Decades of hard work and entrepreneurship July 15, 2012 NOT MANY outside the insurance industry know the name Stephen Catlin. But he is one of the most successful UK businessmen. Over the last 30 years, he has turned a two person reinsurance company into a £3.5bn international firm – Catlin Group. The eponymous CEO was crowned UK winner at the Ernst & Young World [...]
Miners lead the FTSE 100 upwards in the hope of economic stimulus July 3, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index hit two-month highs yesterday, extending gains into a third session as investors readied for more economic stimulus after surprise action last week at an EU summit to tackle the festering Eurozone debt crisis. But traders said the rally could be short-lived and the market may face downward pressure starting next week [...]
The pensions industry must act to avert the looming UK capital crisis July 1, 2012 OVER the next few decades, the UK’s public finances face being crushed by the costs of preserving our pensioner population. In parallel, our domestic supplies of capital will likely be depleted, exacerbated by a shrinking savings pool. Japan’s once legendarily high savings rate is expected to turn negative this year, as pensioners spend their savings. [...]
Cameron must back Gove for the sake of Britain’s children June 21, 2012 FOR the first time in living memory, Britain has a government that is on the brink of delivering huge improvements to the state education system. Michael Gove, the secretary of state, has a masterplan: he wants to axe GCSEs, replace them with much tougher O-Levels, introduce an alternative vocational qualification and sweep away the national [...]
UK real incomes fall at quickest rate in 30 years June 14, 2012 THE AVERAGE UK income fell at the fastest rate since 1981 last year as inflation eroded real earnings, according to statistics out yesterday. The median income fell 3.1 per cent to £419 a week after inflation and before housing costs, according to the Department of Work and Pensions. The drop in 2010-11 compares with slow [...]
Eurozone concerns and football bid war keep FTSE pinned back June 14, 2012 The FTSE 100 fell back in early trading, reversing the previous session’s gains, with Eurozone concerns dominating after Spain’s debt rating was downgraded and Italy faces up to a crucial bond auction. Last night credit ratings agency Moody’s slashed its rating on Spanish government debt by three notches to ‘Baa3’ from ‘A3’, saying the newly-approved [...]
Osborne should reject the Vickers report in his Mansion House Speech June 13, 2012 GEORGE Osborne is a flip-flop chancellor – but on all the wrong policies. One area where a u-turn would be welcome is on the implementation of the Vickers report. However, In his Mansion House speech tonight, he will signal an intention to plough on as before – accepting both the good and the bad. Let’s [...]
Why a bit of risk-free investing can soothe the soul June 10, 2012 BEING a business journalist for CNBC has upsides and downsides. Every day we get to speak to the biggest players in the global markets. The access we get to the likes of George Soros, Mohamed El Erian and Warren Buffett is amazing – yet being surrounded by millionaire, nay billionaire, guests can make you feel [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 6, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Bank staff costs take bigger share of pot The world’s big international banks are paying out much more on staff costs relative to profits since the financial crisis while slashing the portion of income paid out in dividends, according to data compiled by the Financial Times. The findings come amid increasing shareholder complaints [...]
FTSE enjoys some breathing space as bargain-hunters prompt gains May 24, 2012 BRITAIN’S benchmark share index recovered yesterday from stinging losses during the previous session as bargain hunters snapped up beaten-down financial and commodities stocks, although traders said any rally could prove short-lived. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 83.64 points, or 1.6 per cent, to 5,350.05 points. It fell 2.5 per cent on Wednesday to [...]