The global battle for the internet is about to begin January 16, 2012 2012 is the year that freedom online will be challenged. In the UK and the US, proposals are being introduced for website blocking in the name of copyright and child protection. In America, the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) is already causing seismic protests. But in 2012 we will also see a push to [...]
With the Eurozone tottering it may be time we signed up for some Norwegian lessons January 15, 2012 NORWAY is indeed a country of good fortune. Post World War II, the quality of living was relatively poor by Western standards, based upon the proceeds of an old-fashioned primary economy. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1960s, this nation of only 4.9m has rocketed to fourth in the IMF’s league table, [...]
OECD figures point to a UK contraction January 12, 2012 MOST developed economies will slow further in the coming months, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warned yesterday. Only Japan, the US and Russia are showing positive signs, the body’s leading indicators suggest. In November the UK’s index — which aims to predict economic turning points six months in advance — slowed 0.4 [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS January 12, 2012 Association of British Insurers The ABI board has appointed Robert Talbut, chief investment officer of Royal London Asset Management, as chairman of the ABI investment committee. Previously the committee’s deputy chairman, he takes over from Alain Dromer, CEO of Aviva Investors. Talbut is a member of the Listing Authority advisory committee and an alternate on [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 12, 2012 UNILEVER Morgan Stanley rates the consumer goods group “equal-weight”, down from “overweight”, and has a target share price of €28 (£23.43). The broker notes that Unilever shares are at all-time highs and that investors should aim to take profits. Morgan Stanley also sees very limited scope for any earnings upgrades in 2012, leaving the shares [...]
UK ready to cough up for IMF billions January 11, 2012 BRITAIN will contribute billions to boost the firepower of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) alongside other shareholders, chancellor George Osborne told MPs yesterday. Significantly, he refused to rule out the idea that the UK could cough up more in proportion to its 4.5 per cent shareholding of the fund than other countries. In fact, with [...]
Our schools must be open to business so we can have a bright economic future January 10, 2012 NOW that pupils are back at school, it’s time to help them get down to business. One key question they need to be asked is: “Hands up who wants to go into business?” Their answer will not only shape the life chances of millions of young people, but will also have a dramatic impact on [...]
La Senza and Blacks saved from brink January 9, 2012 IT WAS all change on the high street yesterday after two of the UK’s stricken retailers, lingerie chain La Senza and outdoor sportswear company Blacks Leisure, were rescued from administration. Retailer JD Sports confirmed yesterday that it had bought all of Blacks’ 290 stores and the bulk of its business from its administrator KPMG in [...]
LAUREUS AWARDS: THE CATEGORIES January 9, 2012 WORLD SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR Last year’s winner: Rafael Nadal This year’s nominations: Usain Bolt (Jamaica) Athletics; Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Tennis; Cadel Evans (Australia) Cycling; Lionel Messi (Argentina) Football; Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) Basketball; Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Formula One WORLD SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR Last year’s winner: Lindsey Vonn This year’s nominations: Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) Athletics; [...]
Welcome to 2012’s two-speed world January 5, 2012 ON the face of it, it would seem that nothing changed during the holiday season. Take some of the news in today’s paper. Hungary is in ever-deeper crisis, the euro reached another 15-month low yesterday and Eurozone bank shares plunged, led by those of Italy’s UniCredit. Important stuff, certainly, but more of the same. It [...]