Investec Comment: Asset finance for startups: How it can help June 28, 2015 MUCH of the discussion about small business finance focuses on the very early stages of a company’s life. Will a bank lend the money it needs for its initial stages of growth? If not, what other options does that firm have? What can be done to make it easier for very new companies to borrow? [...]
Stock Exchange Dinner beats the competition June 25, 2015 THE annual Stock Exchange Veterans’ Dinner saw a huge turnout at the St Paul’s Grange Hotel last night, despite competing with several corporate events in the same building. Last night saw a whopping 37 banks, businesses and firms put on their glad rags for a night of glamour, gourmet cuisine and generosity at the annual [...]
Weak performance in mining sector is a drag on the FTSE – London Report June 25, 2015 WEAK mining stocks and persistent concerns over Greece’s debt problems weighed on the UK market yesterday. The benchmark FTSE 100 equity index closed down 0.5 per cent at 6,807.82 points. Miners took most points off the index, with the FTSE 350 Mining Index falling 1.8 per cent as copper prices lost ground. The FTSE 100 [...]
Irish Derby: Legatissimo to put Oaks nightmare behind her June 25, 2015 There is some fantastic racing in Ireland this weekend and the highlight is undoubtedly tomorrow evening’s 150th renewal of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (6.30pm). This race has been dominated by Aidan O’Brien over the past decade. He has won the race an astonishing eight times in the last nine years and 10 [...]
Cricket Comment: Root is now a master of all trades June 24, 2015 ENGLAND produced another eye-catching limited-overs performance when beating New Zealand in their T20 international at Old Trafford on Tuesday and Yorkshire’s Joe Root once again delivered with the bat. He has been on fire during the last 18 months or so since being dropped for the final Ashes Test at Sydney during the 2013-14 tour, [...]
City of London Festival: Edinburgh Fringe faces fresh rival from the Square Mile June 23, 2015 Jealous of your rural friends festival-hopping their way around the British countryside? Don’t be; the City of London festival opens this week, bringing workers all the acrobatics and entertainment they can fit into their lunch break. The 53rd edition of the City of London Festival starts this week. With over 200 events spanning three weeks, [...]
Italy’s Ferrero goes hazelnuts for Thorntons June 22, 2015 ITALIAN confectionery giant Ferrero International is hoping to treat itself to another box of chocolates after offering to buy Thorntons for £112m yesterday, sending shares in the ailing retailer soaring by 43 per cent. The family-owned chocolatier behind Nutella, Kinder and Ferrero Rocher has offered to pay 145p per share in cash for Thorntons, reflecting [...]
How entrepreneurs can gain from corporate social responsibility – Investec Comment June 21, 2015 Businesses of all sizes can enrich people’s lives through more than just the products or services they sell. Strategically chosen community partnerships can have valuable mutual benefits, and keep employees and clients inspired. To ensure your corporate social responsibility initiatives gain traction, you should partner with people whose values align with your own. A great [...]
Clarke dismisses Gillespie’s pre-Ashes Dad’s Army jibe June 21, 2015 AUSTRALIA Test captain Michael Clarke has shrugged off the accusation from former fast bowler Jason Gillespie that his side are too old to beat England and retain the Ashes this summer. Gillespie, who was in contention to replace the sacked Peter Moores as England head coach before fellow countryman Trevor Bayliss was appointed, last week [...]
England call up left-arm seamer for Ashes camp June 18, 2015 UNCAPPED Derbyshire seamer Mark Footitt has been handed the opportunity to stake a late claim for Test recognition this summer after being named in England’s pre-Ashes training squad yesterday. Left-arm fast bowler Footitt has taken 32 wickets in Division Two of the County Championship so far this summer, which follows an impressive haul of 82 [...]