What it’s actually like in Qatar ahead of the World Cup 2022 June 14, 2022 Before I touched down in Qatar, I assumed it was a nation of falconry, beauty pageants for camels, and endless amounts of money. Save for a sprinkling of snazzy, FIFA-approved stadiums, little suggests Qatar plays football. When I arrive I see no goal posts in parks, locals playing, or even “No Ball Games” signs like [...]
Complete immersion in Belize March 22, 2022 There is a human skull half-submerged in the mud at my feet. Through the damp gloom, I can just make out other bones, scattered across the floor. Luckily, I haven’t stumbled upon a gruesome murder scene, but the truth is almost as chilling. This is an ancient Mayan ceremonial cave, buried deep within the jungle [...]
Closing the gap: gender lens investing and the future of finance May 31, 2022 Public perception of gender equality issues runs in a repetitive cycle. We’ve all seen it. A scandal breaks out, or a study discovers yet another damaging disparity. Think pieces are written, hands are wrung, and companies promise to do better. Then the public’s attention moves on until another cycle starts. Actual change comes very slowly, [...]
Early bird investors reap rewards April 8, 2019 By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. The sooner you utilise your annual ISA allowance, the quicker your money starts working for you. ISA season is over, bringing respite from weekend newspaper supplements offering “five reasons” why we need to act fast to make the most out of our tax-free allowance. Many of us will have [...]
Major investor LGIM calls for more detail on Morrisons property portfolio before voting on takeover July 5, 2021 Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), one of Morrisons’ biggest shareholders, has called for more detail on Morrisons’ property portfolio before it votes on a private equity takeover bid. Over the weekend Morrisons accepted a £6.3bn takeover offer by a consortium of funds led by private equity firm Fortress. But this morning rival Apollo said [...]
Another Goldman banker or a much needed hawkish voice: Who is Huw Pill? September 2, 2021 Much has been made over whether the corridors of the Bank of England will resemble a Goldman Sachs office following the appointment of Huw Pill as the Old Lady’s new chief economist. It does follow a string of high-profile appointments at the Bank in recent years from the pool of Goldman alumni. Mark Carney, who [...]
Rad can start new campaign in red-hot form September 8, 2020 RACING fans in Hong Kong are quick to associate themselves with any horse that catches their eye as a real trier and rarely lets them down, especially at Happy Valley. Such a horse is the Tony Cruz-trained CALIFORNIA RAD, who makes his seasonal appearance in the Class 3 Causeway Bay Handicap (3.15pm) over six furlongs. The [...]
How to celebrate World Cocktail Day this Thursday May 10, 2021 This Thursday is World Cocktail Day, and what better way to celebrate than splashing out on some new glass- and silverware with which to shake and sip your mix of sugary booze? For collectors that means more than a cursory scroll through the Amazon listings: must-have items include Art Deco Parisian ‘Boston’ cocktail shakers and [...]
Andy Haldane quits Bank of England to become chief executive of the RSA April 13, 2021 The Bank of England’s chief economist Andy Haldane will leave the bank to become chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts. After three decades at the central bank and seven years as chief economist, Haldane will succeed Matthew Taylor CBE who announced his intention to step down in December. “I have loved my 30 [...]
Best of travel: Mauritius is paradise, but not as you know it April 1, 2021 While we wait for the world of international travel to reopen, we’re reposting classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Steve Dinneen’s journey to Mauritius, the most unusual of tropical paradises. ••• Mauritius offers the cliched white sands and blue seas, but there’s more to discover at this most unusual of holiday destinations. [...]