Jefferies finishes 2012 on a high, but it is tough out there December 17, 2012 There’s been anything but a gradual winding down towards the Christmas break for many of those who ply their trade at the London offices of Jefferies. Whilst for many rivals Christmas is truly coming early, with some executives already off for a touch of winter sun, many of the Jefferies teams are still much in [...]
Chrismukkah in Canary Wharf: Final menorah candles light up December 17, 2012 IN addition to the Christmas lights shining around Canary Wharf, a 15ft high menorah has been installed in the gardens of Jubilee Park. To commemorate the Jewish festival of Chanukah, the candles were lit in special lighting ceremonies, sponsored by KPMG and Citi, over eight days last week. This is the 14th time Canary Wharf [...]
Rapid responses December 17, 2012 Banking union [Re: European banking union will be no friend of vibrant financial services, Thursday] If Europe’s banks are going to be regulated under one umbrella, the financial sectors of smaller countries will likely find themselves stifled. The inclination for a European regulator will be to impose the level of regulation that is already in [...]
The markets don’t sleep during the festive period December 17, 2012 OVER the Christmas period, equity markets are often seen as offering slim pickings for spread bet and contract for difference traders. Granted, there’s the prospect of a Santa rally, but otherwise the FTSE-100 index tends to end up trading in tight ranges as volatility ebbs away. Underlying volumes are low, traders generally aren’t at their [...]
Steady as she goes December 17, 2012 SHARES in cruise operator Carnival are up by over 14 per cent over the last year. Its earnings conference call on Thursday will confirm that bookings have held up well. The company has also commissioned new ships, adding to its burgeoning fleet. It may not be entirely plain sailing going forward but, for now, the [...]
How to eat well and cook little this festive period December 17, 2012 Head chef, Paternoster Chop House ONE OF the things I love about the festive period is the opportunity to do very little cooking at home. Yes, there is the main Christmas Day meal to be prepared and perhaps some party food for evenings with friends. But after all that, I relish being able to graze [...]
City scribbler aims to make a killing with thriller for charity December 16, 2012 THIS evening sees the launch of Michael Crawshaw’s thriller novel To Make A Killing, at the London Capital Club. Crawshaw has previously worked as head of European research at Citigroup and head of research at Schroders. However he has penned his debut Cit-lit to raise money for Joanna Lumley-backed charity Hands Together. The prime suspect [...]
Steep dive for house prices in December lull December 16, 2012 ASKING PRICES suffered their biggest December drop on record this year, data from Rightmove revealed this morning. Asking prices collapsed 3.3 per cent in just a month across the UK, with London seeing a four per cent dive. The tumble is the steepest December decline since Rightmove began its survey a decade ago, outstripping the [...]
No time off for traders as fiscal cliff is looming December 16, 2012 THE last two weeks of December are traditionally quiet for stocks, but traders accustomed to a bit of time off are staying close to their mobile devices, thanks to the “fiscal cliff”. Last-minute negotiations in Washington on the so-called fiscal cliff – nearly $600bn of tax increases and spending cuts set to take effect in [...]
As more Christmas shoppers choose to buy online, can the British high street survive? December 16, 2012 YES Rob Myers Regardless of how the internet evolves, you can’t try on a pair of the latest shoes or feel the quality of a gift for a loved one. Our research has shown that, far from killing the high street, the internet is lending itself as a valuable tool in the retailer’s armoury. The [...]