Back to form Snedeker has weapons to tame Augusta April 7, 2015 THE WORLD’S greatest golf tournament hits our screens again this week and with it the game’s greatest ever player, returning to his favourite course after missing last year’s event with a back injury. In his pomp Tiger Woods was simply majestic around Augusta, winning four times and finishing inside the top six on eight other [...]
Pension changes April 2015: Huge demand sees pension groups Aviva, Prudential and Pension Wise open for bank holiday business April 7, 2015 Pension firms have put extra measures in place to deal with the impact of the new pension rules, which came into play yesterday. The reforms mean savers aged 55 and over will no longer be forced to buy an annuity with their pension pot, and instead will be allowed to cash in as much of [...]
Welfare of Nations: Our debate about the future of the state is worryingly parochial April 6, 2015 In the aftermath of the Cold War, we were told that capitalism had won. Communism had been defeated, and we were entering Francis Fukuyama’s “End of History” – with capitalist liberal democracies the highest, and final, form of human government. But what if “capitalism” versus “communism” was always a false dichotomy? What if the truly [...]
From the leaders debate to the Holborn fire: Here’s what got us talking this week April 2, 2015 There was a fire. Then there was another fire. And in Salford, there were fireworks (or was it a damp squib?). Considering it was a short week, plenty happened. Here's what got us talking. 1. And they were off. It may feel like they've been at it for weeks, but Monday was officially the [...]
General Election 2015: More business leaders join chorus of support for Conservative economic plan April 2, 2015 Ed Miliband's battle with Britain's senior business leaders continued today after another 17 captains of industry signed a letter supporting the Conservatives' economic plan. Yesterday the Daily Telegraph's front page brandished a letter signed by more than 100 business leaders including household names like BP and Prudential sounding their support for Tory economic policy and [...]
HSBC’s next headache is relocation, relocation, relocation April 1, 2015 If Douglas Flint had a tenner for every time he had been asked about the future location of HSBC’s headquarters, he’d have almost enough to pay its contribution to the bank levy by himself. Flint has many other things on his mind right now: the reputational fallout from the Swiss tax evasion affair, sluggish returns [...]
Forget NHS romanticism: Market-based healthcare is far better for patients April 1, 2015 Nigel Crisp knows the NHS better than almost anyone. In his role as its chief executive (2000-2006), he oversaw the formulation and, partly, the implementation of transformative reforms. His book “24 hours to save the NHS” can serve as an antidote to the popular penchant for “NHS romanticism”, because in parts it is a story [...]
Quindell admits it got its sums wrong on Slater & Gordon deal to the tune of £13.5m following share suspension April 1, 2015 The mystery of this morning's decision to suspend trading in Quindell shares has been solved, after the troubled insurance claims processor admitted it had understated the amount its professional services division contributed to the company, to the tune of £13.5m. Shares were restored this afternoon after the company posted a statement several hours after its [...]
April Fools’ Day 2015: The best (and worst) jokes from BMW, Sun Life, Confused.com, Richard Branson and the London Eye April 1, 2015 Alright, so this year the various political weirdnesses (Joey Essex interviewing Nick Clegg, anyone?) have caused an air of ridiculousness to hang over Westminster for several weeks now – but outside the London bubble, the once-a-year gag fest that is April Fools' Day has kicked off in earnest. Here are some of the best (and [...]
Quindell suspends trading in its shares on Aim April 1, 2015 Quindell has suspended trading in its shares on Aim "pending an announcement", it said today. The London Stock Exchange issued a notice saying it had taken the decision to cancel 126 trades made between 9.40am and 9.42am, equating to a volume of 403,512. UPDATE: Quindell shares resume trading, mystery of share suspension is solved Shares [...]