After subdued 2016, contrained by Brexit and Trump, these bankers are predicting a 2017 bounceback for UK M&A December 19, 2016 Despite mega-deals involving the London Stock Exchange, Arm Holdings, Sky and a big takeover approach from British American Tobacco (BAT), even the most optimistic M&A banker would concede it’s been a somewhat subdued year for UK deals. After a record 2015, a year in which Megabrew was finally agreed and Anglo-Dutch oil major Shell tied [...]
Blame discredited elites for the decline and fall of the West in 2016 December 19, 2016 “The more I practice the luckier I get.” – Golfing great Gary Player In essence, political risk analysis is like nothing so much as American baseball: there is an undoubted element of chance to the game and even the best player strikes out with soul-destroying regularity. Saying this, it is not dumb luck that the legendary [...]
Newly appointed night czar Amy Lamé hits the Piccadilly line Night Tube for the first of her night surgeries December 16, 2016 The mayor's first night czar starts a pet project of her own tonight. Amy Lamé, who was announced by the mayor last month as night czar, is launching the very first of her night surgeries – where she'll meet the capital's nightlife lovers and night-time workers to find out just what they want to see from [...]
Mayor says construction will start on Swiss Cottage-West End cycle superhighway next year though full route isn’t set in stone December 16, 2016 The mayor has confirmed work will start on a new cycle superhighway from Swiss Cottage to the West End next year. Sadiq Khan said construction on the new 2.5 mile route, cycle superhighway 11, will begin in the autumn of 2017 when the gyratory will start to be removed. It was one of the more controversial plans [...]
The tech revolution – not Brexit – will reshape the face of London December 16, 2016 London's office market will change more in the next five years than in the 15 years since the 2001 dot-com crash, as a combination of factors much bigger than Britain’s exit from the EU come into play across the capital. While there has been so much discussion on the future of London’s banking cluster since [...]
The doom-mongers are wrong, it’s not all gloomy for England December 14, 2016 There seems to be quite a lot of negativity being written and spoken about English cricket at the moment and quite honestly a lot of it is a load of rubbish. Yes, England have been hammered by India and defeat in Mumbai was their seventh Test loss of 2016. A further setback during the fifth [...]
Chelsea escape points deduction following Etihad Stadium brawl, while Blues defender signs new deal December 13, 2016 Chelsea have avoided a points deduction after being slapped with a £100,000 fine following the mass brawl which concluded their Premier League victory at Manchester City earlier this month. The ugly scenes prompted the Stamford Bridge club’s fifth charge of failing to control their players in 19 months, which brought with it the threat of [...]
Working Lunch: Think you know what Venetian food is? Educate and treat yourself at the same time at Veneta in St James’ Market December 13, 2016 Veneta St James’ Market, SW1Y WHAT? Everyone knows what Italian food is about, but could you name a distinctly Venetian dish? If you can’t, educate and treat yourself at the same time with a visit to Veneta. Stuffed full of regional delicacies like bigoli (fat spaghetti) and spice trade seasonings (plenty of saffron and cardamom), [...]
Alastair Cook to consider future as England captain after talking up readiness of Joe Root to lead and India drubbing December 12, 2016 England skipper Alastair Cook admits the severity of his side’s hammering during the fourth Test in Mumbai and series drubbing against India will force him to consider his future as captain. Cook, who has led England since 2012, plans to hold talks with director of cricket Andrew Strauss in the New Year and, should he [...]
Horse racing betting tips: Village Vic back to pitch his tent at Cheltenham December 9, 2016 WHEN the rain finally arrived a month ago in time for Cheltenham’s Open meeting, trainers breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of some proper winter jumping conditions. Yet, just four weeks on and clerk of the course Simon Claisse has been forced to turn on the taps to maintain decent ground. It’s been [...]