Smarta businesses could win £10,000 June 10, 2012 WHILE the Eurozone crumbles around us, businesses and entrepreneurs are working hard to build upon the shifting rubble. Here is snapshot of their latest activities: ■ The 2012 Smarta 100 competition launches today. It’s a celebration of the most exciting and disruptive small businesses, with a cash prize of £10,000 for the overall winner. The [...]
Hunt for treasure you enjoy – at least you’ll get emotional returns June 10, 2012 TO MANY, a report on “treasure” might not sound intrinsically financial, conjuring images of pirates, shipwrecks and chests stuffed with gold doubloons. However, owning items that are financially valuable, emotionally pleasing and culturally significant is a timeless tradition that shows no sign of abating. Treasure assets – items such as precious jewellery, fine art, wine, [...]
The case for investing in the artistry of rare gold coins June 10, 2012 THE rare coin market encompasses over 2,500 years of history. It’s dominated by a backbone of collectors who offer stability as long-term holders with a passion for collecting. Growth is currently coming from both collectors and investors. It is a result of a combination of very low interest rates, extreme volatility within traditional investment markets [...]
FTSE jumps as Chinese rate cut and UK services stats hearten traders June 7, 2012 BRITAIN’S top shares hit a three-week high yesterday as China’s surprise move to cut interest rates and firm UK services sector data boosted investors’ appetite for risk, although charts signalled strong resistance on the way up. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comments that her country stood ready to use the existing instruments already created in the [...]
Investors find no sign of QE3 from Bernanke June 7, 2012 THE S&P 500 ended barely changed yesterday as optimism about China’s interest-rate cut was offset by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s comments that dimmed hopes for more US stimulus. Both the Dow industrials and the Nasdaq ended off session highs, with the Dow rising modestly for the day and the Nasdaq slipping. Stocks lost ground [...]
FTSE rises after Jubilee holiday June 6, 2012 UK equities posted their biggest one-day gain in six months yesterday, catching up with the rest of Europe after a four-day weekend on expectations that weak data and the deepening Eurozone crisis may galvanise global policymakers into action. The European Central Bank left rates on hold and made no clear promise of future action, but [...]
S&P 500’s best day this year June 6, 2012 US stocks jumped yesterday, giving the S&P 500 its best day since December, as talk of a rescue of Spain’s troubled banks and hopes for more monetary stimulus sparked a rebound from recent selling. After a six per cent fall by the S&P 500 in May that took the index below its key 200-day moving [...]
Trading tech skills shortages are fuelling a war for talent June 6, 2012 THE commodity trading technology sector is suffering from a chronic skills shortage. As other areas within financial services are freezing recruitment, it sits as a pertinent contrast. While increasing use of electronic trading continues to sit at the centre of strategy for most financial institutions, there is a noticeable lack of skilled talent in areas [...]
Business schools must ready students for life after emails June 6, 2012 IN THE 1990s, when I was head of communications for WWF International, I spent most of my time touring the Mediterranean. While sounding glamorous, it was tiresome and inconvenient. Email was around, but I could only read messages when physically at my computer, meaning there were long periods when I was without access. Today, businesses [...]