PROPERTY BARONS PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR SAGE April 13, 2010 IT WAS a hop, a skip and a jump over to the Dorchester yesterday lunchtime for the slap-up annual lunch hosted by Gerald Ronson, the seasoned chief of property group Heron International. Ronson’s list of invitees reads like a who’s who of the upper echelons of property and high finance, including ex-Lloyds chair Sir Victor [...]
Oil and mining shares drag FTSE lower as commodity price falls take their toll April 13, 2010 BRITAIN’S leading shares shed 0.3 per cent yesterday as oils and miners fell back on lower commodity prices, while banks moved lower on investor caution ahead of first-quarter results in the United States. At the close, the FTSE 100 was down 15.99 points at 5,761.66, having been stuck in a tight 37 point trading range [...]
Quake in Chile takes toll on Beazley profit April 7, 2010 LLOYD’S of London insurer Beazley yesterday said it expects to pay out as much as $75m (£49m) in claims following February’s earthquake in Chile. Analysts said the losses would reduce the Dublin-based insurer’s pre-tax profit for the year by £10m to £142m, although the group’s exposure to the event was minimal compared to its peers. [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS March 30, 2010 Clifford Chance The law firm has elected Michael Bates and Robert Lee as the new joint practice area leaders for its London finance practice, effective for a four-year period starting tomorrow. Bates, pictured, has been a partner since 2001 and specialises in acquisition and leveraged financings in the infrastructure sector. Lee, a partner since 1997, [...]
Lloyds: We are staying put March 28, 2010 Lloyds last night categorically denied it has started a search for a new London head quarters. The Financial Times said it was eyeing a move after finding renewed confidence in its financial outlook. But a spokesman told City A.M.: “We are definitely not moving offices. There is not a shadow of doubt about it. Categorically [...]
Goodwin adviser Greenburgh retires from BoA Merrill Lynch March 28, 2010 VETERAN dealmaker Matthew Greenburgh has retired from Merrill Lynch and is considering studying for a PhD in English Literature after 28 years in the City. Dubbed “Sir Fred Goodwin’s banker” for helping Royal Bank of Scotland take over ABN Amro in 2007, Greenburgh leaves a gap in the top ranks of the bank. Henrietta Baldock, head of [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS March 28, 2010 Principal Global Investors The asset management firm has appointed Andrea Muller as chief executive of its east Asian operations and managing director for the Asia ex-Japan region, effective from tomorrow. Muller has over 23 years of experience with large multinational firms and was most recently the head of the Fitch ratings agency in the Asia [...]
The City’s top skiers fight for glory on Italian slopes March 28, 2010 The 2010 City Ski Championships Courmayeur, Vallee d’Aoste, Saturday 20 March 2010 THE competition for the City Ski Championships gets hotter each year, but this year’s championships were dominated by Accenture which came away with all the main prizes. With the strap-line “High Performance. Delivered”, this Accenture certainly did on the Le Greye piste of [...]
At a glance: All of Alistair Darling’s 2010 Budget tax and spend policies March 24, 2010 THE ECONOMY/ PUBLIC FINANCES l Confirmed pre-Budget report (PBR) 2010 growth forecast of 1-1.5 per cent. But the chancellor revised downwards the 2011 forecast to 3-3.5 per cent to bring forecasts in line with those of the Bank of England. Growth forecast of 3.5 per cent in 2012 maintained. l Inflation spike expected to be [...]
Lloyd’s reaps record profit but fears 2010 March 24, 2010 LLOYD’S of London was bracing itself for a “very tough” 2010 yesterday, despite releasing a record set of results that showed pre-tax profit doubled to £3.9m last year. A lack of natural disasters and strong investment performance helped the insurance market boost the figure from £1.9bn in 2008, when hurricanes Ike and Gustav forced to [...]