Eight charts that sum up 2014 December 22, 2014 This year will be remembered for the fragmentation of mainstream politics, Scotland's near exit from the 307-year old union and an economy which the Bank's chief economist Andy Haldane described as "writhing in both agony and ecstasy." What does all that look like? Here are eight charts that sum up the year. (Source: Getty) 1. [...]
Pensions pots to Kristofferson: Hermes Investment chief Saker Nusseibeh’s bid to make the City think differently December 21, 2014 “I do genuinely play guitar still, badly; I refuse to look at Harley Davidson stocks – because to me it’s a religion, not a motorbike company and I’m growing my beard to try and look like Kris Kristofferson,” Saker Nusseibeh, chief executive of Hermes Investment Management tells me. “Does this make me a better or [...]
Philip Clarke, Euan Sutherland and Dov Charney – the bosses who left us in 2014 December 19, 2014 This year has had its fair share of disasters – from the Co-op’s continued struggles to Tesco’s melting share price. But what of the people behind the stories? We’ve got the best, worst and most surprising people moves of the year. 1. Philip Clarke makes an unceremonious departure from Tesco Clarke stepped down at [...]
People’s Postcode Lottery: A gamble where everybody wins December 18, 2014 Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £56m for charity and they aim to raise even more next year. Fancy your luck this Christmas? Well, deciding to play People’s Postcode Lottery (PPL) isn’t a gamble at all when you know that the money you pay is being used to support some of the UK’s [...]
Good causes December 15, 2014 Just some of the charities supported this Christmas BATTERSEA DOGS & CATS HOME Christmas isn’t a relaxing time for everyone, especially not the 400 dogs and 250 cats waiting for new owners in Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Many of the animals, like Gizmo the staffie (pictured), get anxious and depressed in the kennels and [...]
23 pictures that sum up 2014 December 15, 2014 The year is drawing to an end so it's time to take a look back at 2014 in pictures. In January, workers at the French Goodyear factory went on strike and then took two executives hostage after it was announced that the company was going to close the plant, with the loss of more [...]
How diverse is the FTSE 100? White men dominate executive roles – and it’s getting worse December 15, 2014 The government faces an uphill struggle to meet diversity targets in FTSE 100 boardrooms after research revealed that 69 per cent of FTSE 100 companies are run by all-white executive teams. This comes despite the UK having a population that is 13 per cent non-white, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the [...]
Banks promise to help 1m who lack an account with new offering to include debit cards and online access December 14, 2014 Britain's biggest nine bank account providers today promised to give better access to adults who did not have a current account. Roughly 1.3m Britons are unbanked for a range of reasons, including lacking a steady income. However, lacking an account makes it harder to receive a regular income, or to pay vital bills. [...]
Santander hires Baroness Vadera as UK chairman December 14, 2014 Baroness Vadera will replace Lord Burns as Santander’s UK chairman in March, the Spanish bank announced on Friday. She will join the board as joint deputy chairman in January, before taking the top post in March. Her appointment marks a complete change at the top of the UK arm of the group. Ex-chief [...]
Fed meeting might change rate schedule – The week ahead on Wall St December 14, 2014 INVESTORS will focus on a two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting amid speculation the central bankers will change their view on interest rates and the economy. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets tomorrow and on Wednesday with a statement and forecasts expected Wednesday at 7pm GMT, followed by Fed chair Janet Yellen’s press conference half [...]