Quote of the Week

"Dear God, just let there be one more property boom. I promise I won't piss
it all away this time."

Inscription on a mug sent out by veteran property developer
Harvey Soning

"Is there a need for a specialised Event Management qualification?"

The job title “Event Manager” is the hardest to quantify when assessing a candidate’s specific skill set. Do they manage, coordinate or sell?

Facts of the week

Outrage over AIG bonuses threatens to derail Obama's rescue plans

• $165 million worth of bonuses were paid to employees of American Insurance Group (the company rescued by a $170 billion bailout).
• Most of the bonuses went to the financial products unit responsible for creating the exotic derivatives known as credit default swaps that caused AIG's near collapse.
• Many of those are British employees based in London.
• Edward Liddy, AIG's Chief Executive said that he had asked the bonus recipients to pay back at least half, and the top executives to repay 100 percent. Some had already agreed to do so.
• President Obama was forced to defend his Treasury Secretary; public anger may threaten to destroy his rescue plan.
• Obama said "I think people are right to be angry. I'm angry. What I want to do, though, is channel our anger in a constructive way."

Click here for the full article...

Did CEOs mislead journalists to take US investors for a ride?

• "I thought they were my friends and they lied to me," said Cramer.
• An article this week questioned whether financial journalists in recent years have really objective or whether they have developed 'cosy relationships' with CEOs.
• Jim Cramer CNBC, was recently pulled apart by The Daily Show host Jon Stewart for his style of journalism, which this article suggests leads to small investors being taken for a ride.
• Are personal opinions and a combative style of reporting taking over from reporting the news?
• The moral of this story appears to be: investors make own mind up.

http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/53699

London Leadership Forum

"It is going to be a long haul, but it could be the opportunity of a lifetime."

Philip Marsden, Managing Director, Vantis Corporate Finance spoke about his views on the current investment climate at the recent London Leadership Forum.

See the complete feature in the next issue of En Passant due out on 1 April.

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