Nils Pratley on business and the City | Viewpoint | Business

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class="link-image"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/guardian/About/General/2011/9/29/1317327230028/Thomas-Cook-axes-dividend-007.jpg" width="300" height="180" alt="Thomas Cook axes dividend"/> </a> </div> <div class="trail-caption media-above"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/29/thomas-cook-profitability-struggle" class="link-text">Thomas Cook faces long-haul struggle to profitability</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">29 Sep 2011: </span> <strong>Nils Pratley:</strong> the travel firm has axed its dividend, and the departed chief executive could help by waiving his payoff <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/29/thomas-cook-profitability-struggle#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-329yz" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/29/viewpoint-german-euro-bailout-vote" class="link-text">Is the eurozone saved? Not so fast</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">29 Sep 2011: </span> Angela Merkel is triumphant. She won a hefty majority in the German parliament to expand the eurozone's rescue fund to €440bn <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/29/viewpoint-german-euro-bailout-vote#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-329yf" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/29/alexon-sale-comment-nils-pratley" class="link-text">Alexon rescue masks bad news</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">29 Sep 2011: </span> <strong>Nils Pratley: </strong>pre-pack sale of fashion group to private equity disguises the fact that someone is going to suffer <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/29/alexon-sale-comment-nils-pratley#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-329yh" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/28/peace-at-last-at-enrc-nils-pratley-comment" class="link-text">Peace breaks out at ENRC</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">28 Sep 2011: </span> <strong>Nils Pratley:</strong> the cessation of hostilities at Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation is long overdue – but can it last? </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/28/man-splutters-along" class="link-text">Man's growing pains</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">28 Sep 2011: </span> AHL and GLG were meant to be two unstoppable engines, but they have suffered a jolt </div> </div> </li> <li class="live image"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/28/viewpoint-bank-of-england" class="link-text">The Bank's winding path</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/28/viewpoint-bank-of-england" class="small mask"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/9/28/1317240544442/The-Bank-of-England-003.jpg" class="non-link-image" width="140" height="84" alt="The Bank of England" class="image-in-trail"/> </a> <span class="date">28 Sep 2011: </span> N<strong>ils Pratley:</strong> Try the statement from the Bank's new financial policy committee. It wasn't merely nuanced; it was unclear <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/28/viewpoint-bank-of-england#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-328nc" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/28/enough-abi-pay-guidelines" class="link-text">Enough ABI pay guidelines – now dare to vote</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">28 Sep 2011: </span> The ABI has been issuing pay guidelines since the 1970s – how to show they really mean it? Try voting against Martin Sorrell, says <strong>Nils Pratley</strong> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/28/enough-abi-pay-guidelines#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-328v9" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/27/mitchells-butlers-takeover" class="link-text">Mitchells & Butlers' trading numbers are roughly in line with its competitors</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">27 Sep 2011: </span> The only opinion that counts is that of the Elpida camp, where John Magnier and JP McManus own a little over 20% <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/27/mitchells-butlers-takeover#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-328v5" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live image"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/27/wifi-crunch-olympic-2012" class="link-text">London faces Wi-Fi capacity crunch to meet demand during Olympics</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/27/wifi-crunch-olympic-2012" class="small mask"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Money/Pix/pictures/2010/9/7/1283850464645/BT-launches--free--Wi-Fi--002.jpg" class="non-link-image" width="140" height="84" alt="BT launches ‘free’ Wi-Fi mobile app" class="image-in-trail"/> </a> <span class="date">27 Sep 2011: </span> Realisation that Wi-Fi capacity crunch looms is dawning very late among London boroughs <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/27/wifi-crunch-olympic-2012#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-327qn" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/26/easyjet-airline-industry-sir-stelios" class="link-text">Sir Stelios itching for a dogfight with