Financial quotes of the month

“It is our intention to vote against the deal unless the merger terms for Xstrata shareholders are materially improved.” David Cumming, head of equities at Standard Life Investments on a proposed Xstrata-Glencore mining merge “In a regional world marked with political uncertainties and a global world faced with economic difficulties, we must recognize Lebanon’s comparative advantage and its own secret for success. It is the Lebanese people.” Riad Salameh, governor of Lebanon’s central bank “As presented it’s very difficult to determine if the Arab spring fund is new wine in new bottles or old wine in new bottles.” John Norris, Executive director at the Center for American Progress think-tank on US president Obama’s $800 million ‘Arab spring fund’ “We’ve actually spent a lot, but we still have a lot; a lot more than we need to run the company.” Tim Cook, CEO of Apple “In the last three years we