Why businesses have to come first in the City July 3, 2011 AT the end of the 19th Century, the Square Mile was home to some 75,000 people; by 1950, this number had decreased to less than 10,000 and has remained largely stable ever since. These figures in themselves are not surprising; they reflect the inherent tensions that exist between businesses and residents in any modern area [...]
London lets the world in October 26, 2011 TWENTY-FIVE years ago today the doors of the London Stock Exchange were blown wide open. In one sweeping moment of market deregulation, London’s horizons suddenly broadened, and money flowed into the Square Mile. Outside investment broke up the LSE’s boys’ club and fixed commission charges for brokers, which effectively killed competition, were scrapped. The brainchild [...]
CELEBRITY TRADERS RAISE $12M ON BGC DAY September 13, 2011 RONNIE Wood is clearly in the wrong job – his masterful handling of a €2bn interest rates trade at BGC Partners, as reported in yesterday’s Capitalist, helped the brokerage beat last year’s total of $10m to raise a record $12m for global charities. Of course, credit should also be given to HRH Prince Harry, who [...]
CELEBRITY TRADERS RAISE $12M ON BGC DAY September 13, 2011 RONNIE Wood is clearly in the wrong job – his masterful handling of a €2bn interest rates trade at BGC Partners, as reported in yesterday’s Capitalist, helped the brokerage beat last year’s total of $10m to raise a record $12m for global charities. Of course, credit should also be given to HRH Prince Harry, who [...]
Poverty of debate is holding us back September 18, 2011 IT is obvious that companies need to work harder to make sure that all their employees deliver the goods. This must apply to everybody, including CEOs, who are hired by shareholders to maximise their value. They should be paid a lot if they do well and fired without massive payoffs if they fail. It should [...]
Why planning laws must not damage the City June 5, 2011 IT is easy to forget that between the tall buildings and the state of the art office blocks and in amongst the fashionable bars and high-end restaurants, substantial parts of the Square Mile are hundreds of years old. But while the City of London Corporation is rightly proud of the City’s heritage and goes to [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK July 3, 2011 LUC’S BRASSERIE in Leadenhall Market was the venue for six Square Mile residents who set the tone for a bibulous summer lunch by starting with aperitifs of vodka, gin and the champagne-style lager Kasteel Cru. It seems the party had a lot to celebrate, as two bottles of champagne were added to the tab to [...]
Rare earth mineral discovery in Pacific a boon for electronics July 4, 2011 VAST deposits of rare earth minerals, crucial in making high-tech electronics products, have been found on the floor of the Pacific Ocean and can be readily extracted, Japanese scientists said yesterday. “The deposits have a heavy concentration of rare earths. Just one square kilometre (0.4 square mile) of deposits will be able to provide one-fifth [...]
Rare earth mineral discovery in Pacific a boon for electronics July 4, 2011 VAST deposits of rare earth minerals, crucial in making high-tech electronics products, have been found on the floor of the Pacific Ocean and can be readily extracted, Japanese scientists said yesterday. “The deposits have a heavy concentration of rare earths. Just one square kilometre (0.4 square mile) of deposits will be able to provide one-fifth [...]
British Land snaps up City apartment block for £57m June 30, 2011 BRITISH LAND has agreed to buy Wardrobe Court, a residential investment property in the City for £57m. Wardrobe Court, which is being sold by the Warnford Group, a family company, will mark British Land’s first residential acquisition in the square mile. The FTSE 100 group, best known for its retail and office schemes, is expanding [...]