...]
Cautious investors can miss out on stellar equity rallies October 7, 2012 RETAIL investors have become cautious in their asset allocations, and consequently may have missed out on gains in equities. The uncertain investment climate – driven by the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis and concerns about global growth – has pushed investors to seek the safety of fixed-income. FLIGHT TO SAFETY In uncertain times, investors flock to [...]
Investment debate: Fixed-income versus equity funds October 7, 2012 FIXED-INCOME FUNDS IAN SPREADBURY HIGH quality bonds offer a reliable income and low volatility of returns – two important attributes for investors. But they are also priced expensively in this uncertain economic environment. I do not believe gilts are in a bubble. We are still in the grip of a global economic crisis. Weak growth [...]
