London still needs a Plus Markets for small-cap listings May 20, 2012 LAST week was a rollercoaster for the small-cap community, with uncertainty surrounding Plus Markets. It culminated in the announcement that Michael Spencer’s Icap has agreed conditionally, upon approval by the FSA and Plus shareholders, to acquire Plus SX and its Recognised Investment Exchange status. Plus companies and advisers will be relieved at Icap’s commitment to [...]
Events in Europe shouldn’t distract us from the global challenges we face May 20, 2012 AS City A.M. readers read this, Greece and the stability of the euro is probably at the forefront of their minds. I am concerned, too, but my perspective today is different. I am looking back across the globe from where I have just landed on day one of a City business mission to the Philippines, [...]
As the Eurozone crisis progresses, would a Greek exit lead to a break-up of the euro? May 20, 2012 YES Jason Gaywood The overwhelming likelihood is that Greece will be forced to leave the euro. A stand-off between Angela Merkel and anti-austerity parties in Greece creates a difficult conundrum – if the EU stands firm and Greece defaults, its ejection from the euro will lead to contagion risk. Other members, like Portugal, Italy, Ireland [...]
RAPID responses May 20, 2012 Don’t forget Cyprus For obvious reasons, we are most interested in the west European dimensions to the euro crisis, but why is so little attention given to the possibility of Cyprus leaving the euro simultaneously with Greece (or very nearly so)? In an interview on Tuesday’s Today programme, Vince Cable more or less conceded that [...]
A modest shirt-maker with an inspiring outfit May 20, 2012 IT’S not uncommon for successful entrepreneurs to be modest, but it rarely comes across as entirely genuine. The self-effacing Nicholas Charles Tyrwhitt Wheeler is the real deal. For Wheeler, the customer is king. He says: “One of the defining moments in my whole life was when I worked at Harrods and they put me in [...]
Your idea to make millions is worth much less than you think May 20, 2012 PLEASE ensure you’re sitting down because I want to shock you. Despite the popular wisdom, most “amazing” and “brilliant” business start-up ideas and inventions are worthless. Yours, mine, and just about everyone else’s. They have no value. Scream and shout all you like, but after backing over 80 start-ups and reading more than 10,000 business [...]
Venture capital can come at a high cost May 20, 2012 DRAGON’S Den might make entertaining television, but it delivers a warped view of venture capitalism. A new paper from Coutts, The Price of Growth, suggests entrepreneurs have a much more distant relationship with venture capital than the one portrayed by the media. The standout findings are: ■ 72 per cent of entrepreneurs do not believe [...]
How to get on the housing ladder May 20, 2012 THERE is no doubt about it. It’s tough out there for first time buyers. But stricter lending criteria don’t necessarily mean it’s impossible to get on the housing ladder. However, you must know the basics so you can build your decision on strong foundations. DO THE MATHS Incentives matter. It was recently confirmed by the [...]
House prices in the capital are detached by location May 20, 2012 London’s property market is outperforming but some boroughs are well off the pace LONDON Neither London, nor England and Wales, have returned to their 2008 peaks – but London is close. From March 2009, prices have grown 16 per cent in London compared to 6 per cent in England and Wales as a whole. However, [...]
Transport and schools are key to valuations May 20, 2012 TRYING to predict where London’s house prices will go as a whole is a fools errand. The house price earnings ratio suggests property remains overvalued, but the influx of foreign cash combined with inflexible planning restrictions could see prices continue to rise. It’s easier – and more fruitful – to weigh up different areas. THE [...]
