Contradictions in new bank rules create fresh risks May 1, 2012 ECONOMIC issues will dominate political discussions about the votes taking place across the EU in the coming month. As well as our own local elections, there are local elections in Germany and Italy, presidential elections in France and Hungary, a general election in Greece and a referendum in Ireland on the EU’s new fiscal treaty. [...]
Private equity rides to rescue of failing firms April 29, 2012 PRIVATE equity firms were once known as Barbarians at the Gate – after KKR’s $25bn leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in 1988 was immortalised in a bestseller of that name – but their image has picked up, at least according to one expert. Peter Hemington, M&A partner at BDO, said buyout firms are no longer [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS April 29, 2012 SPC The Society of Pensions Consultants has announced that Roger Mattingly has been elected society president, with effect from 1 June. He succeeds Kevin LeGrand, head of technical services at Buck Consultants. Mattingly is a board director at JLT Benefit Solutions and has sat on the SPC council for the past thirteen years. R3 Lee [...]
FOCUS ON: ASCOT April 26, 2012 EASTWAYS Price: £4.95m A spacious seven bedroom home set in landscaped gardens overlooking Sunningdale Golf Course. It features a library, drawing room, breakfast room and utility room as well as a cinema room. Also has a triple garage. Contact Knight Frank on 01344 642 732 TWO CEDARS Price: £1.38m Five bedroom house located in the [...]
A rollicking outing for Marvel fans April 26, 2012 FILM AVENGERS ASSEMBLE Cert: 12A ***** A team of super heroes being brought together from three different blockbuster movie franchises. An alien invasion. A shadowy Chancellor Palpatine-style intergalactic villain. A shady government organisation with dubious plans. Various back stories and sub plots. Joss Whedon has a lot of plates to keep spinning with Avengers Assemble. [...]
An Orwellian whorl of a film that’s unsettling and original April 26, 2012 FILM CLONE Cert: 15 **** Matt Smith, who plays Clone’s hero Tommy, is kinda handsome in a kooky way. More Easter Island statue than Michelangelo’s David. People fancy him, but they’re not sure why. It probably accounts for why his CV beyond Doctor Who is sparse to say the least. You feel he is going [...]
Boris takes fight to heart of City April 23, 2012 PORT drinkers raised their glasses, a knight was converted and one supporter suggested the Mayor should join in with some “Boris Dancing” – it’s hard to imagine a more welcoming environment for the Conservative candidate than Leadenhall Market’s St George’s Day celebrations. Yesterday Johnson was cheered by City crowds as he gave a stump speech [...]
Financial markets aren’t like casinos – but they aspire to their condition April 23, 2012 CASINOS are a triumph of human achievement – a beacon of what financial markets hope to accomplish. No, I’m not being facetious. Consider the distinction the economist Frank Knight made between risk and uncertainty. Risk is calculable because the range of possible outcomes is known. In roulette, for example, a ball is released into a [...]
Fresh life in the Cornish market April 19, 2012 With weather like this week’s, one might be tempted to quit the UK entirely. But when the sun shines, and even when it doesn’t, there’s no lovelier part of the country than Cornwall – and the market knows it. Cornwall is not cheap – you can easily spend a few million on a seaside sprawl. [...]
FOCUS ON: BATTERSEA April 19, 2012 PRINCE OF WALES DRIVE Price: £3.15m This semi-detached home features a large master bedroom and four additional double bedrooms. Outside there is a garden and a patio, ideal for outdoor dining. Close to Battersea Park, this spacious house is perfect for a family. Contact Savills on 0203 402 1900 PAGE MEWS Price: From £1.15m These [...]