Could the secret to a long and healthy life be hidden in a remote part of Costa Rica? We set out to meet the tribespeople who live beyond 100 years old September 5, 2017 The town hall in Nicoya, western Costa Rica, is one of the few colonial buildings left in the country. Given that the town was about to host a “congress of international centenarians”, it seemed like a good place to start my investigations into longevity. Unfortunately, no-one in the building seemed to know anything about it. [...]
Increased turnover growth in sights for British companies – but inflation looms January 5, 2017 British business expectations of turnover growth have increased after a post-referendum dip, according to a new survey of more than 7,000 firms – although predictions of price rises have also risen sharply. Confidence in increased earnings increased at the end of the fourth quarter by seven percentage points to hit a net positive rating of [...]
London’s the best place in the world for fostering fintech as industry eyes new success measures September 27, 2016 London is the best city in the world for fostering fintech, ahead of New York, Silicon Valley and Hong Kong – but it faces a run for its money from Singapore – as the industry pushes for better measures for assessing its contribution to the economy and the government's new industrial strategy. The two cities were ranked highest based [...]
China logged a record one million patent applications last year ahead of the United States November 23, 2016 China has become the first country to file one million patent applications in a single year, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Chinese innovators filed the majority of their 2015 applications in electric engineering, including telecoms, followed by computer technology and semiconductors, and measurement instruments including medical technology. "The figures for China are [...]
Here are the winners and losers from today’s Autumn Statement November 23, 2016 It's been a rough day for the UK's economic forecasts, but the revelations from chancellor Philip Hammond's first Autumn Statement weren't all bad. Here are some of the biggest winners and losers from the speech: Winners Companies will be cheering after Hammond confirmed that he will be cutting corporation tax to 17 per cent by 2020. [...]
Five important things fintech was handed in the Autumn Statement November 23, 2016 The UK's fintech powerhouse was not forgotten in the chancellor's Autumn Statement with several measures aimed at boosting the sector unveiled. Fintech census The government will carry out what's being called a fintech census, designed to identify the key figures driving the industry for investors. "An accurate measurement of this evolving space will help policymakers, investors [...]
Labour will put forward an official amendment to the Article 50 bill on market access, says Jeremy Corbyn December 3, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that his party will put down an official amendment to the Article 50 bill. If the Supreme Court allows a debate in parliament, Labour will go forward with a proposed amendment that will aim to ensure Britain maintains access to Europe's markets, workers' rights and environmental protection measures. Read [...]
The chancellor’s new investments should boost productivity – but the next few years are going to be tough November 23, 2016 Philip Hammond kept the nation in suspense as to the new government’s priorities for the economy until the Autumn Statement, and generally it was worth the wait. The chancellor proved a bigger spender, focusing on one of the fundamental challenges facing the UK economy beyond Brexit – productivity. If the UK is to forge a [...]
There’s no case for cancelling Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain January 30, 2017 Theresa May did not ask for the hand she has been dealt. She did not campaign for Brexit. She had nothing to do with Donald Trump’s election. Nevertheless she must deal with both – and I am proud of the way she is making the most of the situation she’s in, for the good of our [...]
Resurgent protectionism threatens both the US economy and share prices – and not just if Trump wins October 24, 2016 Protectionism – the practice of shielding a country’s industry from foreign competition – and the prospect of a descent into a beggar-thy-neighbour global trade war is one of the biggest risks to investment returns over the next decade. Indeed, politicians are already succumbing: according to the Global Trade Alert initiative, the number of protectionist measures enacted [...]