SKY NEWS BITES THE HAND THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE FEEDING IT January 24, 2011 SOME puzzling editorial choices have been afoot at Sky News this week. On Sunday, Gordon Brown’s disclosure that he asked the police to look into whether his phone was hacked by the News of the World topped its agenda all day. And yesterday the attack of foot-in-mouth disease that afflicted Sky Sports’ Andy Gray and [...]
Size matters: Smaller firms can still make large profits February 9, 2011 THE government is hoping to cast a spell over the banking sector with its Merlin deal with the banks. The growth of small and medium sized enterprises (SME) is thought to be vitally necessary to economic recovery, and getting the banks to lend to them necessary to promote their growth. Smaller companies usually lead economies [...]
Diary January 27, 2011 WALKING BOOTS ARE DE RIGEUR A score for good sense at the FT/HSBC breakfast event: six men were settled into white armchairs onstage for a panel debate yesterday, but only one man’s sensibly clad feet stood out. Gao Xiqing, president of China’s sovereign wealth fund, shunned the standard suede or polished leather business shoe. Not [...]
Diary January 27, 2011 WALKING BOOTS ARE DE RIGEUR A score for good sense at the FT/HSBC breakfast event: six men were settled into white armchairs onstage for a panel debate yesterday, but only one man’s sensibly clad feet stood out. Gao Xiqing, president of China’s sovereign wealth fund, shunned the standard suede or polished leather business shoe. Not [...]
Why quotas are the wrong answer February 13, 2011 QUOTAS are wrong. In a free, liberal society, people should never be given jobs just because they happen to be part of a particular group. Applicants should be judged solely on their merits – for their ability to perform and their motivation – and not on whether they tick an arbitrary box. There should be [...]
Why quotas are the wrong answer February 13, 2011 QUOTAS are wrong. In a free, liberal society, people should never be given jobs just because they happen to be part of a particular group. Applicants should be judged solely on their merits – for their ability to perform and their motivation – and not on whether they tick an arbitrary box. There should be [...]
PARTY HOPPING AS TCHENGUIZ TWO SAY THE CANNES SHOW MUST GO ON March 10, 2011 THE Capitalist was amused to see that the statement made on behalf of the Tchenguiz brothers following their release without charge on Wednesday night made it clear the pair are “free to travel”. Why so critical that the property tycoons, who were arrested by the Serious Fraud Office and held for 12 hours in connection [...]
Starwood and Paulson bid on Taylor Wimpey US arm January 19, 2011 Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has received at least three bids for its North American arm, Taylor Morrison, which could be worth up to $950m (£595m). Rain Tree Investment, one of hedge fund billionaire John Paulson’s vehicles; Starwood Capital and a private US homebuilder have submitted bids for Taylor Morrison, several sources have said. Both Rain Tree [...]
London is still at forefront of business world January 16, 2011 THERE is no doubt in my mind that despite the uncertainty surrounding taxation and regulation and despite the continuing public anger, unfavourable media reports and a degree of political point-scoring, the City of London remains – in the eyes of the international business community at least – one of the most attractive financial centres in [...]
London is still at forefront of business world January 16, 2011 THERE is no doubt in my mind that despite the uncertainty surrounding taxation and regulation and despite the continuing public anger, unfavourable media reports and a degree of political point-scoring, the City of London remains – in the eyes of the international business community at least – one of the most attractive financial centres in [...]