UK property developers hit with new taxes to pay for unsafe cladding removal post-Grenfell February 10, 2021 Shares in major UK property developers have fallen this afternoon, after an announcement that they will be hit with new taxes to pay for the government’s unsafe cladding removal scheme. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick today announced two new taxes on UK property developers to help pay for the government’s efforts to remove unsafe cladding from [...]
City Moves for 9 February: Who is switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? February 10, 2021 City Moves provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. This week hosts movements over at Big Four auditor Deloitte, JP Morgan, HMRC and PE firm Dean Street. Meanwhile, green London housing looks to be a focus for 2021 with Public Sector Plc’s new [...]
Lancashire offset Covid losses with strong investment portfolio February 10, 2021 City-based insurer Lancashire left 2020 “relatively unscathed” as its investment portfolio offset nearly $150m in losses linked to the pandemic and natural catastrophes, the company announced this morning. The Group credits the positive fiscal year to its investment portfolio, which ranges from political risk to AV52 markets. Gross premiums written increased by 15.2 per cent [...]
Persimmon takes £75m hit on dangerous cladding costs February 10, 2021 Persimmon will take a multimillion pound hit on costs associated with cladding safety issues that have been discovered since the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The housebuilder said it has made a £75m provision in its 2020 results to pay for dangerous cladding to be removed or investigated at 26 high-rise buildings in its legacy development portfolio. [...]
Before the Bell: Focus on Andrew Bailey speech later today February 10, 2021 It was quiet in the markets yesterday as the overall outlook did not change. The same stories were circulating: vaccine rollouts and the prospect of additional stimulus from the US. Late last week, it was revealed the Democrats decided to try and implement the proposed $1.9 trillion spending package without receiving approval from the Republicans [...]
Twitter, Uber and Disney: What to expect in the latest round of tech earnings February 9, 2021 Twitter, Uber and Disney will all be under the spotlight as they report fourth-quarter earnings this week. Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google (known as the FAANGs) all closed the year with bumper results as the tech titans continued to cash in on the pandemic. But it will be a more complicated picture for Twitter, [...]
EU weighs up forcing tech giants to pay for news February 9, 2021 The EU is said to be considering laws that would force tech giants to pay for news content, mirroring similar moves in Australia. The bloc is currently drafting two new laws — the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act — which are designed to stamp out harmful material and curb Big Tech’s power. [...]
Is central London finished? International investors think otherwise February 9, 2021 It is a strange experience going into central London right now. Areas that are normally bustling with crowds or chaotic with commuters lie still – even Pret A Manger has reduced its menu and opening times. Those who live outside of Zone 1 and for whom memories of maroon coffee cups, the underground and the [...]
London loses carbon futures trading to Amsterdam, in Brexit hit to City February 8, 2021 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) today said it will move its trading of European carbon futures and options to its Netherlands-based exchange in Amsterdam from London during the second quarter, in the latest sign of financial activity leaving Britain for the bloc due to Brexit.
City A.M. TV: Daily market snapshot (video) February 8, 2021 Is there a message for western markets from Asian price action? Various key Asian markets, including the Chinese Shanghai Composite, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Korea’s Kospi, have all struggled to break above key technical levels in recent trading sessions. That stands in contrast the price action in the US (at new highs) and Germany’s [...]