Facebook: personalised advertising isn’t all bad – it can support bricks and mortar retail April 13, 2021 There has been much talk in recent years about “bricks versus clicks” and the threat that the rise of online shopping would ultimately mark the downfall of the Great British High Street. The strongest small to medium sized businesses are those that make the most of all the channels available to them to reach their [...]
A trade deal with Australia would give the UK the green light to join the CPTPP February 23, 2021 There was a time in British politics last year when the term ‘Australia-style’ was deeply fashionable. As Prime Minister Boris Johnson sought to navigate the UK’s departure from the European Union and secure a Brexit deal, the prospect of trading with the EU on WTO terms – akin to that of Australia’s trading relationship with [...]
The City View: Michael Hewson on why calls for a windfall tax are misplaced May 3, 2022 Today Andy Silvester talks to Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets. They pick apart the arguments for a windfall tax on BP, discuss potential rate rises from the Fed and Bank of England, and go through the impact that China’s zero-Covid policy has had on manufacturing in the country. And in other news [...]
UK economy to contract in November amid second Covid-19 lockdown November 24, 2020 The UK economy is set to suffer a significant contraction this month after Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a second national coronavirus lockdown. After six consecutive months of growth, the economy is expected to shrink 5.7 per cent in November, before recovering a marginal 0.3 per cent in December, according to analysis by PwC. The [...]
Government scientists must be transparent about flawed Covid models March 31, 2021 The strength of the economic recovery as Britain emerges from lockdown is a hotly contested subject among economists. Some believe there will be a massive surge in demand as consumers celebrate their freedom, others argue it will take time to claw back confidence. Economic forecasts are subject to the same faults as any projections, as [...]
Corona Impact Series: How an immersive Hackney entertainer blurs pandemic boundaries March 25, 2021 In this series, City A.M. looks at the financial and economic impact of the ongoing pandemic on a range of small and medium-sized businesses across London. This week: How an immersive entertainment agency in Hackney was forced to switch from physical to virtual overnight, without losing any of the power of the experiences. “As Covid hit and the [...]
UK competition watchdog launches probe into O2-Virgin Media merger November 19, 2020 The UK competition watchdog has opened an investigation into the planned £31bn mega-merger between O2 and Virgin Media after the deal was referred from the EU. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) last month requested to take over the case, arguing the potential impact on competition would primarily affect the UK market. The watchdog has [...]
Bitcoin banking app Mode lists on LSE’s main market October 5, 2020 Bitcoin banking app Mode has started trading on the London Stock Exchange, in the latest sign that life is starting to return to the capital’s IPO market. The UK fintech today listed on the LSE’s main market, raising £7.5m by way of a placing of 15m new ordinary shares. It is considerably more than the [...]
Restaurant sales buoyed by Eat Out to Help Out legacy September 18, 2020 Restaurants continued to enjoy some of the benefits of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme this month as customers felt more comfortable going out for a meal. Diners spent 14 per cent more in restaurants in the first week of September than they did the same week last year after August’s discount scheme gave [...]
UK retail sales grow for fourth consecutive month September 18, 2020 UK retail sales reached pre-pandemic levels last month, driven by supermarket and home improvement purchases. Retail sales were up 0.8 per cent in August compared to the previous month, which was the fourth consecutive month of growth. UK retail sales were up four per cent compared to February, before the coronavirus pandemic hit the country. [...]