Business

-3° London Hi 1°C / Lo -2°C
Popular Topics

Business Comment

Stephen Foley: Murdoch could learn from Miami Herald

US Outlook: The Miami Herald has got a lot of abuse for asking online readers for voluntary donations to support its free-to-air website. "Once-proud" newspaper "reduced" to "holding out the tin can" and "begging", seems to be the headline reaction. But how about "pioneering" media organisation "saves journalism" with "bold experiment" and "builds an online community that will protect its heritage"?

Inside Business Comment

Stephen Foley: Bookshops face bonfire

Saturday, 19 December 2009

US Outlook: Long queues at the checkout in a Borders store in Manhattan last weekend, but instead of being a good sign for the ailing bookseller, I watched a business model crumbling in front of my eyes.

Stephen Foley: When will Citigroup pay for its sins?

Saturday, 19 December 2009

US Outlook: Surely this week's fund-raising debacle is the final straw for shareholders, when it comes to their tolerance of Vikram Pandit's incompetent leadership at Citigroup?

David Prosser: Retailers face an unhappy new year

Friday, 18 December 2009

Outlook What is going on up and down the high streets of Britain? There are plenty of reasons to think that retailers are enjoying a much happier time in the run-up to Christmas than they would have dared to hope for even three months ago. The latest CBI distributive trades survey shows retailers maintained positive momentum during the first half of this month, while some of the short-term figures posted by stores such as John Lewis look spectacular, even allowing for weak 2009 comparables. London, in particular, seems to be performing well, with West End stores reporting buoyant trading.

Hamish McRae: Flexibility is proving to be the key to bouncing back from recession

Friday, 18 December 2009

Economic Life: Aswe have all seen in our daily lives, shops have been innovative in creating value deals and cutting prices.

David Prosser: The housing market fears the worst

Friday, 18 December 2009

Outlook Just as retailers are dreading the return of the 17.5 per cent VAT rate, the housing market is getting increasingly nervous about the end of the stamp duty holiday for many home buyers. From New Year's Day, the threshold above which the tax becomes payable reverts to £125,000, compared with £175,000 now. That will be a hindrance for first-time buyers, many more of whom will now face the 1 per cent tax charge on house purchases.

David Prosser: An odd time to applaud Bernanke

Thursday, 17 December 2009

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".

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.

Nigel Whitehead: Apprenticeships are the way forward for the economy

Thursday, 17 December 2009

With youth unemployment hitting the headlines again, employers are being called to do more to support young people by providing opportunities for them to get into the world of work.

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.

More business comment:

Investor Tools

  • Charts

    Simple and comprehensive, our charting package includes comparisons, indicators and annotations to help you build a complete picture.

  • Market Bar Charts

    Spot hot sectors, and drill down for more detailed information on winning companies.

  • Top Movers

    See companies that are hitting the highs and lows. Just one click to see the best dividend yields, tightest spreads, and much more.

  • Heat Maps

    The Heat Map tool gives a colourful visual view on companies that are moving in the market.

Executive Search

Columnist Comments

howard_jacobson

• Howard Jacobson: We debase relationships with 'love you'

It conceals what we truly (madly, deeply) feel, especially from ourselves.

johann_hari

• Johann Hari: The truths Copenhagen ignored

Politicians have chosen low taxes and oil money today over survival tomorrow.

andrew_grice

• Andrew Grice: Perhaps Labour is working after all

Cameron needs to paint a rosier picture than cuts, cuts and more cuts.

Article Archive

Day In a Page

Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat

Select date
DATING
Register for free to find your perfect partner with Independent Singles
Independent Documentaries
Download or stream the best documentaries from around the world
Independent Recruitment
Find a better job from thousands online
Executive vacancies
Largest selection of senior jobs in the UK and Europe
Shop Online
Come shopping with The Independent
MBAs
Advice and information on MBA studies plus A-Z listings of all business schools
Compare Finance
sponsored links: