Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond’s daughter Nell Diamond launches a bedding company January 19, 2016 The daughter of former Barclays boss Bob Diamond, Nell, has launched her own bedding company Hill House Home. Diamond said on Twitter she had always wanted to work in design: https://twitter.com/nelliediamond/status/689537875310989313 Hill House Home's website promises "we’ve spent thousands of hours exploring fibres and finishes… We’re experts in bedding so you don’t have to be." Diamond said [...]
Fintech revolution? Banks will survive disruption from new technology January 19, 2016 Last week, yet another report was published suggesting banking has reached its digital tipping point. Figures from Javelin Strategy & Research suggest that for the first time ever, US consumers banked on their mobiles more than in branches last year. We’re seeing a similar picture in the UK, as the large banks increase their technology spend [...]
Job interview questions from the City’s toughest banks including Barclays, HSBC, RBS, Lloyds, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs January 19, 2016 There's nothing worse than going into a job interview without quite knowing what you're in for. And given that City institutions are notoriously tough on their interviewees, going for a chat at City banks is particularly nerve-wracking. But worry no more: careers website Glassdoor.com has listed some of the toughest questions its interviewers asked potential employees. [...]
Stonewall top 100 employers: Lloyds Banking Group named most LGBT-friendly place to work in the City as MI5 tops list January 19, 2016 Lloyds Banking Group has been named the best LGBT-friendly place to work in the City, and second in the UK behind spy agency MI5. The bank's director of operations, Karin Cook, has been named Stonewall's champion of the year, leading Lloyds' efforts on diversity and inclusion. JP Morgan, Bank of America Merill Lynch and Macquarie entered [...]
Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S are among most praised companies by NGOs but VW and Royal Dutch Shell make “naughty” list of most criticised January 18, 2016 Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S are certainly not having the best of times on the high street these days, but there's one place their winning at least. The three are among several of the biggest global companies to make a "nice" list of companies which pressure groups and campaigners across the world, from the likes of Which? to Greenpeace, have [...]
Oil edges closer to $28 as Brent and WTI crude both drop thanks to end of Iran sanctions January 18, 2016 Oil investors were showing their nerves today, with the price of both Brent crude and WTI crude edging closer to $28, as sanctions against Iran were lifted, potentially adding millions of barrels of oil to an already oversupplied market. Brent, the global benchmark, dropped to $28.17 in early trading, while the US-focused WTI fell to $28.71. The [...]
Panmure storms into the top five London advisors January 18, 2016 Small cap specialist broker Panmure Gordon has broken into the top five City advisers chart this morning as financial data publisher Adviser Rankings unveiled its tenth annual corporate advisers rankings for 2015. The firm soared five places up the table, jumping from tenth in 2014. Panmure also managed to hold onto its third place position [...]
Equistone takes £100m prime cut of Argentinian steak house Gaucho January 17, 2016 The Gaucho chain of Argentinian steak restaurants has been snapped up by a hungry buyout firm in a deal thought to be worth around £100m. Equistone, the private equity firm previously owned by Barclays, is said to have beaten other interested suitors to buy a majority stake in the chain. Gaucho’s founder, the Dutch entrepreneur Zeev [...]
Davos 2016: Who’s who at the World Economic Forum (and who’s notably absent) – from Leonardo DiCaprio to Travis Kalanick and George Osborne January 17, 2016 If it seems like Davos reads like a who’s who of the world elite, you wouldn’t be wrong. On the Swiss slopes, the annual gathering of the World Economic Forum which kicks off this Wednesday, brings together the world’s biggest politicians, business leaders and a sprinkling of celebrities to liven things up too Leonardo DiCaprio is the [...]
EU referendum: BT chairman Mike Rake and Barclays chairman John McFarlane issue warnings over Brexit January 14, 2016 Two of Britain's top businessmen have warned that the City will be worse off if the UK leaves the EU. Mike Rake, chairman of BT Group and WorldPay, and Barclays chairman John McFarlane – who also chairs TheCityUK industry group – told Bloomberg TV today that Brexit would be bad for British business. "There has already [...]