When BP's CEO Tony Hayward took a beating before Congress last week I felt sorry for him. Hour after hour he sat there, looking miserable as congressmen lined up to put the boot in. After three hours of watching the nearest thing we have to a modern (...)
I have spent much of the past week swinging on a pendulum over the BP oil spill and the plight of Tony Hayward, the CEO. Hayward is bearing the brunt of criticism for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and I can't decide if that is fair or (...)
So — at last — Greece, the Eurozone and the IMF have reached an agreement and, if it holds up, money will start flowing. But how many times have we heard that delayed promise as we witnessed the sorry sight of European politicians dealing with (...)
DAVOS: This year's Davos forum comes at a crossroads for the global economy. As I stood on this spot last year, markets and governments were dealing with the direct fallout of the crisis. Now, we must choose the right route to move forward - or so (...)
It is relatively easy to snigger at the plight facing Dubai. Words like hubris and phrases like "pride comes before a fall come to mind. After all, it is pretty humiliating for anyone to admit they can't pay their bills, let alone a city which has (...)
This week saw the latest A380 go into service, the 20th in production. Air France became the first European airline commercially to fly the plane. It is using the mammoth aircraft on the Paris to New York route.
AF joins Singapore, Emirates and (...)
The decision to hold a G-20 finance ministers meeting on the Scottish coast in the middle of winter was an "interesting idea. When we arrived at St. Andrews there was all the November weather we could want; rain and wind a plenty.
The prospect of (...)
It's a rum world when your definition of "getting better is "not getting any worse. That though is the cheering view of many CEOs from the world's top airlines. "Some momentum off the bottom, sings Glenn Tilton from United Airlines. "A flattening (...)
I have always wanted to see the fall foliage in New England; a chance to witness first hand the autumn leaves at their most majestic. The deep blood red color of the Maple leaf framed with golden browns and yellow of the Oaks and American Beech. It (...)
Diwali, the festival of lights, is a wonderful colorful time of the year in India. Little clay pots full of oil and wick, called diyas are prepared and lit at homes across the country. Parties are being held where generous gifts will be (...)
I am on the final leg of my NYLONKONG odyssey. Having been through Hong Kong and New York, I am back in London. Since London is home I need not look too far for the evidence of what is happening in the economy. But for this last NYLONKONG dispatch I (...)
There is something extraordinary about flying from Asia to the US and crossing the international dateline. I left Hong Kong on Saturday morning, flew for 18 hours and arrived on the same day not far off when I left. I was curious: had the same magic (...)
Having spent the depths of the recession in moribund Europe it is a real surprise to find that it is not doom and dismay everywhere.
I have just been in Hong Kong, part of my NYLONKONG three-city trip examining how these major financial capitals (...)
You can spot them at cocktail parties. You can spot them on the golf course. You can spot them at restaurants around the globe. Standing, holding court to all who will listen.
They pontificate about their sagacious reading of the stock market. (...)
I have decided to forsake markets, economics and the great recession this week. It's August, and the northern hemisphere is starting its month-long holiday, so I am turning my attention to matters of vacations.
This week I noticed German airline (...)
No one likes a recession, but not all companies are equally hit by its force and ferocity. When we get the quarterly earnings numbers it is easy to spot the industries really suffering and those holding their own.
Automobile manufacturers and (...)
Have you ever watched a lady walking down the street on very high-heeled shoes that are clearly beyond her abilities? The tottering; the ungainly sway; the break of a spike; the twist of an ankle, and possibly a crashing fall to the floor.
The (...)
When asked why he robbed banks, the criminal Willie Sutton famously replied: "Because that's where the money is. Willie wasn't wrong. It's less than a year after the threat of a general banking collapse and the latest numbers show the top banks (...)
As regularly as the seasons, four times a year the stock market regulators - who are concerned that investors should know exactly what is going on within the companies they invest in - demand global corporations show us what they ve got . No company (...)
Last week I was in Los Angeles as part of the CNN team covering of the death of Michael Jackson. It has been a startling insight into the world of celebrity in life and death; a world where fact is often stranger than fiction.
There have been (...)
Dear valued colleague,
I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you are not being fired (yet!). The bad news is you are being invited to work for a month for free. It is voluntary but I need to tell you, the company is in bad shape (...)
When Bill Gates speaks, I listen. Is it because I am really impressed that he has made that much money? Or that he started a company which is so important? Or perhaps it is because anyone who gives away tens of billions of dollars of their own money (...)
Gossip, rumor and news. They are the fuel upon which the financial world thrives. And the murkier the details the more you can expect a market to give a knee-jerk reaction which may seem quite out of context within a few hours.
So when North (...)
There used to be an old saying, "Sell in May and go away. It was reflective of a much more gentle time in the markets when long lunches were the norm and a man's word was "his bond. You could afford to take the long view.
Today's financial world (...)
I have a confession to make. I don't particularly follow football. I haven't anything against the game. Like others, I take a pleasant interest from the side and I can certainly make light conversation about major games when needed but I can't get (...)