Good jobs: On that key measure, London is the world’s top city November 11, 2013 LONDON is a global city, and together with a handful of other ultra-successful urban centres worldwide, the closest we have today to the ancient Phoenician and Greek city-states. Successful, open-minded, commercial cities have always attracted the best and brightest, something that was just as true in the Mediterranean in 600BC as it was in early [...]
Bottom Line: The war between BT and Sky gets vicious November 11, 2013 WHEN you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” BT’s new chief executive Gavin Patterson has clearly been reading his Sun Tzu. BT’s massive bid for Champions League broadcast rights came out of the blue, scoring a key victory in its war with BSkyB for TV sports dominance. But the best generals have to consider if the [...]
UK’s biggest 350 firms showing a return to growth November 11, 2013 THE UK’s biggest 350 companies are mirroring the British economy’s nascent return to growth after companies on the index saw a steady rise in annual sales, fresh research out today shows. According to the latest year-end numbers from FTSE 350 firms that reported in the three months to September 2013, overall revenues are up 1.3 [...]
Government to launch project for investment November 11, 2013 THE government is to launch a new investment project aimed at raising billions of pounds from overseas for British urban regeneration projects. The Regeneration Investment Organisation (RIO) would be a “one stop shop” for foreign investors looking to put their money into UK assets, Sky News reported. RIO, developed by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), [...]
MPs summon bankers over Royal Mail sale November 8, 2013 Several of the investment banks associated with the sell-off of Royal Mail have been called up by MPs to an inquiry into the company's privatisation, reports Sky News' City editor, Mark Kleinman. The banks have been contacted by the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee (BIS) which has asked them to attend sessions later this [...]
Our guide to the best investments November 7, 2013 London property prices are sky-rocketing, so what better time to invest with the rest? RIGHT now, investing in a London home looks like a pretty smart move. Asking prices saw a 10 per cent increase last month and, with low-deposit schemes like the government’s Help to Buy initiative, more people are looking to invest in [...]
News UK in the running to buy Racing Post newspaper’s debt November 6, 2013 NEWS UK, the publisher of The Times, The Sun and The Sunday Times, was last night reported to be one of the bidders in the running to acquire the outstanding loans of the Racing Post newspaper. Bidders for the debt are hoping it would put them in a strong position to ultimately gain control of [...]
Inside Track: Carney must act to stop new EU rules hitting UK banks November 6, 2013 Well that didn’t last long. Optimism about a rapprochement between the Bank of England and major international banks has had the City bewitched since Mark Carney’s intervention last month to relax liquidity rules, marking a distinct break with the approach of his predecessor, Lord King. It may not be quite that straightforward: two subsequent developments [...]
Embrace the lunar tick November 6, 2013 Designers of women’s watches are understandably drawn to the expressive beauty of the moonphase complication. Laura McCreddie looks at three brands offering this adornment across different price points Heritage Zenith Star Moonphase – £3,200 Zenith tends to be perceived as a rather masculine brand – it had a watch on Felix Baumgartner’s wrist when he [...]
Premier Foods seeks out new bread investor November 5, 2013 PREMIER Foods has hired advisers to review options for its troubled bread division, including a possible sale. The owner of Hovis and Mother’s Pride bread has asked financial advisory firm Ondra Partners to explore options including attracting a new investor, a source confirmed last night. Premier Foods’ bread business, which also produces own-label ranges for [...]