Networking: It’s time to go offline April 2, 2014 In the age of hyperconnectivity, don’t forget the importance of face-to-face relationships RESEARCHERS at MIT may have developed an algorithm that digitally transforms faces to be more memorable, but research from EY this week suggests that no conference call or email will ever capture the effect of meeting someone in person. Behavioural scientists have long [...]
Letters to the Editor – 01/04 – European debate, Globalisation fears, Best of Twitter March 31, 2014 European debate [Re: Why both sides of the debate must up their game on Europe, Friday] Of course politicians are throwing around dodgy statistics. Why? Because both sides of the EU debate lack any comprehensive vision for what Britain’s global position will look like in the future. The Outers want either an expanded Commonwealth, a [...]
CNBC Comment: Why ECB currency concerns won’t last March 31, 2014 IT MAY be 1 April, but there’ll be no joking at the European Central Bank (ECB). It meets again this week, and the pressure is on. The latest inflation print showed an annual rate of just 0.5 per cent in March, below forecasts and the lowest rate since 2009. Almost instantaneously, the head of the [...]
UK leads the way with a surge in private equity dealmaking March 31, 2014 BRITAIN led the private equity dealmaking pack across Europe in the last quarter, with 40 per cent of buyout values coming from UK buyers, a study out today claims. The UK’s market share is eight per cent higher than it was last year, underscoring the growing strength and stronger sentiment of the British economy. In [...]
EU lenders cut back to boost performance in stress tests March 31, 2014 BANK lending will not rise as fast as hoped this year as cautious European institutions cut back in risky lending, EY forecast today. The Eurozone lenders, facing an asset quality review (AQR) and stress test, are being careful with their lending to make sure their balance sheets appear in good shape. EY expects lending will [...]
Three things you didn’t know about… March 31, 2014 EY partner Maryam Hussain 1 She had a narrow escape when travelling from Madrid to Tehran in 1980. Her pilot landed 20 minutes early, meaning she was safely watching from the airport building as minutes later, the plane was bombed and destroyed in an Iraqi air force attack. 2 Three years ago, she took up [...]
Changes to bank levy will cost firms £400m per year March 28, 2014 THE BANK levy will rise to £2.9bn from its previous target of £2.5bn per year, under plans in a consultation out yesterday, as the Treasury looks to fix the amount of money it raises from the industry. In 2010 the plan was to tax banks based on the size of their balance sheet, aimed at [...]
Letters to the Editor – 28/03 – Crossrail 2, Virtual future, Best of Twitter March 28, 2014 Crossrail 2 [Re: London will come to a standstill if we delay Crossrail 2, yesterday] Far from demonstrating a lack of political will on Crossrail 2, the mayor has long been the driving force behind getting this vital project moving. He strongly believes it is critical to boosting capacity and galvanising economic growth, which is [...]
City Moves for 27 March 2014 | Who’s switching jobs March 26, 2014 Hanson Asset Management The asset management firm has announced the appointment of Jonathan Arthur as head of investment management. He was previously head of UK equities at UBS Private Wealth. KPMG The professional services firm has appointed Dan Roman to lead its UK hedge funds practice. He joined the hedge funds tax practice three years ago from EY, [...]
Falling inflation signals end of wage squeeze March 25, 2014 REAL wages for average UK workers look set to finally begin rising once again, with earnings ticking upwards and inflation down to the lowest level in more than four years. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by only 1.7 per cent in the year to February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) yesterday. Inflation [...]