A bonanza of fresh, cheap funds for the retail investor November 3, 2010 HSBC is planning another series of emerging market exchange traded fund (ETF) launches as the price war in ETFs intensifies. Retail investor confidence in using funds tracking more exotic indices is growing and HSBC is cranking up its aggression with planned launches in the first half of 2011 tracking the MSCI India, MSCI Emerging Asia [...]
It’s grim up North for Apprentice fashionistas November 3, 2010 THERE are many sides to Lord Sugar. It isn’t all lounging in ermine and plugging his new autobiography – he’s also a dedicated follower of fashion. “London is one of the most fashionable cities in the world”, he informed his would-be Apprentices, quite a shock for those of us who assumed this devil wore M&S. [...]
Time to take inflation seriously again November 2, 2010 WHO said inflation is no longer a danger? Wherever one looks, prices are rising, demolishing the flimsy case made by the deflationistas. The British Retail Consortium/Nielsen shop price index out this morning confirms that the cost of living is continuing to go up, hitting ordinary folk and fuelling general negativity about the state of the [...]
The commercial property king who says the City is ready for take-off November 2, 2010 Land Securities’ chief executive leaps from behind his desk, bounding across his seventh floor office overlooking Trafalgar Square as he welcomes City A.M. – after years of stagnation, the country’s biggest property developer is on the move again – and it certainly seems to have put a spring in Francis Salway’s step. Last week, the FTSE [...]
MOSS DEBUTS FINAL TOPSHOP COLLECTION November 1, 2010 Supermodel Kate Moss celebrated the launch of her final seasonal collection for British retail chain Topshop (owned by Philip Green, left) last night with a party at its flagship London store at Oxford Circus. The final collection includes “Biba-esque” floral printed day dresses, shift dresses with cross stitch panels, a pair of midnight blue velvet [...]
Terry Smith launches new fund manager November 1, 2010 CITY veteran Terry Smith is today set to launch his new fund management venture Fundsmith, which aims to shatter preconceptions about the industry by offering investors low fees and a risk-adjusted long term strategic focus. Smith said he aims to capitalise on a “groundswell of opinion” against what he views as the “utterly unsupportable” industry [...]
M&S looks to Europe again October 31, 2010 MARKS & Spencer (M&S) is reportedly planning an ambitious return to continental Europe by buying back the stores it left almost ten years ago. The retailer is believed to be holding discussions with Spanish chain El Corte Ingles about taking back some of the nine stores it sold in 2001. M&S is also believed to [...]
Royal Mail set to trial an evening delivery service October 31, 2010 EVENING deliveries are being trialled by Royal Mail, as the post operator looks to offer consumers more choice over the way they receive goods purchased online. London homes within the M25 motorway will be eligible for the new service, which enables shoppers at selected retailers to ask for items to be delivered between 6pm and [...]
Glass towers reflect new opportunities for the City October 31, 2010 LAST week was widely reported as a good news week for the City; two more skyscraper projects – British Land’s Cheesegrater and Land Securities’ Walkie Talkie – were revived and One New Change, the new jewel in the City’s retail offering, opened to huge fanfare and to huge crowds. All of this is of course [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 28, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES TOKYO HIT BY CLAIMS OF INSIDER TRADING Japan’s financial regulator and the Tokyo Stock Exchange are investigating recent trading activity following allegations of widespread insider trading ahead of new share issues by Japanese companies. Regulators are examining possible insider trading involving recent share issues where short selling activity increased substantially in the run-up [...]