Pessimism reigns but FTSE is set to disagree January 3, 2011 So hello and welcome to 2011. On the first day of the year I spent a few hours watching the Back to the Future trilogy, and having seen the predictions for the months ahead I wondered if I shouldn’t jump in the DeLorean and fly straight to 2012, just in time for the Olympics. It’s [...]
FSA recruits two new senior advisers to boost banking and risk departments December 6, 2010 CITY watchdog the Financial Services Authority (FSA) yesterday appointed two new senior advisers to strengthen its investment banking and risk management expertise. Simon Prior-Palmer, who will advise on investment banking issues, has more than 30 years’ experience, including as managing director of Credit Suisse’s UK investment banking division. Robert Stansbury, who will advise on risk [...]
FSA recruits two new senior advisers to boost banking and risk departments December 6, 2010 CITY watchdog the Financial Services Authority (FSA) yesterday appointed two new senior advisers to strengthen its investment banking and risk management expertise. Simon Prior-Palmer, who will advise on investment banking issues, has more than 30 years’ experience, including as managing director of Credit Suisse’s UK investment banking division. Robert Stansbury, who will advise on risk [...]
Rising rental demand helps Ashtead rally December 9, 2010 COMPANIES renting out equipment rather than buying it to save cash in the downturn helped plant-hire company Ashtead to rack up forecast-busting first half profits. The group, which owns A-Plant in the UK and Sunbelt Rentals in the US, said hire equipment demand rose in the early part of the recovery because companies were focusing [...]
Invasion of the smart machines January 30, 2011 MY house isn’t smart enough. To get inside it I have to open the door myself. With a key. When I walk in, a digital voice doesn’t greet me, realise I’ve had a bad day and tell me a joke to cheer me up (I’m imagining a soothing voice like Hal from 2001: A Space [...]
Invasion of the smart machines January 30, 2011 MY house isn’t smart enough. To get inside it I have to open the door myself. With a key. When I walk in, a digital voice doesn’t greet me, realise I’ve had a bad day and tell me a joke to cheer me up (I’m imagining a soothing voice like Hal from 2001: A Space [...]
Mortgage lending remains “subdued” October 25, 2010 The latest figures from UK’s major banks have said that budget uncertainties had contributed to a subdued mortgage market. The downward trend spiral continued in September, the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) said. The number of mortgages approved for house purchases fell slightly compared with the previous month to 31,104, as low demand for new loans [...]
Mortgage lending remains “subdued” October 25, 2010 The latest figures from UK’s major banks have said that budget uncertainties had contributed to a subdued mortgage market. The downward trend spiral continued in September, the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) said. The number of mortgages approved for house purchases fell slightly compared with the previous month to 31,104, as low demand for new loans [...]
Housebuilder warns of mortgage famine November 4, 2010 NUMBERS of house sales will continue to drop even lower and the UK is at risk of a “mortgage famine” unless the government acts to boost the market by helping buyers to take out loans, said the housebuilder Redrow yesterday as it announced its third quarter results. “Deliberately suppressing housing demand at the very time that [...]
Retail sales pick up but growth stays sluggish November 18, 2010 RETAIL sales in the UK rose for the first time in three months in October, according to official statistics released yesterday. Sales volumes were up 0.5 per cent compared to September, but still 0.1 per cent lower than the same month in 2009. Online retailers continued to outperform their traditional High Street rivals, with non-store [...]