easyJet</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">26 Sep 2011: </span> The founder and his family still own 37% of easyJet so the chances of him setting up a rival airline slightly less than zero <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/26/easyjet-airline-industry-sir-stelios#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-3276g" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/26/europe-out-of-denial-but-no-nearer-solution" class="link-text">Europe is out of denial but no nearer a solution</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">26 Sep 2011: </span> It is hard to believe that Europe can overcome the sheer complexity of agreeing a €2tn fund among 17 nations in six weeks, says <strong>Nils Pratley</strong> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/26/europe-out-of-denial-but-no-nearer-solution#start-of-comments" class="trail-comment-count comments-closed" short-url="-p-3276a" style="display:none"><span class="comment-count-val"></span></a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="live image"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/22/operation-twist-markets-fall" class="link-text">Operation Twist marks a turn for the worse as the market mayhem continues</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/22/operation-twist-markets-fall" class="small mask"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/9/21/1316643041824/Federal-Reserve-chairman--003.jpg" class="non-link-image" width="140" height="84" alt="Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke" class="image-in-trail"/> </a> <span class="date">22 Sep 2011: </span> Hopes fade that the Federal Reserve can reinvigorate the US economy as China's output slows </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/22/viewpoint-betfair-flotation-incentivisation" class="link-text">Betfair's losing streak</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">22 Sep 2011: </span> The betting exchange has managed to lose nearly all the executives that flotation was meant to help retain </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/22/wppgroup-sir-martin-sorrell" class="link-text">Martin Sorrell's incentive</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">22 Sep 2011: </span> <strong>Nils Pratley: </strong>Does the chief executive of WPP really need a 50% pay rise to stay on at the company he founded? </div> </div> </li> <li class="live"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/sep/21/viewpoint-rothschild" class="link-text">From Rolls to Rothschild</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <span class="date">21 Sep 2011: </span> So much for the march of the makers, as George Osborne put it </div> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="pagination b3"> <li class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/series/viewpointcolumn?page=2" rel="nofollow">Next</a></li> <li>1</li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/series/viewpointcolumn?page=2" rel="nofollow">2</a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/series/viewpointcolumn?page=3" rel="nofollow">3</a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/series/viewpointcolumn?page=4" rel="nofollow">4</a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/series/viewpointcolumn?page=5" rel="nofollow">5</a></li> </ul> <p class="explainer"> 1-15 of 1701 for Viewpoint column </p> </div> <div id="related"> <div class="business capsule ed-zone editor-zone-1"> <div id="editor-zone-1" class="tri trail trailblock"> <ul class="tri trail trailblock"> <li class=""> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> Our City expert <strong>Nils Pratley</strong> provides the sharpest comment on the burning business issues </div> </div> </li> <li class="image last"> <div class="pictureurl"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/nilspratley" data-link-name="anchor image" class="link-image"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Business/Pix/pictures/2008/02/06/nilspratleyb140140.jpg" width="140" height="140" alt="Nils Pratley (Business)"/> </a> </div> <div class="trail-caption media-above"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/nilspratley" class="link-text">More by Nils Pratley</a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="tri trail trailblock next"> <li class="major-heading first"> <h2> More on </h2> </li> <li class=""> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/marketturmoil" class="link-text">Market turmoil</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class=""> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/credit-crunch" class="link-text">Credit crunch</a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="promo">  <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="comp: Flexible right hand slot advert : right hand ad slot on all sites"> <div id="Right1" class=" hide-on-popup"> <div id="ad-placeholder-Right1"></div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="microapp: money-supermarket : money supermarket promo : Minibest buys on business"> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <div class="money-supermarket promo-component"> <div class="hd"> <h3>Our selection of best buys</h3> </div> <div class="bd"> <ul class="tabs"> <li><a class="active" href="#finance-pane-0">Mortgages</a></li> <li><a class="inactive" href="#finance-pane-1">Credit