Budget watchdogs warn another financial crisis would destroy government deficit plans July 13, 2017 The government will miss its targets for reducing the spending deficit by “wide margins” if there is another big financial shock, the Treasury’s independent budget watchdog has warned. In a report on the risks facing the UK economy, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) today said a scenario similar to the financial crisis a decade [...]
The London Stock Exchange is shrinking: Why the capital needs to float more IPO boats August 29, 2017 Something strange is happening to London’s equity market. In a word, it is shrinking. Steadily, but surely, and over a long period of time. This threatens to have long-term financial and economic consequences for all of us. This may surprise you since on the face of it everything looks rosy. The FTSE 100 is sitting [...]
Groups slam Theresa May’s energy price cap as Centrica shares tumble following speech overshadowed by prankster, coughing and collapsing set October 4, 2017 Business groups have slammed Theresa May’s pledge to cap energy prices, claiming her free speech “rhetoric” was not being backed up by action. In a speech that was disrupted by prankster Simon Bodkin (aka Lee Nelson) handing the Prime Minister a P45, and overshadowed by May’s efforts not to lose her voice, the Prime Minister [...]
General Election 2017: Dear Prime Minister, please listen to British business June 5, 2017 morning I am pleased to support an open letter signed by over 50 entrepreneurs, leaders and experts from across the UK. This letter will be delivered to the successful party elected to government on Thursday evening. The accompanying report, by The Entrepreneurs Network, “A Boost for British Businesses”, includes the ideas and policy proposals of [...]
Investment trust winners of 2017 January 11, 2018 Investment trusts enjoyed healthy investment returns last year, with funds focused on Japan delivering some of the best returns in 2017, according to data for trust sectors. Investment trusts are an alternative to more commonly held open-ended funds or unit trusts, offering some advantages. This is explained here: investment trusts vs open-ended funds. Here we [...]
Sector charge for more women to get top jobs in finance gathers pace as firms shake up succession planning and hiring practices July 9, 2017 A push to secure more women top roles in the finance sector is gathering pace, as a fresh batch of firms have signed up to a charter devised by the Treasury to build the pipeline of female talent for leadership positions. Some 25 new firms have signed up to the Women in Finance Charter, taking [...]
Revealed: Behind the scenes of Carillion’s annus horribilis December 21, 2017 Troubled construction giant Carillion hit the headlines again yesterday after it announced its interim chief executive Keith Cochrane will be replaced almost three months earlier than planned. When Andrew Davies, who was set to take over on 2 April 2018, starts on 22 January, he will become the company’s third chief executive in six months. [...]
Carillion share price: Behind the scenes of the construction giant’s annus horribilis December 21, 2017 Troubled construction giant Carillion hit the headlines again yesterday after it announced its interim chief executive Keith Cochrane will be replaced almost three months earlier than planned. When Andrew Davies, who was set to take over on 2 April 2018, starts on 22 January, he will become the company’s third chief executive in six months. [...]
The Fed may not have investors’ backs for much longer July 4, 2017 For decades, the Federal Reserve has been the wingman to the US equity market, manipulating monetary policy to prevent the stockmarket from tipping into chaos. It was during the financial crisis of 1987 that the US central bank first came to the rescue by pumping liquidity into the financial system. Ever since, the Fed has [...]
Whitehall feud over Crossrail 2: Ministers push back against Transport for London (TfL) funding plan for £31bn route June 22, 2017 Rising tension between the government and Transport for London (TfL) over funding plans for Crossrail 2 is threatening to shunt the £31bn infrastructure project into the sidings. TfL submitted its business and funding case for the new cross-London rail route to the government in March, but transport secretary Chris Grayling has yet to give the [...]