Media execs bullish views May 27, 2014 MEDIA and entertainment bosses have given an upbeat assessment of the global economy, with more than two in three seeing an uptick in activity, a new study suggests. The poll, by EY, found 64 per cent thought the state of the global economy was improving. A further 34 per cent planned to pursue acquisitions over [...]
Investment into Europe reaches peak level as economies recover May 27, 2014 FOREIGN investment into Europe reached a record high last year, with the UK seeing the greatest increase, said EY research today. Despite challenging economic conditions in parts of the continent, 3,955 projects attracted foreign investment in 2013, up four per cent from the previous year. EY’s annual European Attractiveness Survey said the UK took the [...]
City Moves for 23 May 2014 | Who’s switching jobs May 22, 2014 Addleshaw Goddard The law firm has announced the election of John Joyce as a managing partner. He specialises in corporate restructuring. Joyce has been a partner since 1998, and was most recently head of business support and restructuring. Euler Hermes Bonding The surety bond provider has appointed Adam Hinc as a senior underwriter in its [...]
Letters to the Editor – 23/05 – Debating Europe, Best of Twitter May 22, 2014 Debating Europe [Re: European Parliament election: Could a victory for Ukip help it secure a domestic foothold?, yesterday] It was interesting to hear Charles Lewington OBE’s views that Nigel Farage’s party is one of “eccentrics”. It might be also interesting to note that one such “eccentric” worked as a non-executive director for Charles’s business for [...]
Letters to the Editor – 22/05 – The UK and Europe, Best of Twitter May 21, 2014 The UK and Europe [Re: Voters in the UK and Europe are in the mood for change, yesterday] I don’t understand Stephan Shakespeare’s conclusion that Euro voters are “united by a desire to stay in Europe”. That is not what his graphs say. On reform, UK, Germany, France and Sweden pass 70 per cent recognising need for significant [...]
Confusion reigns as forward guidance fails to set out clear interest rate path May 15, 2014 Mark Carney wants to give as much info as he can on when interest rates will go up – after more than five years at 0.5 per cent, this is a great big challenge for the Bank of England. He doesn't want to panic anyone. That is one reason why Carney introduced forward guidance, [...]
Letters to the Editor – 15/05 – Politicising M&A, Best of Twitter May 14, 2014 Politicising M&A [Re: Britain’s apparently open economy can’t afford this Pfizer political inquisition, yesterday] Government interference in the market always leads to disaster. The shareholders and their board of directors created Pfizer and Astrazeneca, and only they should decide their future. House of Commons committees are merely a device for airing political prejudice or personal [...]
The EU tax liberation day small print: Why the UK beats flat tax Lithuania May 12, 2014 WHEN I tell you Lithuania has a 15 per cent flat tax rate, does your mouth water at the idea of Britain adopting a similar system? As a former stockbroker who has researched “The Tax Burden of Typical Workers in the EU” for the past five years, I’ve learned to look at tax rates the [...]
City Moves for 08 May 2014 | Who’s switching jobs May 7, 2014 PwC The professional services firm has announced the appointment of Will Brown as a director in its enterprise resilience practice. He was most recently at KPMG, where he ran its business continuity team. Simmons & Simmons The law firm has appointed Mahrie Webb to its funds practice. She has over 12 years’ experience advising fund management [...]
Letters to the Editor – 07/05 – Political failure, Pfizer-AstraZeneca, Best of Twitter May 6, 2014 Political failure [Re: We are stuck in a disastrous spiral of misplaced interventionism, Friday] I couldn’t agree more with this diagnosis of political failure. But I think rising rent is largely a London problem. When I was younger, the idea was you bought a small two bed terrace and moved your way up the ladder. [...]