cards</a></li> <li><a class="inactive" href="#finance-pane-2">Loans</a></li> <li><a class="inactive" href="#finance-pane-3">Savings</a></li> </ul> <div id="finance-guides"> <div id="finance-pane-0"> <div class="finance-table"> <table id="mortgage-table"> <col class="title"/> <col class="rate"/> <col class="more-info"/> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">Lender</th> <th scope="col">Initial rate</th> <td></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>HSBC</td> <td>2.24%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://guardian.lcplc-online.co.uk/BestBuy.aspx?GUProdID=156807&Type=F">More</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>Post Office</td> <td>2.73%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://guardian.lcplc-online.co.uk/BestBuy.aspx?GUProdID=156871&Type=F">More</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>First Direct</td> <td>1.99%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://guardian.lcplc-online.co.uk/BestBuy.aspx?GUProdID=114284&Type=V">More</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <ul class="best-buys-more"> <li class="bullet info"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://guardian.lcplc-online.co.uk/bestbuy.aspx" rel="nofollow">See more mortgage best buys</a> </li> <li class="bullet"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://guardian.lcplc-online.co.uk/Wizard1.aspx" rel="nofollow">Get a personal quote</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="initially-off" id="finance-pane-1"> <div class="finance-table"> <table id="credit-card-table"> <col class="title"/> <col class="rate"/> <col class="more-info"/> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">Name</th> <th scope="col">BT Rate</th> <th scope="col">BT Period</th> <th scope="col"></th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card with Extended Balance Transfer</td> <td>0.00%</td> <td>22 months</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/servicelayer/products/card/bcard_plat_22_months/GU/5">More</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>Halifax Balance Transfer Credit Card</td> <td>0.00%</td> <td>22 months</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/servicelayer/products/card/halifax_bt_credit_card/GU/5">More</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card with Balance Transfer</td> <td>0.00%</td> <td>21 months</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/servicelayer/products/card/bcard_plat_20_month/GU/5">More</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <ul class="best-buys-more"> <li class="bullet info"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/partners/guardian/cards/" rel="nofollow">See more credit cards best buys</a> </li> <li class="bullet"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/partners/guardian/cards/" rel="nofollow">Compare over 300 credit cards</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="initially-off" id="finance-pane-2"> <div class="finance-table"> <table id="loan-table"> <col class="title"/> <col class="rate"/> <col class="more-info"/> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">Provider</th> <th scope="col">Headline rate</th> <th scope="col">APR</th> <th scope="col"></th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>M&S Personal Loan</td> <td>6.00%</td> <td>6%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/loansp/LoansExternalDb_new.asp?BestBuy=1&Source=GU&LoansID=221&URL=http://money.marksandspencer.com/banner.asp?bannerid=3195">More</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>Tesco</td> <td>6.10%</td> <td>6.1%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/loansp/LoansExternalDb_new.asp?BestBuy=1&Source=GU&LoansID=2030&URL=http://clk.atdmt.com/UAG/go/183413853/direct/01/">More</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>Sainsbury's Shopper Personal Loan</td> <td>6.10%</td> <td>6.1%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/loansp/LoansExternalDb_new.asp?BestBuy=1&Source=GU&LoansID=1562&URL=http://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/borrowing/micro/bor_loans_ms_apply.shtml?source=NET0032ILOANMSIT0001">More</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <ul class="best-buys-more"> <li class="bullet info"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/partners/guardian/loans/" rel="nofollow">See more loan best buys</a> </li> <li class="bullet"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/partners/guardian/loans/" rel="nofollow">Compare over 500 loan providers</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="initially-off" id="finance-pane-3"> <div class="finance-table"> <table id="savings-table"> <col class="title"/> <col class="rate"/> <col class="more-info"/> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">Provider</th> <th scope="col">AER</th> <th scope="col"></th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Santander</td> <td>3.1%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/servicelayer/products/savings/SAVINGS002606301Anniversary/GU">More</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>ING Direct</td> <td>2.9%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/servicelayer/products/savings/SAVINGS000362202Monthly/GU">More</a></td> </tr><tr> <td>Principality BS</td> <td>2.85%</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/servicelayer/products/savings/SAVINGS002529501Yearly/GU">More</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <ul