Twilight distributor aims to put a stake through the heart of rivals October 11, 2010 LAST month Entertainment One chief executive Darren Throop was being served cocktails by a vampire. Nearby, a werewolf dressed only in a pair of tattered denim shorts performed an elaborate handstand. He was celebrating the release of one of the year’s biggest movies, the latest installment of the Twilight Saga, at a lavish party at [...]
House prices tumble 0.6pc in June to mark third consecutive fall, says Halifax July 8, 2010 HOUSE prices in the UK unexpectedly fell by 0.6 per cent in June for the third month in a row, trimming the annual rise in property prices to 8.7 per cent last month. The Halifax data comes just days after rival mortgage provider Nationwide reported that the rise in house prices slowed to just 0.1 [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 6, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES HIRING RATES ARE FLAT IN THE UK Employers expect a “static” rate of recruitment for the remainder of this year, according to new research, underlining concerns about the momentum of economic recovery. The survey of 2,100 employers by Manpower, the recruitment company, is likely to intensify debate on whether the private sector can [...]
Meet the CEO of the most important City firm you have never heard of October 24, 2010 As he saunters into his office in the City, Tim Howell, the chief executive of European settlement house Euroclear, looks cool and collected. He certainly doesn’t look like a man caught in the most classic of all business squeezes – with clients wanting him to improve his services while being adamant they should pay less [...]
New EU rules on short sales trade in myth September 15, 2010 The European Union’s new proposals on short selling address a practice that supposedly contributed to recent financial crises. But there is still too much misunderstanding of short selling, and these wide new powers bring dangers of their own. It is easy to point the finger of blame at those who borrow shares they believe will [...]
The doctor’s ticket to success August 19, 2010 FOR a business venture to get off the ground, it needs to fill a gap in the market. Robin Wells’ latest venture mytrainticket.co.uk has found more of a gulf than a gap. The serial entrepreneur/angel investor came across the business opportunity – a rail version of air travel ticket booking sites – 18 months ago. [...]
Carlyle aims for £350m from Britax August 15, 2010 PRIVATE equity firm Carlyle Group has appointed investment bank NM Rothschild to sell Britax, the maker of child car seats, for up to £350m. Carlyle is understood to have put the business on the block after receiving interest from rival private equity firms and trade buyers. A sale at its target price would net Carlyle’s dealmakers [...]
Carlyle aims for £350m from Britax August 15, 2010 PRIVATE equity firm Carlyle Group has appointed investment bank NM Rothschild to sell Britax, the maker of child car seats, for up to £350m. Carlyle is understood to have put the business on the block after receiving interest from rival private equity firms and trade buyers. A sale at its target price would net Carlyle’s dealmakers [...]
Girl power: what makes the perfect bachelorette pad September 16, 2010 AS the number of high-earning single women purchasing property steadily rises, it’s fair to say we’ve entered the age of the bachelorette pad. “There has been a 15 per cent increase in the number of girls buying property alone in London over the last five years,” says George Franks, sales director of Douglas & Gordon [...]
TREAT RALLY IN THE POUND WITH CARE August 3, 2010 DIRECTOR OF CURRENCY RESEARCH, GFT TO THE surprise of many market analysts, including yours truly, sterling has been on a tear lately. Not only has the pound rallied, but it has significantly outperformed the euro, gaining more than 200 pips on the continental currency over the past several weeks. So why such sudden explosive strength [...]