Central bankers set to meet
31 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 52 views]
This is the week that the Bank of England and European Central bank will have their say. Another month has been and gone, and on Thursday we will learn what the interest rate wil be over the next month. Pity the poor older members of the ECB. They normally get August off, but this time [...]
House prices: London revival continues- but can it last?
31 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 78 views]
History tells us that the housing market cycle begins in London. Last year, while London and the South East saw only modest prices rises, areas such as the North East enjoyed a boom – classic final throws of a bull run. Now, it’s gone the other way. Is it possible, that this time, we have [...]
BT poised to strike back
31 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 92 views]
When all around they have been saying their free service is the cheapest, BT has been sitting on the sidelines, talking about quality. For BT, the snag with using price as a key marketing tool is this: the regulator. While competitors offer free services, and slash prices, the regulator has forbidden BT to follow suit. [...]
Ryanair boss finds panacea for global warming. Animal lovers won’t like it
28 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 53 views]
Where do you stand on holidays in the sun and global warning? We know what the Bishop of London thinks, recently he said “Making selfish choices such as flying on holiday or buying a large car are a symptom of sin. Sin is not just a restricted list of moral mistakes. It is living a [...]
Japan sees prices rise: time of crisis or of celebration?
28 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 60 views]
Inflation in the Land of the Rising Sun seems to be settling in nicely. It seems strange to celebrate rising inflation, but in Japan, prices going up is like a breath of fresh air – after a decade of deflation. In all, consumer prices rose 0.6 percent in June, from 12 months ago. It was [...]
Shell and Exxon Mobil: black gold oozes from balance sheets
28 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 81 views]
Are the profits posted by oil companies excessive? Should they be taxed up to the hilt, so that Joe Public can see some return on the exorbitant prices paid for petrol? It’s perhaps not surprising. After all, with oil up there in the $70s, Exxon Mobil has just posted second quarter net income of $10.4 [...]
The worlds’ strongest brands
28 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 89 views]
Here’s one to make the accountants rub their hands together, and up their charges. How about including brand value in a company’s balance sheet? And before the accountants amongst our readers say “we already do” let’s point out an important point. Apparently, current accounting standards allow only for the recognition of acquired brands, not internally [...]
Broadband sees regulator tackle barriers to exit
27 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 55 views]
Have you ever tried speaking to technical support at your broadband supplier? One of our readers recently told us of his experience with Talk Talk, running up a £60 mobile phone bill just trying to speak to them. But then the problem is not unique to that company. The author of this article once found [...]
British techs see profits soar
27 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 40 views]
It’s good see two British tech companies posting results to make you sit up. We are so used to reading about extraordinary growth from companies based on the other side of the pond, that is makes a pleasant change to hear that British techs Wolfson and CSR are both making the money men very happy [...]
Manufacturing exports: on course for fastest growth in 11 years
27 Jul 2006 [0 Comments | 40 views]
According to CIPS and the Office of National Statistics, British manufacturing is enjoying a mini renaissance, but according to the CBI, order books are still down on a year ago. But even the CBI, the bears of the manufacturing business, are looking decidedly optimistic about the future. According to the latest CBI industrial trends survey, [...]
