Energy price fixing and tax hikes would quickly see economic reality bite September 24, 2013 ED MILIBAND made two big new pledges in his speech yesterday: lower business rates for small businesses, paid for by higher corporation tax on larger firms; and a freeze in energy prices for 20 months from the date of the next election. Economic reality would quickly bite for any government that tried to introduce either [...]
City Moves for 9 August 2013 | Who’s switching jobs August 8, 2013 Clayton Euro Risk The risk management company has announced the appointment of Konstantine Pastras as client development and strategy director. Pastras specialises in residential mortgage-backed securities. He has previously held various roles at DBRS Ratings, Fitch Ratings and Investec. Financial Conduct Authority The regulator has appointed four directors in its supervision division. William Amos was previously [...]
The CBI boss on why political risk is now the biggest threat to business October 31, 2013 John Cridland tells Allister Heath and Elizabeth Fournier that investors are beginning to worry about the UK AFTER more than two decades spent inhabiting the CBI’s offices in Centre Point, the shockingly ugly high-rise just off Tottenham Court Road, John Cridland is on the move. When not kept busy preparing his submission to the chancellor [...]
City Moves for 11 January 2013 | Who’s switching jobs January 10, 2013 Rathbones The investment management firm has appointed Mike Townsend as investment director. He joins from Coutts, where he was a senior private banker. Townsend has 34 years’ experience in wealth management, and is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. City Financial The fund management firm has appointed Mark Harris as manager [...]
Countrywide shares tumble as investors cash in £200m shares August 14, 2013 COUNTRYWIDE’S private equity backers Oaktree and Apollo sold £200m worth of shares in the estate agents yesterday, cashing in on the revival in the UK housing sector. The group saw shares fall 4.5 per cent last night following the share placing, which saw Oaktree and Apollo whittle down their shareholding in the company by [...]
Elephant & Castle gets a lick of paint July 25, 2013 One The Elephant is the new development at the heart of the area’s regeneration, promising affordable living in Zone 1 One The Elephant is the latest big tower on the London skyline. When complete, the 37-storey building, which is designed by award winning architects Squire and Partners, will offer 254 new homes, from studios through [...]
Thomson Local bought out of administration August 22, 2013 DIRECTORY services brand Thomson Local was bought out of administration by two serial entrepreneurs yesterday. Thomson Local, which sends out 22m copies of its UK business directory and maintains several websites, appointed Grant Thornton as administrator on Wednesday, following several tough years. The Hampshire-based firm posted a net loss of £732,000 for 2011, down from [...]
Experian boss defends his drive for expansion November 10, 2013 Don Robert has steered the credit checking firm into fast-growing new businesses AS THE boss of a company best known for its credit checks, Don Robert is at home talking about hazardous spending decisions. “Arguably if every investment we made was brilliant we’d have to ask ourselves the question: are we taking the right amount [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 2 September 2013 September 1, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES China eyes UK nuclear controls The state-owned Chinese nuclear group that is in talks to invest in Britain’s new nuclear programme wants greater operational control of any new plants it finances, potentially creating a national security headache for the government. China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), is in talks with EDF of France [...]
Coming Soon: The death of paper money June 24, 2013 BRITONS did 10 per cent less of their shopping with cash last year as people turn their backs on coins and notes – leading some analysts to predict a cash-free future. Only eight per cent of consumers believe that traditional coinage will be the payment method of choice by 2020, with contactless cards and new [...]