ECB’s second round of cheap loans disappoint again December 11, 2014 The European Central Bank's (ECB) second round of cheap loans has disappointed again, piling pressure onto the central bank to step up its monetary stimulus measures. The 255 participating lenders took a total of just €129.84bn (£102.6bn) from the targeted longer-term refinancing operation (TLTRO), slightly below the €130bn or more that economists had predicted. This [...]
Sports Direct brushes off England’s early World Cup exit but results show even Mike Ashley can’t predict the weather December 11, 2014 Sports Direct has brushed off England's disappointing World Cup performance but it seems owner Mike Ashley is not immune to the unseasonal weather. The figures Group revenue rose 6.5 per cent to £1.4bn in the six months to 26 October. Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation rose 11pc to £203.1m, excluding charges related to the [...]
FCA chiefs Martin Wheatley and David Lawton cling on despite damning Davis report on insurance market fiasco December 10, 2014 City watchdog Martin Wheatley came in for criticism yesterday as the £3.8m Davis report on the regulator’s handling of media briefings was released to the public. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) chief executive will forgo his bonus for 2013-14 as a result of the findings, as will David Lawton, director of markets, Zitah McMillan, director [...]
Davis report: Questions raised over Martin Wheatley’s leadership following FCA scandal December 10, 2014 Conservative MP Mark Garnier said yesterday that Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) boss Martin Wheatley faces questions over his fitness for the role. The former City fund manager, who now sits on the Treasury Select Committee, told City PM: “The question is whether the regulator’s priorities are badly distorted. It seems the regulator is confused about what [...]
In support of Boris Johnson: The US’s imperialistic foreign tax law helps no one December 10, 2014 The mayor of London and potential future Conservative leader and Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has joined the army of voices against America’s controversial global tax law, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). During his recent book tour, Johnson was characteristically forthright, describing FATCA as “outrageous”, and a “terrible doctrine of taxation.” Born in New [...]
Google’s Eric Schmidt says artificial intelligence concerns are normal but misguided after Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk warnings December 10, 2014 Google boss Eric Schmidt is the latest to weigh in on the artificial intelligence debate after Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk both offered a dim view of intelligent machines in the future. Schmidt is tabling a much more positive view of the rise of the machines. Nothing to do with Google’s massive investment in AI, [...]
UK housing crash, Draghi quitting the ECB or “A-choco-lypse”? Here are Saxo Bank’s bonkers predictions for 2015 December 10, 2014 Could there be a UK housing market meltdown? Could Nigel Farage become deputy prime minister? Or worst of all, will there be an "a-choco-lypse"? These could be some of the most outrageous predictions you'll hear this year – or the best warning you ever had. Saxo Bank has just released its 10 scenarios for 2015 [...]
Warren Buffett tops list of biggest charitable donations in 2014 December 10, 2014 Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is this year's most generous man, according to new research from Wealth-X, a research firm focusing on high net worth individuals. His $2.1bn (£1.3bn) donation to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in the form of 16.6m shares of his company Berkshire Hathaway, propelled Buffett to the top spot. Six of [...]
Davis report: FCA chief Martin Wheatley in the firing line after publication of review into regulator’s newspaper leak December 9, 2014 Martin Wheatley, head of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is expected to face questions over his future today after the publication of a report into the regulator’s leak of price sensitive information concerning life insurers. Wheatley, who famously said his strategy was to shoot first and ask questions later when it comes to regulating the [...]
Boris Johnson slams Nigel Farage for blaming M4 traffic delay on immigrants December 8, 2014 London Mayor Boris Johnson has fired a broadside at Ukip's Nigel Farage for blaming his tardiness on immigrants. Farage was due to address the party's first Welsh conference in Port Talbot this weekend but was held up by traffic on the M4. The senior Tory lambasted Farage's excuses as "feeble" and one of the "poorest" [...]
