UK: POTUS ASKS PM AFTER NORTH SEA. @REALCOSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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British official photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

FRANCE : PLUMS AND BLACKBERRIES, @REALCONSTABLE, OCCITANIE. @BATCHELORSHOW

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Bibliothèque nationale de France , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Korn Ferry: AI Job Applications Spur… In-Person Interviews?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The candidate’s application looked great, and the firm was ready to hire her. Then came a question from one HR rep: Did the candidate actually write the résumé and cover letter, or had AI written them for her?

A new study shows that half of UK-based graduates seeking jobs are using AI to write their applications, up from 38% in 2024. And many HR pros believe the number is even higher, creating a thorny issue as firms try to figure out whether it was the candidate who wrote the great cover letter and list of suggestions—or AI. “Individuals are very cautious about revealing they are using AI, because some employers don’t respond well,” says Bryan Ackermann, Korn Ferry’s head of AI strategy and transformation.

The advantages of applying with AI are well-known. It can increase the number of job applications a person can pump out. More importantly, it may be able to defeat the automated hiring filters companies use—and that applicants need to get through. “The candidate can use AI to get data and shape their application,” says Tim Manasseh, Korn Ferry’s senior partner, EMEA, for global consumer products. READ MORE HERE.

UK: TAXING THE PENSIONERS BEYOND THE GRAVE @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

FRANCE: THUNDERSTORMS AND COPPER TRADING ALL-TIME HIGHS. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

By SIMON CONSTABLE 

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Maxime Raynal from France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

UK TAXES AND INFLATION. @REALCONSTABLE CONTINUED @BATCHELORSHOW

By SIMON CONSTABLE

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A German light cruiser in action, probably at the Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914 

William Lionel Wyllie, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

PRICE OF COPPER: @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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George Paterson Dawson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Last Minute Special Offer: Art Retreat in Southern France

Hello! Just to let you know. My wife is hosting an amazing art retreat here at our village of Cordes sur Ciel in South West France this September. There are only three spaces available to the lucky few. If you would like to join her friendly group at the stunning location of St Jean, you will be treated to a wonderful week of art and gourmet French food and wine. 

Check out the retreat here: https://www.inspirecreativeretreats.com/

Korn Ferry: A Merger Boom, An HR Headache

When it comes to mergers, the people in the human-resources department are often among the last to hear. Frequently they’re also the ones hit with an enormous workload. 

A recent report found that 54% of British companies surveyed see M&A activity increasing. That’s generally good news for a national business environment that has been struggling for growth, but it raises the bar for CHROs, who must lead their newly formed firm through a slew of talent-merging issues, as well as determine how to combine different hiring, benefits and pay policies. “HR often gets invited late in the process,” says Grant Duncan, a Korn Ferry senior client partner and sector lead in the firm’s Consumer practice. By then, the corporate decisions may already have been made. “As a result,” Duncan adds, “there is little the HR team can do to help out.” Read more here.

ENGLAND; BAYEUX COMES TO THE UK. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Myrabella, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 

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FRANCE; WILDFIRES AT MARSEILLES. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Probably Decauville, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

WSJ FinancialFlashback: 30 YEARS AGO: Nasdaq 1000

  A look back at Wall Street Journal headlines from this month in history

By SIMON CONSTABLE

In July 1995, the Nasdaq Composite Index surpassed the 1000 level for the first time. It took a while for the index to get there, but in hindsight, breaching the 1000 level was a monumental signal that better things were coming. And it did. On average the Nasdaq index has outperformed the S&P 500 for most of the past two decades.

The Nasdaq composite launched in February 1971 with an index level of 100. At the time, Nasdaq was a fledgling stock market that could boast it was the first to be fully electronic. Initially, it was just a quotation system rather than an electronic trading platform. 

Surpassing the Nasdaq 1000 level quickly gave way to an accelerated rally that lasted until Nasdaq breached 5000 in March 2000, according to Nasdaq data. It took until May 2015 to cross the 5100 level. And those levels now look as dated as an old cellphone: The Nasdaq composite as of last week’s close was at five figures: more than 20601.

Read more here.

