The Underground adland: After winning TfL’s £1.1bn advertising contract, Exterion Media boss Jason Cotterrell lays out his subterranean vision March 22, 2016 City A.M. may thoroughly engross commuters during their morning Tube journey. But once you’ve alighted, navigating the bustling corridors and escalators of the Underground requires your undivided attention. For the brands and companies which advertise on its billboards, London’s transport network presents a rare opportunity. “In the main, users are younger, affluent, in work, and [...]
Junior doctor strike: Health secretary Jeremy Hunt calls for end to “unnecessary strikes” as industrial action continues over dispute with government around new contract January 12, 2016 Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has called on junior doctors to come back to the negotiating table and bring an end to "these very unnecessary strikes", as hospitals across England face disruption. All but emergency treatments are facing disruption as junior doctors began industrial action following a dispute with the government over a new contract. The walk-out went ahead at 8am and [...]
As the FOMC meets this week, is it now imperative that the US Fed starts hiking interest rates? December 13, 2015 Didier Saint-Georges, managing director at Carmignac, says Yes There are good reasons to be worried by the Fed’s rate rise, as growth remains very shaky everywhere, including in the US. Janet Yellen is obviously acutely aware of this economic fragility, and we would hope she isn’t fooled by headline employment numbers. But the case for [...]
Investment Association chief Daniel Godfrey ousted October 7, 2015 Daniel Godfrey, chief executive of the Investment Association, the UK investment managers' trade body, will leave the board with immediate effect. The news comes after Sky reported on Monday that M&G Investments and Schroders, who between them manage some £550bn of assets, will not renew their contract with group, and Fidelity Investments, Aberdeen Asset Management [...]
Pensioners shun Lamborghini lifestyle as savers opt for sound investments September 3, 2015 Fears that savers would blow their pension pots after new freedoms were introduced have failed to materialise, according to new figures that show Brits opting for sounder investments. Savers took £2.5bn out of their pensions, about £27m a day, during three months following new rules that came into place in April. Yet, during the [...]
Theatre review: Splendour August 6, 2015 Donmar Warehouse Four Stars With The Iron Lady, Shame and this autumn’s forthcoming Suffragette, it seems playwright Abi Morgan is on a mission to compensate for the dearth of meaty acting roles for women. True to form, this revival of her critically acclaimed four-woman play Splendour is as challenging and gripping as it was 15 [...]
Suffragette movie review: Meryl Streep and Carey Mulligan star in this worthy tribute October 8, 2015 Cert 12A | ★★★★☆ “If we give women the vote, where will it end?” says a disgruntled Cabinet minister in Suffragette. “They’ll be wanting to be Members of Parliament next.” Well, here we are, not quite at the end, but closer to it than we were in 1912, when a faction of the women’s suffrage [...]
£1.8bn withdrawn from pension pots since new freedoms came into force in April July 15, 2015 In almost every facet of life, if more choice is offered, people will take it. Pensions are no exception with the increasing freedom the government has introduced and that came in to force 100 days ago, £1.8bn has flooded out. Read more: Pensions could look more like ISAs In the two months after pension rules were [...]
Legal & General quits insurance trade body ABI August 13, 2014 Legal & General (L&G) yesterday quit the UK’s biggest insurance lobby group, the Association of British Insurers (ABI), to strike out on its own in its bid to influence public policy. The FTSE 100 giant, led by chief executive Nigel Wilson, blamed its burgeoning profile as a fund manager and a lack of faith in [...]
Aldi and Lidl expansion plans speed ahead of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda in supermarket wars with five times as many planning applications May 5, 2015 Rival German discounters continue to outpace the UK's "big four" in the supermarket wars with ambitious plans for expansion five times the rate of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and Asda combined. While Tesco and Morrisons have been forced to shutter stores in the midst of declining sales and squeezed margins, Aldi and Lidl have submitted plans [...]