The Lex Column:
*Litigates open – After several years of decline, the number of US lawsuits filed on behalf of angry investors jumped by 43% in 2007.
*Chinese activism – China’s first bout of shareholder activism pits a dissident investor against the very state machinery of which it is part.
*US election/healthcare – With the stakes high, drugmakers, insurers and care providers will be promoting their interests heavily in Washington this year.
The Peter Thal Larsen On Monday Column:
*The flaw in the logic of investment banks’ largesse.
*Battle for talent – It may be in the bank’s best interests to pay to keep its best people, even if there’s not much left for shareholders.
*Equities catch-up – Last Friday’s stock market sell-off on both sides of the Atlantic suggests that equity prices are finally catching up with events in the credit markets.
Interview:
*Mark Burgess, head of corporate governance at Legal & General (LGEN).
In the Spotlight:
*Abdullah Gul.
Economic Outlook:
*Rate policymakers face a difficult balancing act.
Further news:
*Buy-out groups warned over fees.
*Spectre of slowdown haunts Las Vegas Tech fair.
*Close Bros (CBG) braced for more investment trust defections.
*Global Radio to revive GCap (GCAP) bid.
The Economic View Column:
*Sting in the tail for roaring Asian dragons – The passing of the torch of global growth may yet leave the West’s hands badly singed.
Feature:
*Hedge fund (RAB Capital (RAB)) issues rallying call to Northern Rock (NRK) investors.
Business Big Shot:
*Philip Richards.
Feature:
*Cash squeeze may force building societies to accept mergers, CBI says.
The Monday Manifesto:
*Steve Easterbrook, chief executive of MacDonald’s UK (MCD).
Feature – Players who are calling the shots in British business:
*The Power 100: Listed are those business leaders from No. 81 to 100.
Further news:
*The rise and fall of private equity deals.
*Super-fast fine after UK Broadband misses accounts deadline.
The Comment Column:
*Bank’s actions are louder than the dreaded word - They say you can tell we're in a recession by counting the number of times the papers use that r-word. Well, if that's the case then how do you like this: recession, recession, recession, recession, recession, recession, recession. Let's see how the boffins who compile the stats cope with that.
Feature:
*Investors must look beyond street violence in Kenya and Pakistan.
Factfile:
*The other Philip Green, chief executive of United Utilities (UU.).
The AIM Market:
*LSE’s (LSE) Italian job won’t be an easy ride, experts warn.
Market Profile:
*Lawrence Hunt, chief executive of Silverjet (SIL).
Further news:
*Tesco (TSCO) sets its sights on the German discounters.
*Reputation of Buffett faces examination in court.
The Small Talk Column:
*Central African Mining (CFM) hopes to dig itself out of a hole - The company hopes 2008 will provide a clean slate. With the share price now up around 40p again, the fog certainly seems to be lifting.
*Capital Ideas (CAPT) - One company that might be worth keeping an eye on is the AIM minnow.
The Stephen King Column:
*It’s the economy again, stupid... here we go again – US manufacturing barometer points to stormy weather – Sharp rise in US unemployment rate is often a sign of recession... In fact, the US election is one to avoid winning. Whoever wins will probably find their victory is a poisoned chalice.
Further news:
*Airline battle over London to New York route hots up.
*Retailers fear knock-on effect from M&S (MKS) results.
*Sony DVD deal hits Microsoft (MSF) and Toshiba.
*Shareholder pressure on Scottish & Newcastle (SCTN) to accept Carlsberg/Heineken bid.
*Xerox chief warns of companies cutting spending on IT projects.
*Report on Northern Rock (NRK) by Goldman is imminent.
*Man Utd to unveil turnover of £245-million.
*Chairmen’s pay rises faster than inflation.
*Sainsbury’s (SBRY) misses targets in furious battle on high street.
*GCap (GCAP) silence over approach from Global Radio angers big investors.
*Interest rates likely to be kept on hold.
*Severe delays and rising costs hamper Baltic Sea gas pipeline.
*Aggreko (AGK) confirms powerful presence at Olympic Games.
*SFO asks Smith Nephew (SN.) to hand over ‘Iraq documents’.
*Network Rail to quiz contractors on West Coast Line chaos.
*German funds poised to buy City offices again.
*LSE (LSE) plans Italian version of AIM.
*Credit crunch hits financial incomes.
*City awaits Marks & Spencer (MKS) figures fearing more retail gloom.
*More than half UK firms are more pessimistic.
*Northern Rock (NRK) loans threaten to sink rescue plan.
*Tarmac bid slips.
*Services sector drives confidence fall.
SOME ITEMS THAT COULD INFLUENCE SHARE PRICES
*A new screening programme in England for early signs of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes is being announced by Gordon Brown. Such conditions affect about 6m Britons and at-risk patients could be screened by their GP or by a private contractor. Ahead of his first major speech on the NHS since becoming prime minister, Mr Brown said he wanted a more "personal and preventative health service". He is also outlining plans for more diagnostic tests in GP surgeries.
*Up to a third of people with MRSA could be discharged from hospital and treated at home with antibiotics, experts say. They say moving away from treating patients in hospital with antibiotics administered into their veins could save the NHS significant sums of money. The issue is discussed by independent experts in a report, funded by the drug company Pfizer, about managing MRSA. The Department of Health said treatment at home was not always appropriate, but it was an option for trusts to examine.
*David Cameron’s “3-strikes” rule will take away benefits from those who refuse a job offer.
*Advisers to Courts, the failed furniture retailer, have collected more than £35-million in fees since the company collapsed into administration in November 2004, sparking outrage among creditors and former staff.
*Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, warned today that individuals must take personal responsibility by saving for retirement in order to avoid the nightmare of a pension’s crisis in years to come. Warning that radical change is needed, Mr Hain said that if the challenge of under-saving was not tackled, by around 2050 "we face a nightmare".
*Some cosmetic surgery clinics are using aggressive marketing and putting sales before patient safety, according to consumer group Which?
*Hilary Clinton and Mitt Romney scramble to make up ground in the Democratic presidential candidate elections.
*Vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve, Donald Kohn, admits mixed messages over Fed policy.
*Thousands of people remain stranded by some of the worst flooding eastern Australia has seen in 20-years. Parts of the country's most populous state, New South Wales, have been cut off by heavy rain and have been declared natural disaster zones. There are similar problems further north in Queensland, which has also been battered by wild conditions. The floods are easing now but officials have warned that many communities could be isolated for several days.
*India have suspended their cricket tour of Australia pending the outcome of an appeal against a three-match ban handed to spin bowler Harbhajan Singh. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has told its players to stay in Sydney rather than travel to Canberra for a tour match on Thursday. Harbhajan was banned for making a racist remark during their tempestuous defeat to Australia in Sydney. He was found guilty of breaching the players' code of conduct. It was claimed that Harbhajan called Australia's Andrew Symonds a "monkey".
Compiled in association with HB PLC and WH Ireland Ltd
