FSA removed Sir Fred criticism January 24, 2012 The Financial Services Authority removed criticism of Sir Fred Goodwin’s banking experience from its final report into the failure of RBS, said Bill Knight, one of two experts reviewing the FSA’s inquiry, in an appearance before the Treasury Select Committee yesterday. “It is true that the references to Sir Fred were changed following Maxwellisation but [...]
Peacocks still searching for white knight January 22, 2012 PRIVATE EQUITY firms and buy-out groups are poised to make a bid for Peacocks, the discount clothing chain, which collapsed into administration last week. Its administrators KPMG will open the data room to Peacocks today, which will allow potential bidders to browse financial and other relevant data on the firm. KMPG expects to receive the [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING January 19, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES LOBBYISTS’ REGISTER UNVEILED Proposals to force all lobbyists to join a compulsory register will be set out on Friday as the government moves to toughen the regime for the industry. Launching a consultation on the sector’s governance, ministers will also take views on opening up the register to include other groups that seek [...]
Knight Capital’s earnings soar January 19, 2012 Knight Capital’s quarterly profit rose four-fold, it said yesterday, as the electronic trader earned more revenue from its market-making activities despite challenging market conditions. The firm’s shares jumped 10 per cent on the news that its fourth quarter earnings had soared to $40.2m, from $9.2m a year ago. Knight Capital, which is based in the [...]
PROPERTY NEWS January 19, 2012 HOUSE PRICES FALL AGAIN Knight Frank/Markit’s January House Price Sentiment Index (HPSI) shows the rate of decline in house prices was similar to December. Around five per cent of households said the value of their home had risen since December, while around 19 per cent reported a fall. The resulting HPSI figure of 43.2 is [...]
Somersby the pick over the Rainbow January 19, 2012 SOMERSBY was beaten only a short head by Master Minded in last year’s Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot and looks the value alternative to Finian’s Rainbow in tomorrow’s 25th running of the race (3.45pm). Henrietta Knight’s eight-year-old hasn’t found winning that easy and has only one success to his name in 11 runs since December [...]
British support for nuclear energy returns to its pre-Fukushima high January 17, 2012 BRITISH support for nuclear energy is at an all-time high as the nation’s collective consciousness moves away from Japan’s Fukushima disaster. According to research by Ipsos MORI, the dip in favourable attitudes towards nuclear power seen in surveys in June 2011 was “no more than a temporary blip”, and backing for a nuclear programme is [...]
Homes more affordable as supply slumps January 15, 2012 HOMES are at their most affordable level for 14 years, according to data released today by Halifax, while figures from Rightmove suggest very low housing supply will prevent the market falling further. First-time buyers spent 27 per cent of their disposable income on their mortgage, down from the 37 per cent average seen over the [...]
MINERVA APPOINTS EXTRA AGENTS TO MARKET WALBROOK OFFICES January 12, 2012 PROPERTY agent Jones Lang LaSalle has been hired to give an extra push to Minerva’s efforts to find tenants for St Botolph’s and the Walbrook (pictured left) in the City of London. Minerva, bought by Delancey and Area Property Partners last year, has struggled to find tenants since completing the Walbrook in 2010. CBRE and [...]
FOCUS ON: CHORLEYWOOD, HERTS January 12, 2012 THE COURT HOUSE, CHENIES Price: £2.15m Constructed in 1897, the house retains many of the original period features, including attractive fireplaces, parquet flooring to the principal rooms and sash windows to the drawing room and dining room. Contact Knight Frank on 01494 675368 WOODSIDE HOUSE Price: £1.35m Dating back to the mid 1800s, this house [...]