Brexit worries over – Axa ploughs ahead with building the City’s tallest tower October 26, 2016 The construction of the City's tallest building is back on after developers halted progress before the EU referendum. Axa Investment Managers said today that it is committing to the construction of 22 Bishopsgate because London remains "one of the leading global centres for international business, notwithstanding the current uncertainties created by the EU referendum". 22 Bishopsgate will [...]
Remembrance Day 2016 in pictures: Two minutes’ silence held across London’s landmarks November 11, 2016 City-dwellers paused for two minutes' silence in memory of fallen soldiers this morning, while Londoners stopped in their tracks at their workplaces, landmarks and on the streets. Lloyds of London ground to a halt and 11am was marked by the traditional ringing of the Lutine bell in the insurer's atrium. Brokers gathered on balconies to observe the silence. (Source: [...]
Euro clearing battle heats up as report warns EU against “protectionist” policy to move business away from London December 18, 2016 The battle over euro-denominated clearing is heating up amid apparent attempts to move the business away from London. An Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) report, circulated this month to EU member states, has warned that forcing the clearing of euro derivatives away from the UK could lead to a “significant increase” in costs for European banks. The [...]
Testing Tesla: The EV company is as famous for the behaviour of its boss as it is for its silent motors; but what are they like to drive? July 5, 2018 If the scent of lavender and the feel of Lycra on clammy flesh are your kind of thing, you won’t find anywhere better than cycling mecca La Coquillade. Set in the hills of the Petit Luberon, a rosé-growing idyll between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, this hotel has been created by a Tour de France team owner [...]
Driving down worryingly high youth unemployment is the City’s business December 5, 2016 I attended the London Councils London Government Summit last week alongside leaders from every London borough. It was an opportunity for us to discuss key London issues, including the increasingly urgent problem of high youth unemployment. Youth unemployment rates are still worryingly high, with the capital having a particularly poor record – the second highest [...]
Lobby group calls for clear and upfront transitional plans to see City through lengthy Brexit process January 12, 2017 A leading think tank has today called on the government to secure "clear and upfront" transitional arrangements to smooth the path for the City through Brexit. A new paper, which lays out the financial and professional services sectors priorities for the Brexit negotiations, from lobby group TheCityUK also warns that drawing up the final EU departure deal could [...]
Tesla Model S 100D review: Only famous for its unpredictable boss or genuinely good to drive? July 2, 2018 If the scent of lavender and the feel of Lycra on clammy flesh are your kind of thing, you won’t find anywhere better than cycling mecca La Coquillade. Set in the hills of the Petit Luberon, a rosé-growing idyll between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, this hotel has been created by a Tour de France team owner [...]
London house prices: A £90m Knightsbridge flat is the most expensive home on record August 31, 2017 The £90m purchase of an apartment in Knightsbridge is the most expensive residential property transaction ever recorded by the Land Registry, it turns out. Capital FM owner Ashley Tabor bought the massive four-bedroom penthouse flat at 199 Knightsbridge in April this year, with plans to knock it through into the apartment he owns next door [...]
Airbnb isn’t monopolising the homestay market, it’s popularised it for a new generation of business travellers July 27, 2017 A recent report by PWC found that hotel companies and peer-to-peer home swapping platforms account for the second largest share, in terms of volume of activity, of the UK’s sharing economy. With the meteoric growth of Airbnb in particular, most people assume that traditional rental and aparthotel operators, like myself, are concerned about the impact [...]
Financial sector’s tax contribution hits a record £71.4bn December 6, 2016 The tax take from Britain's financial sector has hit record levels, underscoring its economic importance as talks between the government and the City enter a new phase in the run up to Brexit. Fifty financial services firms, largely UK-listed and including the Square Mile's banking titans, paid £71.4bn into HM Treasury's coffers for the year [...]