Three themes for 2019 – and some black swans February 8, 2019 2018 was a challenging year for investors with US equity and government bond markets both returning less than cash. Two factors were instrumental in delivering this outcome: disappointment with global growth and less cash flowing through the global economy (tighter liquidity). These factors will continue to influence markets in the year ahead. We have identified [...]
Home Office backtracks on plans to scrap ‘golden visas’ for rich investors December 11, 2018 The Home Office has rowed back on plans to halt visas for wealthy investors just days after the suspension was announced. Last week immigration minister Caroline Nokes announced that the visas would be suspended at midnight last Friday amid fears about money laundering and organised crimes. However, today the Home Office confirmed that the visas [...]
Should other countries take a leaf out of Trump’s economic playbook? November 20, 2018 Global growth in 2017 was characterised by synchronised expansion by the world’s major economies. This was largely because robust global trade growth created a rising tide that lifted all boats. Since global trade has waned in 2018, economic growth has become less coordinated. While China, Europe and Japan have all seen their growth rates cool, [...]
Theresa May forced to back down in row over Brexit legal advice November 13, 2018 Theresa May has been forced to publish the legal advice she receives on her Brexit deal after Labour, the DUP and eurosceptic Tories backed her into a corner. The government backed down in a row over whether the advice from the attorney general – which traditionally remains private – should be given to MPs before [...]
Whitehall tells late payment outsourcers to ‘clean up their act’ or face not winning public contracts November 29, 2018 Government contractors who do not pay suppliers on time could be prevented from winning public contracts altogether, Whitehall has said. Cabinet Office (CO) minister Oliver Dowden announced the crackdown this morning, which will see serial slackers on supplier payments forced to “clean up their act” or face being prevented from winning new contracts from Autumn 2019. [...]
Visas for super rich investors scrapped amid crackdown on money laundering December 6, 2018 The government will suspend golden ticket investment visas, which allow non-EU nationals to stay in the UK if they invest £2m, amid a crackdown on organised crime. Just buying into UK companies, or buying government bonds, will no longer be enough for Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern oil barons and other super rich investors to stay in the UK. The [...]
Fried chicken and a trip to the bookies: London’s worst high streets revealed November 2, 2018 Researchers have drawn a fresh map of London to rank its best and worst high streets for mental health and wellbeing. The Royal Society for Public Health analysed the different shops on high streets across the UK and measured them against factors including their potential to encourage healthy choices and their usefulness for mental wellbeing. For [...]
Cyber committee urges government to do more to combat security risks November 19, 2018 The UK government is in dire need of political direction on responding to national cyber security threats, as current efforts have left the country's infrastructure and businesses "wholly" unprepared for another attack. The joint committee on the national security security strategy warned today that the UK's critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, health services and water, face a [...]
Are Centrica shares a buy at 20-year low? February 24, 2019 At prices not seen since 1999, a 10 per cent dividend yield appears tempting, but it's not that straightforward. Two years ago, Centrica (LSE:CNA) shares were worth over 230p. Today they dived 12 per cent to just 120p. Last time they were that low you could have bought a loaf of bread for 51p* and Shanks & [...]
Brexit vote live: MPs vote to delay Brexit by extending Article 50 beyond 29 March March 14, 2019 Hello and welcome to City A.M.’s Brexit live blog for the second of potentially three huge votes on the UK’s departure from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May was defeated in the House of Commons in a second vote on her Brexit deal on Tuesday, losing by 391 votes to 242. Last night, MPs voted [...]