This week's Big Story uncovers the anger brewing about retailers becoming City whipping boys
The rush this year from public to private finance has been indicative of one persistent trend, the desire for chief executives to be able to work their magic on retail chains away from the glare of the City's spotlight and increasingly personal attacks on their abilities.

Retail bosses are becoming frustrated with what they see as an unforgiving and increasingly vindictive City, more eager for a good story than fair comment. There is concern too at the fine line between City darling and City damned.

'The City is a horrible, horrible place these days,' says the chief executive of one large retail chain.

'In a sector like retail where you have fewer companies and analysts wanting to say something different it's a ready made formula for nonsense,' says BRC director general Kevin Hawkins.

Read more about retail chiefs' attitudes to the City in this week's Big Story: Walking a Fine Tightrope.

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