Business Comment
David Prosser: An odd time to applaud Bernanke
Outlook Congratulations then to Ben Bernanke, Time magazine's person of the year. In a year when the competition for the title was not hotly contested – judging by the other contenders the magazine says it considered – the US Federal Reserve chairman won because without him "a weak economy could have been much, much weaker".
Inside Business Comment
David Prosser: Let RBS lend to Kraft
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Outlook Whatever the rights and wrongs of Kraft's bid for Cadbury, it would be crazy to heed the calls of Midlands MPs – and others – who want the Government to stop Royal Bank of Scotland helping to fund the takeover. RBS is one of a syndicate of lenders offering finance to the US company as it tries to buy up its rival, and those who want to keep Cadbury British say it is inappropriate for a bank that is now 84 per cent owned by the taxpayer to play such a role.
David Prosser: Blame shops for demise of the cheque
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Outlook For those people angered by the decision of the Payments Council to move towards the abolition of cheques in 2018, it will no doubt be tempting to lay the blame at the door of the bad old banks – not least because the body's board is stuffed full of the finance industry's representatives.
David Prosser: Compromise is the only hope for RBS
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Outlook It looks like the battle is still on at Royal Bank of Scotland, where senior management are refusing to back down on their right to pay staff the bonuses they deem necessary to keep the best people at the bank. Chief executive Stephen Hester yesterday railed against the "politicisation" of the institution he now runs.
David Prosser: A good week for bingo
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Outlook Had you been walking past the Maidenhead headquarters of Rank last night you might just have heard the odd cry of "house". The leisure group yesterday secured its third triumph in a week over the Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs who for years have had it in for the bingo industry in which it is a major player.
David Prosser: Another black day for anyone with savings
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Outlook Back in the good old days, before the credit crunch and the recession, the occasional announcement of an interest rate cut would prompt mortgage borrowers to turn to their calculators with glee as they worked out by how much their repayments would come down. Meanwhile, Britain's savers – who comfortably outnumber the borrowers – looked on ruefully.
Ben Chu: A message to the useful idiots on bonuses
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Excellent piece in the FT today on bonuses by Martin Taylor, a former Barclays executive, which all those who mistakenly believe that they're bravely holding the line against a populist mob on bankers' remuneration should read.
James Moore: Sweet lesson for banks in Cadbury
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Outlook: It looks like the bankers in Cadbury's corner are set to make some healthy success fees
Sean O'Grady: The master of the dismal science – with equations
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Economics students must age themselves in 'Samuelson years'
James Moore: Tullett staff won't go far
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Outlook: The sector heavyweight is Icap and it's not going anywhere
James Moore: Time for Dubai to go back to the classroom
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Outlook: Dubai will not be allowed to collapse into the shifting sands, at least for now
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EDITOR'S CHOICE
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Aboriginal story under revisionist attack -
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Charity auction: place your bids now -
15 cigs: all it takes to harm genes -
Lawton: The folly of excessive appeals -
World Cup team selects cities -
Can Gitmo inmates resolve status? -
Gehry: 'Don't call me a starchitect' -
Health and safety gone mad? -
Menu mind games: Restaurant tricks -
Eighties-style bonkbusters are back -
Small wonder: Clementinies vs oranges -
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