MICHAEL O’LEARY STEPS UP ATTACK ON ‘PERMA-TANNED’ UNION LEADER June 1, 2010 RYANAIR’S Michael O’Leary isn’t known as a man his rivals could turn to in a jam, but it appears leopards really can change their spots. Just a few weeks ago, O’Leary lashed out at the Unite union, which is representing British Airways cabin crew in a series of damaging strikes, labelling them a “bunch of [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING May 31, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES CHINA TOLD PROPERTY RISK IS WORSE THAN IN US The problems in China’s housing market are more severe than those in the US before the financial crisis because they combine a potential bubble with the risk of social discontent, according to an adviser to the Chinese central bank. Li Daokui, a professor at [...]
Act now to snap up remaining French bargains May 27, 2010 AFTER a weekend of Mediterranean weather evaporated this week, sun-hungry holidaymakers could be forgiven for looking to France. And with sellers dusting down wine cellars for the high season, there is no better time to fly south for villa-viewing. The Lehman collapse saw demand take flight even from prime locations, but top-end buyers returned during [...]
Belle Epoque style enters the 21 century May 27, 2010 AT the turn of the last century a visit to the imposing Mont Pelerine Palace in the Swiss Alps was a favourite pastime among wealthy travellers. They arrived by train to the quiet commune of Chardonne before ascending by funicular to the elegant hotel, enjoying the famous local Charennes wine and mingling with New York [...]
New FSA vetting regime changing life in the City May 25, 2010 LAST week, the FSA secured an undertaking from former senior RBS executive Johnny Cameron that he would not work full-time in the financial services industry again. This weekend it emerged that ex-Morgan Stanley executive John Hyman would not be going through with his planned move to Nomura because the regulator had asked that his FSA [...]
Stylish, affordable new homes for a brave green world May 20, 2010 THE UK is committed to ensuring that all new homes meet an ambitious zero-carbon standard by 2016. And with only a smattering of them in the country to date, there’s a long way to go. Indeed, Barry Morgan, of Morgan Restoration, an ardent eco-developer who has just installed solar panels on The Boatyard development overlooking [...]
Buy into stability with a well-placed Tuscan property May 13, 2010 THERE have been many pretenders to the throne of Italian property gold, but the fact is that Tuscany is still the place everyone wants to be. The downside to any oversubscribed spot is inflated prices, but the upside, in the case of Toscana, is an extremely stable, not to mention lucrative investment – and proximity [...]
Red Knights will not pay over odds May 10, 2010 CITY financiers determined to take control of Manchester United have vowed not to over-pay for the club. A statement released yesterday came after Old Trafford sources ramped up the stakes by claiming the club has already knocked back a £1.5bn bid from a far east consortium. The news has been construed as a plan by [...]
Red Knights will not ‘overpay’ for Man Utd May 10, 2010 THE Red Knights consortium has said that it will not pay over the odds for Manchester United. Businessmen led by Keith Harris have expressed an interest in the Premier league runners-up but have now suggested that they will not pay more than £1bn for the club current. They said in a statement: “We have had [...]
WHAT DOES THE ELECTION MEAN FOR BRITISH BUSINESS? May 7, 2010 DAVID FROST | BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE “At this stage, a hung parliament is not the best result for business. The UK needs strong and decisive leadership at this time of global financial turmoil. It is imperative that we see an early resolution as to who is going to be occupying Number 10 and Number [...]