class="best-buys-more"> <li class="bullet info"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/partners/guardian/savings?feed=easy-access" rel="nofollow">See more savings account offers</a> </li> <li class="bullet"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.moneysupermarket.com/partners/guardian/savings?feed=easy-access" rel="nofollow">Compare over 4,000 savings accounts</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="microapp: zeitgeist : Most Viewed Old Promo : Most viewed by section - Zeitgeist"> <style> .m-zeitgeist .bd { float: left } /* for the IE6 lols */ .m-zeitgeist .hd { padding-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: -12px} .m-zeitgeist .hd h2 { padding-bottom: 12px; } .m-zeitgeist #att-panes { background-color: #fff; float: left; } .m-zeitgeist .att-toggle-pane { min-width:280px; } .m-zeitgeist ol { padding: 0 5px; } .m-zeitgeist #most-zeitgeist ol { padding-left: 0; } .m-zeitgeist .zg-date { color: #D61D00; padding-left:5px; padding-top: 5px; } .m-zeitgeist ol li { clear: both; padding-left: 15px; } .m-zeitgeist div#att-most-viewed ol li.l1, .m-zeitgeist div#att-latest ol li.l1 { padding-bottom: 9px !important; } .m-zeitgeist ol li.footer { clear: both; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-top: 5px !important; } .m-zeitgeist .rank { float: left; margin-left: -15px; } .m-zeitgeist .kicker { font-weight: bold; } .m-zeitgeist ol li.thumb { padding-left: 0; } .m-zeitgeist ol li.thumb .rank { margin-left: 0; } .m-zeitgeist ol li img { float: left; 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four-col attention-data"> <div class="hd"> <h3>On Business</h3> </div> <div class="bd"> <div id="att-toggle"> <ul class="tabs"> <li> <a class="active" href="#att-most-viewed">Most viewed</a> </li> <li> <a class="inactive" href="#most-zeitgeist">Zeitgeist</a> </li> <li> <a class="inactive" href="#att-latest">Latest</a> </li> </ul> <div id="att-panes"> <div class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane" id="att-most-viewed"> <p class="b2 zg-date">Last 24 hours</p> <ol> <li class="l1 thumb"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Business/Pix/pictures/2010/11/3/1288780056570/Antonio-Horta-Osorio---Ll-002.jpg"/> <span class="rank">1. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/lloyds-plunges-loss-2011-shares">Lloyds plunges to £3.5bn loss for 2011</a> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">2. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/uk-gdp-economic-growth-2011">Household and government spending failed to prop up UK economy in Q4</a> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">3. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/poundland-steps-back-work-experience-scheme">Poundland steps back from work experience scheme</a> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">4. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/knight-comfy-cardy-rescue-peacocks">Knight in a comfy cardie who rescued Peacocks shows he has style</a> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">5. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/uk-gdp-figures-what-economists-say">UK GDP figures: what the economists say</a> </li> <li class="more-most-viewed l1 footer"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/most-viewed/business">More most viewed</a> </li> </ol> </div> <div class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane initially-off" id="most-zeitgeist"> <p class="b2 zg-date">Last 24 hours</p> <ol> <li class="l1 business fade-1"> <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/lloyds-plunges-loss-2011-shares">Lloyds plunges to £3.5bn loss for 2011</a></div> </li> <li class="l1 business fade-2"> <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/uk-gdp-economic-growth-2011">Household and government spending failed to prop up UK economy in Q4</a></div> </li> <li class="l1 business fade-3"> <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/poundland-steps-back-work-experience-scheme">Poundland steps back from work experience scheme</a></div> </li> <li class="l1 business fade-4"> <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/15/uk-unemployment-high-economy-flatlines">UK unemployment stuck at 17-year high as economy flatlines</a></div> </li> <li class="l1 business fade-5"> <div class="zeit-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2012/feb/24/lloyds-banking-grou-gloomy-journey">Lloyds: for a gloomy journey</a></div> </li> <li class="l1 footer about-zeit"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/zeitgeist">More zeitgeist</a> <img class="what-is" alt="What is Zeigeist?" title="" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/microapps/zeitgeist/about-zeitgeist.gif"/> <div id="zeit-popup" class="zeit-popup"> <strong>What is Zeitgeist?</strong> <p>Zeitgeist is an experiment in showing trending news, topics and articles from the Guardian. Find out more in <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/insideguardian/2010/feb/03/zeitgeist">our blog post</a>.</p> </div> </li> </ol> </div> <div class="att-tabs att-toggle-pane initially-off" id="att-latest"> <p class="b2 zg-date">Last 24 hours</p> <ol> <li class="l1 thumb"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/2/24/1330114532984/British-entrepreneur-Phil-004.jpg"/> <span class="rank">1. