Labour market shows no sign of Brexit uncertainty – yet September 14, 2016 The number of people in work hit a new record high in July, as economy-watchers were left waiting even longer for signs of a post-referendum slowdown. Figures out from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) yesterday morning showed the unemployment rate steady at 4.9 per cent, defying concerns that the jobs market could have faltered in [...]
PwC: Investment in UK-held assets will account for more than half of all investment across Europe November 9, 2015 British banks are leading the way in disposing of unwanted loan portfolios, according to a new report out today from PwC. Analysts from PwC’s portfolio advisory group found that European banks are disposing of unwanted loan portfolios at record rates and performing portfolios are becoming increasing popular, with investment in UK-held assets accounting for more [...]
Christmas strikes 2016: From Southern rail to British Airways, why’s everyone striking? December 19, 2016 A raft of Christmas strikes is set to unfold this week, with travel particularly affected. Around 3,000 staff at various Crown post offices are set to walk out today, Tuesday and Saturday, while members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union unleash their latest industrial action on Southern rail today and tomorrow, with an ongoing [...]
Economists blast “anachronistic system” system of setting rail fares as ticket prices set to rise August 17, 2016 More misery was piled on to beleaguered commuters yesterday as a hike in rail fares was unveiled. Fares will rise by an average of 1.9 per cent next year following the release of July’s retail price index (RPI), against which fare increases are pegged. RPI rose from 1.6 per cent. The jump in fares comes as rail [...]
Former Deloitte chief and private equity house plot challenger to big four accountancy firms August 9, 2016 A former Deloitte executive is teaming up with a private equity house to launch a challenger to the big four accountancy firms. John Connolly, who was chief executive of Deloitte UK, is said to be plotting a string of acquisitions to take on his former employer along with EY, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. He is working on [...]
North Sea has a two year window to safeguard its future for decades June 13, 2016 THE North Sea basin has a two year window in which to safeguard its future for the next two decades, or risk “decline at an exponential rate” according to a new PwC report. The report, A Sea Change, says that a robust roadmap is needed to transform the basin, meet short-term energy needs and bridge the [...]
Pension confusion is leaving British workers unprepared for retirement – PwC October 6, 2015 Bewildered by your pension? You’re not alone. British workers are so confused about the current pensions system that they are not saving as much as they should in order to be ready for retirement, according to a report out today from PwC. The advisory firm surveyed nearly 1,200 working adults following chancellor of the exchequer [...]
Bank of Cyprus announces cancellation of government guarantees as next step on road to recovery August 17, 2016 Cyprus' largest bank took a significant step towards its goal of repaying all its emergency lending by the end of 2017. The Bank of Cyprus – one of the two major commercial banks in the country – cancelled €1bn of government guarantees issued on its behalf as part of a EU funded bail-out. "The Cypriot financial [...]
Bank of England warns: EU cannot replace the City October 12, 2016 London's financial services firms would rather head across the Atlantic to New York than relocate across the Channel if forced to leave London, a Bank of England deputy governor said yesterday, as diplomatic figures suggest that Europe would shoot itself in the foot if it drives a hard bargain with the City over Brexit. Jon [...]
Britons are scared to commit to investment strategies when planning for retirement September 12, 2016 Too much choice is seriously undermining the nation’s confidence when it comes to planning for retirement, according to a new study. Nearly half of people do not have courage in their own convictions to make a final decision on their pension, researchers found, while 43 per cent continue to have doubts after they have choose a strategy. The research [...]