Homeowners’ equity injections into housing market near sixth year April 3, 2014 Homeowners injected £10.6bn of equity into the housing market in the final quarter of 2013, as very low savings interest rates continue to make it easier for people to pay down their mortgages. The figures from the Bank of England show the quarter to be the 23rd successive net housing equity injection, but the figure [...]
The chancellor’s balancing act has set the tone for tight fiscal restraint in the next Parliament December 3, 2014 DESPITE higher short-term borrowing, the chancellor presented an Autumn Statement in which the deficit is back on track over the medium term and a surplus is achieved by the end of the next Parliament. At the same time, he announced some selective tax reductions aimed at helping individuals and smaller businesses, while making commitments earlier [...]
Seven things you didn’t know about the UK’s Whisky industry January 28, 2015 "By diligent effort, I learnt to like it," is what former prime minister and Scotch whisky drinker Winston Churchill said on the so-called "liquid sunshine." The gentleman's drink – which once counted the Scot who invented penicillin Alexander Fleming as fan – is increasingly making a very likeable contriubtion to the UK economy. It added [...]
Bitreserve and CNET founder Halsey Minor talks dot-commers, virtual currencies and the Bank of England’s open-mindedness March 8, 2015 You might not have heard of Halsey Minor, but it’s likely that you’ve indirectly benefited from one of his many achievements. He’s one half of the brains behind CNET, the technology media website which, founded in 1994, was in the vanguard of internet firms, and is still one of the most-visited tech information resources in [...]
Apple could be about to issue its first bonds in euros November 3, 2014 Apple's share price rose this morning on reports that it is planning to issue more bonds, with a deal – potentially its first in euros – thought to be on the cards as early as tomorrow. Investors are expecting a call from advisers Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs today, the Wall Street Journal reports, [...]
London Report: British economy in fifth straight growth quarter April 27, 2014 BRITAIN’S economy is expected to show its continued return to form this week, with official data likely to show a fifth consecutive quarter of expansion. Figures due from the Office for National Statistics tomorrow are expected to reveal the economy grew by 0.8 per cent in the first quarter, despite worries that February flooding would [...]
How to get sponsorship for your executive MBA January 28, 2015 Your employer may offer more than just monetary support. Over the last few years, many have found it difficult to find corporate sponsorship for their Executive MBA (EMBA). In 2007, 34 per cent of students received full financial sponsorship from their employer (according to the EMBA Council), but by 2011, that figure had dropped to [...]
2014 City A.M. awards: Legal & General CEO Nigel Wilson is the insurance boss with big ideas November 13, 2014 The Legal & General chief exec, City A.M.’s Business Personality of the Year. His hero is Aneurin Bevan, the firebrand post-war Labour minister and architect of the NHS. His career was inspired by a quotation from political theorist Sir Isaiah Berlin on the importance of searching after the common good. And when I meet [...]
Another departure at Balfour Beatty as chief financial officer Duncan Magrath steps down November 4, 2014 Construction company Balfour Beatty announced the departure of chief financial officer Duncan Magrath yesterday. Magrath, who has been with the infrastructure firm for eight years and in the top finance role for six, will leave the business in 2015 after a successor has been found. He will also continue as a member of the board [...]
Why a failure to update archaic laws will hinder the rise of the smart city February 3, 2015 With Uber and Google now going head to head in the battle to develop driverless car technology, the spotlight has fallen once again on the concept of the Smart City. There is no absolute definition of what a smart city is. But the broad idea is to use digital technologies to create more efficient, responsive, [...]