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/knight-comfy-cardy-rescue-peacocks">Knight in a comfy cardie who rescued Peacocks shows he has style</a> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">2. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/shortcuts/2012/feb/24/boom-time-edinburgh-woollen-mill">Why it's boom time for Edinburgh Woollen Mill</a> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">3. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/ireland-lending-lloyds-rbs">Ireland, land of impairments for RBS and Lloyds</a> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">4. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/eurozone-crisis-live-uk-german-fourth-quarter-gdp">Eurozone crisis live: Greece unveils terms for bond swap - 24 February 2012</a> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">5. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/24/lloyds-plunges-loss-2011-shares">Lloyds plunges to £3.5bn loss for 2011</a> </li> <li class="more-latest l1 footer"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/all">All today's stories</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="microapp: static : Financial services brochures : financial services brochures on business"> <iframe src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946if_/http://www.dianomioffers.co.uk/smartads.epl?id=609" height="240" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="margin-bottom: 6px;"></iframe> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="microapp: guardian-bookshop : Bestsellers : bookshop"> <style> .m-guardianbookshop .rank { float: left; margin-left: -15px; } .m-guardianbookshop .thumb .rank { margin-left: 0; } .m-guardianbookshop h4 { border-top: none !important; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 5px !important; padding: 5px 0 8px 0 !important; } .m-guardianbookshop .bestsellers { background-color: #fff; padding-bottom: 17px;} .m-guardianbookshop ol { padding: 0 5px; } .m-guardianbookshop .l1 { clear: both; padding-left: 15px; } .m-guardianbookshop .thumb { padding-left: 0; } .m-guardianbookshop .thumb img { float: left; margin: 2px 10px 9px 0;} .m-guardianbookshop .price { display: inline; } .m-guardianbookshop .thumb .price { display: block; } .m-guardianbookshop .rank, .m-guardianbookshop .book-title { font-weight: bold; } .m-guardianbookshop input { border: 1px solid #999; width: 75%; min-height: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 3px 2px;} </style> <div class="m-guardianbookshop promo-component"> <div class="hd"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://resource.guim.co.uk/global/static/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgu-books.appspot.com%2Fimg%2Flogo-guardian-bookshop.png" alt="Guardian Bookshop" title=""/></a> </h3> </div> <div class="bd"> <div class="bestsellers"> <h4>This week's bestsellers</h4> <ol> <li class="l1 thumb"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946im_/http://resource.guim.co.uk/books/gubookshop/thumbnail/images.bertrams.com/ProductImages/services/GetImage?Source=BERT&Quality=WEB&EAN13=9780857860736&Component=FRONTCOVER" title="Leaving Alexandria"/> <span class="rank">1. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780857860736" class="book-title">Leaving Alexandria</a> <p> by Richard Holloway <span class="price">£17.99</span> </p> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">2. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780091939519" class="book-title">100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's</a> <p> by Jean Carper <span class="price">£10.99</span> </p> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">3. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780099511649" class="book-title">Woman in Black</a> <p> by Susan Hill <span class="price">£7.99</span> </p> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">4. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780099564935" class="book-title">Greatcoat</a> <p> by Helen Dunmore <span class="price">£9.99</span> </p> </li> <li class="l1"> <span class="rank">5. </span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781590174548" class="book-title">Berlin Stories</a> <p> by Robert Walser <span class="price">£7.99</span> </p> </li> </ol> </div> <div class="search"> <p> Search the Guardian bookshop </p> <form method="POST" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20120225050946/http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/search.do" name="QuickSearchForm"> <input type="text" class="searchBox" value="" name="keyword"> <button class="searchBtn" type="submit"> <span class="searchText">Search</span> </button> <input type="hidden" value="" name="author"> </form> </div> </div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="comp: Sponsored features : sponsored features"> <div class="promo-component json-features x31 four-col" style="display: none;"> <div class="hd"> <h3>Sponsored feature</h3> </div> <div class="bd inline-pic"> <a href="" class="link-image"><img width="130" height="121" alt=""/></a> <div id="x31" class=" hide-on-popup"> <div id="ad-placeholder-x31"></div> </div> <span class="x31-script-placeholder"></span> <script> function showSponsoredFeaturex31(){ if (window.sponJSON) { if(typeof(sponJSON) === 'object') { adx31 = sponJSON; 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