BP and energy peers propel the FTSE while banks drag September 8, 2010 EENERGY stocks led by BP pushed Britain’s top shares higher yesterday, outpacing falls in banks that were weighed down by European recovery concerns. The FTSE 100 closed up 21.92 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,429.74, after breaking a seven-session winning streak to close down 0.6 per cent on Tuesday at 5,407.82. Meanwhile the FTSE [...]
RETAIL BROKER OF THE YEAR | THE SHORTLIST September 8, 2010 WITHOUT brokers like the ones on our list, money would sit in bank accounts gathering dust. They are the soul of the UK’s investment strategy. At the moment, when people are looking for stability, they are more vital than ever. Innovative, forward-looking and offering great personal service, these five are stars. Don’t miss the City [...]
Cable says Diamond appointment shows risks in banking sector September 8, 2010 Business minister Vince Cable said Bob Diamond’s rise to the top post at Barclays bank highlights the task the government faces in trying to make the banking sector safer. “We are worried about this combination of the casinos and the traditional banking,” Cable, a Liberal Democrat in the Conservative-led coalition administration, told BBC radio. Cable [...]
Exodus fears as banks reshuffle September 7, 2010 A SHAKE-UP at the helm of two of the UK’s largest banks is fuelling fears that the country could lose its top banking institutions overseas due to an over-zealous approach to regulation of the industry. Barclays yesterday shocked the markets by appointing Barclays Capital boss Bob Diamond to run the business. Current chief executive John [...]
Diamond is the right man for the job September 7, 2010 GOOD on Barclays for promoting Bob Diamond, head of the bank’s investment banking unit, to be the firm’s overall chief executive. He is the best man for the job, proving himself again with the successful integration of Lehman’s US operations. Yet given Diamond’s demonisation in the broadcast media and popular press, not least by the [...]
Diamond crowned as Barclays’ new chief September 7, 2010 CITY insiders voiced concern over the future of Barclays’ retail banking operation yesterday after the group confirmed Bob Diamond would replace John Varley as chief executive. Diamond, who has won renown aggressively building the Barclays Capital investment bank, will take over from Varley next March. Varley will stay on for six months as an adviser [...]
Barclays’ Agius to take helm at BBA September 7, 2010 BARCLAYS chairman Marcus Agius yesterday announced he would step up to chair the British Bankers’ Association after HSBC chairman Stephen Green resigned to take up a new appointment as UK minister for trade and investment. Agius, a former Lazard investment banker, has chaired Barclays since the beginning of 2007. He has maintained a lower profile [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: HOW WILL BOB DIAMOND FIT IN AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE? September 7, 2010 NEIL SHAH | EDISON INVESTMENT RESEARCH “It’s a great example of succession planning as far as I’m concerned. He’ll be in a different position as chief executive, though, and he will probably be more measured in his approach. Where he was before and where he’s going to now are different and he’ll probably be operating [...]
Ex-Goldman banker tipped for HSBC September 7, 2010 FORMER Goldman Sachs investment banker John Thornton was yesterday touted as the most likely candidate to step into Stephen Green’s shoes, after the HSBC chairman accepted the role of trade and investment minister in the coalition government. Green is due to step down before the year is out to fill the last remaining vacancy in [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS September 7, 2010 Deloitte The accountancy firm has appointed UK partner Chris Harvey as the new head of its financial services group. Harvey has been a partner since 2002 and has been global head of banking and securities since 2008. He will focus on growing the financial services business in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern [...]