FedEx outlook stokes bearish US sentiment September 5, 2012 US stocks closed out a second straight session of thin trading yesterday, with investors reluctant to make big bets ahead of a crucial meeting of the European Central Bank, which could announce new policies to help contain the Eurozone’s debt crisis. Media reports that European policymakers would unveil a bond-buying plan to bring down crippling [...]
Self-control: The secret ingredient that guarantees a successful life September 5, 2012 WHEN psychologists isolate the personal qualities that predict positive outcomes in life, they consistently find two traits: intelligence and self-control. So far researchers haven’t learned how to permanently increase intelligence. But they have discovered, or at least rediscovered, how to improve self-control. The first two steps are setting a goal, and then monitoring your behaviour. [...]
Obama isn’t working: He won’t win without a stronger message on jobs September 5, 2012 AS BARACK Obama pinned his electoral hopes on Bill Clinton’s rhetorical prowess at the Democratic convention last night, Mitt Romney is channelling Ronald Reagan by asking voters: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” It’s certainly throwback week on the campaign trail. But, with two landslide victories, Reagan may provide Romney [...]
The reshuffle is a fillip for Osborne and the economy September 5, 2012 THE chancellor had a mixed reshuffle. First, the negatives. He wanted Iain Duncan Smith out of Work and Pensions, but the quiet man had his way. Osborne also winds up with Ken Clarke as a roving rival, licensed to speak about the economy; untameable and unabashed in voicing his views, whether or not they fit [...]
As the coalition debates whether to expand airport capacity, which is the best option? September 5, 2012 HEATHROW Tim Yeo Britain needs the third Heathrow runway because Boris Island is too expensive, too late and in the wrong place. Building Boris Island requires billions of taxpayers’ money. Expanding Heathrow does not require a penny. No aircraft could take off from Boris Island before 2030. The third runway could be operating in 2020 [...]
Rapid Responses September 5, 2012 Jolt the economy [Re: More public spending is unlikely to multiply into stronger economic growth, yesterday] Paul Ormerod is spot on. I had hoped that the world had evolved beyond the theories of John Maynard Keynes. It should be obvious now that an increase in public spending will not stimulate the economy. Rather, David Davis [...]
Tablet market hots up September 5, 2012 A resurgent Microsoft hopes a new range of devices running Windows 8 will succeed where Google has failed and shake up a tablet industry dominated by Apple. Here are some of the players hoping to steal the iPad’s limelight. Sony Vaio Duo 11 The Vaio Duo 11 is a flippy, foldy, deckchair-like device with a [...]
Need to know the Nokia Lumia 920 September 5, 2012 The basics Nokia has, once again, produced what looks like a seriously good handset. It has a gigantic 4.5 inch HD display, which squeezes lots of the “Live Tiles” that Windows Phone 8 is based around onto the homescreen. It is also bright, with colours including banana yellow, electric blue and fire engine red. The [...]
OFT calls for review into petrol prices September 5, 2012 The consumer affairs watchdog has called for information on petrol and diesel prices from the industry and consumer groups to identify whether there are competition problems it needs to tackle. In a sign that authorities are worried about near record high fuel prices, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is calling for responses on whether [...]
Barclays names European retail banking boss September 5, 2012 Barclays’ new chief executive Antony Jenkins has handed the running of its Continental European retail and business banking division to Curt Hess, currently the division’s chief financial officer, the bank said today. In one of Jenkins’ first significant appointments, Hess will lead the European Retail and Business Banking (ERBB) division, covering Spain, Portugal, France and [...]
