Like to have all the windows closed at work? It’s probably making everyone in the office less intelligent October 27, 2015 If you want to keep your mind in tip-top shape, keep fresh air coming into your office. A new investigation into the impact of air quality on cognitive functioning at Harvard University has shown having a well-ventilated work space makes people perform “significantly” better in intelligence tests. In fact, “green”, well ventilated offices with low levels [...]
Oil prices could stay under $50 as defiant Opec fails to reach agreement on production levels December 7, 2015 Oil prices could remain stuck under $50 amid one of the worst supply gluts in history, as a defiant Opec failed to agree new production levels at an acrimonious meeting at the end of last week. Global benchmark Brent crude fell two per cent to $42.93 a barrel after the Vienna meeting and has stayed around that [...]
The terminal flaw at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s low oil strategy January 18, 2016 “If people want to know who I am, it is all in the work.” – Alan Rickman Like everyone I know with a soul, I find myself in genuine mourning for the great British actor Alan Rickman, who died last week. It is impossible for me to think of anyone who brought me as much [...]
West End sees post-May poll sales upswing August 3, 2015 HOUSE sales in London’s upmarket West End have soared following the Conservatives’ election win, as buyers’ fears over Labour’s proposed mansion tax were allayed. Property advisers CBRE said enquiry levels rose by 25 to 30 per cent following the May poll outcome compared with pre-election figures. This led to an upswing in sales in the [...]
Putin will fail in Syria: The West must take a step back October 4, 2015 I feel as if we are in a time warp. To read right-wing commentators over the past few days, you would think the Cold War is back on – only this time we are losing. To hear them talk, we are living in a new age of Russian power. A triumphant Russia is calling the [...]
CoolBrands 2015: Apple crowned the king of cool as Google slips September 27, 2015 Apple has retained pole position for the fourth year in a row in a ranking of companies' brand appeal, according to pollsters CoolBrands. Its tech rival Google, however, dropped out of the top 10 altogether, slipping to 12th from sixth in 2014. Despite an improving economy, luxury brands did not manage to maintain [...]
Lord Mayor’s Show London 2015 parade: Something different for the weekend November 13, 2015 We all have our daily routines. Travel into such-and-such station, make a beeline for the office, grab a coffee on the way, preferred sandwich shop at lunch, back to work, another beeline to such-and-such station, then home again. And repeat. Hundreds of thousands of us cross paths in the Square Mile each weekday, turning into [...]
Ukog: UK Oil and Gas share price falls despite extending planning permission for its Markwells Wood well license October 16, 2015 Shares in UK Gas and Oil (Ukog) fell five per cent to 1.35p per share in early afternoon trade, despite the company securing an extension to planning permission for its Markwells Wood well in West Sussex. Ukog said the South Downs National Park Authority had agreed to extend planning permission for the well site until the end of September 2016. The company is [...]
The five most important books Mark Zuckerberg read during his “A Year of Books” December 28, 2015 Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg this year set himself a personal challenge: To read a new book every other week in what he termed A Year of Books. Read more: Three of the best business books to read this Christmas "Reading has given me more perspective on a number of topics – from science to religion, from poverty to [...]
Crossrail 2 could add £100bn to the UK economy September 28, 2015 The second leg of Crossrail could add billions of pounds to the UK economy and bring thousands of new jobs and homes to London and the south east, a new report claims. The benefits of Crossrail 2, which will run through London, Surrey and Hertfordshire could be as high as £102bn, according to new estimates [...]