Barclays bracing itself for protests August 5, 2009 BARCLAYS’ staff are set to stage a protest over pensions outside the bank’s annual meeting today. Barclays chief executive John Varley has argued that the bank’s pension fund deficit is worsening and curtailing its final salary pension scheme is best for present and future staff, and its pensioners. But the Unite union, which represents more [...]
CITY VIEWS: BARCLAYS WORKERS ARE PROTESTING TOMORROW. DO THESE KINDS OF PROTEST MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE? August 5, 2009 UDAY BAROT FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR“No, I don’t think this sort of strategy works. Big banks don’t listen and just do what they want. The smaller voices aren’t heard so protesting, in my opinion, doesn’t make a big difference.” TOLU BABATOLA LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR“No, I don’t think protesting makes much difference in such large corporations. [...]
A PRODUCT WHATEVER YOUR VIEW August 5, 2009 ALEXANDRE HOUPERTHEAD OF LISTED PRODUCTS UK, SG CORPORATE & INVESTMENT BANKING WHEN markets are choppy, clever traders look for new ways to diversify their tactics. One of the great things about covered warrants is their adaptability, which makes them a good addition to your trading armoury right now. For example, there are plenty of new [...]
THE LONDON REPORT August 5, 2009 The FTSE 100 closed down 0.5 per cent yesterday, after weaker than expected economic data in the US dragged equities lower, with oil producers and miners leading the losers. The index ended 24.24 points lower at 4,647.13, shy of Monday’s close when it hit its best closing level since the collapse of Lehman Brothers late [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS August 4, 2009 Ernst & YoungErnst & Young is expanding its London and Bermuda business with the promotion of three staff. The insurance practice has admitted Richard Battersby and Jeff Soar as partners and promoted Andy Worth to director. Battersby will become the transactions advisory partner, Soar (pictured) will be providing tax services to Lloyd’s and London market [...]
PENSIONS CRISIS AS DEFICITS SOAR August 4, 2009 FTSE 100 companies are running a combined pension deficit of £96bn, the largest ever recorded, a leading firm of consulting actuaries will reveal today. The collapse in stock markets means that the shortfall is more than twice the £41bn recorded a year ago, Lane Clark & Peacock’s (LCP) will say. The financial crisis has also [...]
Not all banks were given state handouts August 4, 2009 ANOTHER day; another row about banking profits, bonuses and the future of the City. The nationalised Northern Rock’s numbers were poor as expected – but for some reason, the pundits are more concerned with banks that are doing reasonably well. And not any institution: they couldn’t care less about Standard Chartered, a well-managed group which [...]
A SIGH OF RELIEF FOR FUND GURU DUFFIELD August 4, 2009 AFTER months of being down on his luck, perhaps the tide is starting to turn for veteran fund management guru John Duffield and his newest business venture, Brompton Asset Management. Duffield, who also previously set up Jupiter and New Star, originally named the firm Hyde Park Asset Management, before hedge fund marketing firm Hyde Park [...]
THE LONDON REPORT August 4, 2009 WEAKNESS in miners and banks sent the FTSE 100 0.2 per cent lower yesterday, retreating from the 2009 of the previous session. The index closed 11.09 points lower at 4,671.37, after ending at 4,682.46 on Monday. “When you’ve had such a strong run since March and after such a strong July, you can’t expect to [...]
CAN BARCLAYS CONTINUE ITS STRONG PERFORMANCE? August 3, 2009 NIC CLARKE CHARLES STANLEY“Barclays has been our most difficult call in the UK banking sector over the last 12 months. Performance in the next 12 months depends not only on whether BarCap can remain as robust as it has been but also importantly on the macro economic strength of the US, UK, Spain and South [...]