UK: BACKBENCHERS NIX PM STARMER & CHANCELLOR REEVES. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW OCCITANIE

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Diliff, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

FRANCE: BAKE OFF CONTINENTAL EUROPE. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW OCCITANIE

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kiplinger’s Retirement Report: Hiring a Financial Adviser: 10 Questions to Ask

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

Hiring a financial adviser is a key way to manage your retirement nest egg with less stress. Many people get overwhelmed when tackling retirement planning. Even those with big paychecks and a Wall Street education often seek a financial adviser to help them.

It’s a smart thing to do. You leave the investing work to experts. That gives you time and confidence to focus on important things like family and career. However, deciding which adviser to pick is a big deal. They will be looking after your financial nest egg. You will need to know a lot of things about them before deciding who to choose.

Different types of advisers have different credentials. Any financial adviser selling or recommending certain securities must pass Financial Industry Regulatory Authority exams and may need to register with federal and state regulators. Read more here.

Boaventuravinicius, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

NATO: PM STARMER STRUGGLES TO FIND THE MONEY FOR DEFENSE PLEDGE OF 5%. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

By SIMON CONSTABLE

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unknow person, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

FRANCE: HEAT WAVE AND COUNTRY LANES WITH JUNO. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW OCCITANIE.

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Henriëtte Ronner-Knip, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

FRANCE: HEATWAVE AND FRENCH WITH HEAVY USE OF AC, AND HAYING. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

UK: STARMER THE TRUMP WHISPERER. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Ardfern, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

POTUS: HOOVER SIGNED SMOOT HAWLEY JUNE 1930. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Herbert E. French, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

#FRANCE: PLUM TREE RIPENS, @REALCONSTABLE, OCCITANIE @BATCHELORSHOW

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Andrew.berdov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

WSJ: Financial Flashback: Tariff Trouble in the 1930s

 

Briefings Magazine: ‘Rich’ Countries Sinking into Debt

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Sometimes countries need to borrow money by the boatload. It happened during WWII, when democracies faced a near-existential crisis. In the following decades, debt sank, as it often does in the wake of such a crisis: In the United States, Canada, and Japan, plus Europe’s large economies, such as Germany, France, and Italy, the debt-to-GDP ratio fell to a modest 40 percent by 1968.

Fast-forward 50-plus years, and things sure have changed. “Global public debt is probably worse than it looks,” the International Monetary Fund’s blog recently declared. “It is expected to exceed $100 trillion” for 2024. That’s approximately 93 percent of global GDP, up from around 83 percent in 2019. Already Japan’s debt is an eye-watering 250 percent of its GDP. And the IMF believes government worldwide borrowing is likely to worsen. Read more here.

 

FRANCE: CYBERCRIME QUIZ. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

By SIMON CONSTABLE 

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WSJ: How Much Do You Know About Cyber Scams? Take the Journal’s Quiz.

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The cyber scammers are still stealing your money, and, in many cases, they seem to be getting better at their chosen field, according to recently released data from the FBI.

The 2024 Internet Crime Report is the latest edition of an annual report on cybercrime scams reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It combines information from 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crime and details reported losses exceeding $16 billion. 

How much do you know about the latest scams? Test yourself on our quiz here.

Max Plaisted, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

FRANCE: RECALLING TIANANMEN TRAGEDY YEAR 0NE, 1990. @REALCONSTABLE @BATCHELORSHOW

 By SIMON CONSTABLE

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Boxer Rebelión 1900

Kasai Torajirō, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

WSJ: How Much Do You Know About Cyber Scams? Take the Journal’s Quiz.

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The cyber scammers are still stealing your money, and, in many cases, they seem to be getting better at their chosen field, according to recently released data from the FBI.

The 2024 Internet Crime Report is the latest edition of an annual report on cybercrime scams reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It combines information from 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crime and details reported losses exceeding $16 billion. 

How much do you know about the latest scams? Test yourself on our quiz.

1 OF 8

1. By how much did financial losses to cybercrime rise in 2024 from 2023? 

2 OF 8

2. Which age group suffered the most losses from all types of cyber fraud?

Read more here for more questions and answers.