JP Morgan think a lack of frack is hurting European chemicals January 10, 2014 JP Morgan has warned that the rise of shale gas could prove to be a "structural negative" for the European chemicals industry. JP Morgan remains negative on the European chemical sector citing BASF, Solvay, Lanxess (all under weight) as its least preferred options. However, US chemical producers are booming due to a sharp fall in [...]
JP Morgan think a lack of frack is hurting European chemicals January 10, 2014 JP Morgan has warned that the rise of shale gas could prove to be a “structural negative” for the European chemicals industry. JP Morgan remains negative on the European chemical sector citing BASF, Solvay, Lanxess (all under weight) as its least preferred options. However, US chemical producers are booming due to a sharp fall in [...]
Crossrail nears its final stretch March 31, 2014 The head of London’s newest railway hopes he sets a precedent for other big projects AS CONSTRUCTION on London’s newest railway reached the halfway point earlier this year, a steady stream of hard hat-wearing politicians ventured into the tunnels to be seen backing Europe’s biggest infrastructure project. Crossrail boss Andrew Wolstenholme, meanwhile, has a map [...]
Pros and cons of learning Mandarin March 30, 2014 There’s a cost to being lost in translation, but English is still the global language of business ON HIS return from China late last year, David Cameron called on British school pupils to forget about French and German, and to crack on with the scarily difficult business of learning Mandarin. It’ll be a struggle. Fluency [...]
Keeping watch April 16, 2014 Cartier UK’s new managing director tells Alex Doak how he made the unlikely transition from investment banking to top-end luxury goods IN THE year that Cartier is choosing to focus afresh on its men’s product, it makes plenty of sense for the London arm of Richemont Group’s flagship brand to recruit a regular wolf of [...]
A recovery built on bricks and mortar January 12, 2014 Bovis chief executive David Ritchie tells Elizabeth Fournier why he’s not concerned about a new UK housing bubble THE LAST 12 months have been good ones for Britain’s housebuilders. After a financial crisis that saw billions wiped off the sector as credit dried up and house prices crashed, 2013 saw a return to form as [...]
Bottom Line: An orderly handover but uneasy lies any head wearing this crown January 29, 2014 LONG live the new king. Sainsbury’s emphasis is firmly on continuity as it announces its new boss. The choice of commercial director Mike Coupe is the antithesis of a palace coup – every inch a loyal insider, Coupe is closely tied to King’s strategic vision, as demonstrated by his involvement in recent successes like Brand [...]
SIG expects profit to increase on British residential construction January 9, 2014 BUILDING materials supplier SIG has said it expects full-year underlying pre-tax profit to be no less than £85.8m, helped by cost cuts and a recovery in the British residential construction market. SIG, which supplies insulation products, materials for roofs, and interior fittings, said it expected construction activity in the UK residential market to remain buoyant, [...]
2 tech investments the chancellor didn’t mention December 5, 2013 The Global Collaborative Space Programme One thing George Osborne didn't mention in his delivery of the Autumn Statement was the establishing of a Global Collaborative Space Programme. And the £80m, five-year fund to help with UK involvement in the so-called programme. The initiative, says the government, will be "an international pillar to [...]
Tory MoneySupermarket Budget is the best foil to Labour’s Wonga economics March 17, 2014 AHEAD of the last Budget before the 2015 election, Britain’s political battle lines are being carved out. Voters will be tempted by alternative menus combining less debt, higher spending and lower taxes. Since no party can credibly offer more than two of the three, the Conservatives’ best chance of winning is to demonstrate that trimming [...]