Too few women get to the top in the finance industry. It’s time to change that May 18, 2016 Today, City AM publishes its Power Women 100 list, celebrating female success in the city. The list is dominated by women working in tech, law and the finance industry – which is a significant achievement in itself. Why? Because too few women get to the top in the finance industry. Executive committees are made up [...]
Banking bazooka? CMA report great for fintech, costly for banks August 9, 2016 The competition watchdog has today handed fintech startups a bazooka for their mission of disrupting banks, with new rules for making data more open to improve customer choice. The so-called big four – HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland – and other smaller high street banks will have to work together to create standards for sharing [...]
What’s behind the rise of anti-establishment politics? From Brexit to Trump and Bernie Sanders, frustration at inequality is rising – and some experts think central bank policies are to blame June 28, 2016 Anti-establishment sentiment is growing, with political leaders seen as “alternative” drawing support across the Western world – from the rise of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump in the US, to France’s National Front, Germany’s AfD, Italy’s Lega Nord and Syriza in Greece. The surprise triumph of the Brexit movement falls into this camp too. And a [...]
Camra and the British Beer and Pub Association slam government’s late night levy and call for partnership schemes between councils and police April 19, 2016 Alcohol and pub industry bodies have slammed the government's late night levy on the pub sector and urged councils and police to consider partnership schemes as a "more effective" alternative. In a report released today, the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) criticised the scheme's low take-up rates [...]
The devil you know, the devil you don’t: How to protect your investments whoever wins the US election October 25, 2016 As polling day draws near, it is regrettable that the contest to become the 45th President of the United States has been more about personality than policy. The campaign has been distinguished on one side by preposterous promises to suspend the entry of Muslims into the country and build a hard border with Mexico, and [...]
EU referendum: Stock markets and currencies poised for unprecedented volatility before Brexit vote June 20, 2016 Financial markets are bracing themselves for one of the most volatile weeks of trading in living memory ahead of the EU referendum. Analysts said this week could unleash “chaos” on the stock markets, with volatility already sky-high and indexes across the world bouncing up and down on the slightest whiff of referendum news. Sterling, meanwhile, [...]
Four European hidden gem stocks for your portfolio July 20, 2016 Europe's investment markets are wallowing in an unprecedented level of support from the European Central Bank (ECB). They are being cossetted by a massive €1.7 trillion QE programme, much of which is likely to find its way into stock markets and raise share prices. Negative interest rates are also encouraging banks to invest and the ECB [...]
Budget 2016: The UK property industry’s wishlist for Chancellor George Osborne March 14, 2016 Stamp duty reform is at the top of the UK's property industry wishlist for when Chancellor George Osborne opens his red box to deliver the Budget on Wednesday. 1. Reversal of recent government stamp duty changes Recent UK stamp duty reforms are having a damaging impact on the housing market and should be reviewed. The Stamp [...]
Rio Olympic Games 2016: Russia stakes claim for ban to be lifted by announcing anti-doping crackdown April 20, 2016 Russia has stepped up efforts to have the ban on its athletes lifted in time for this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by announcing measures to tackle its doping crisis. The country’s anti-doping system, accused of being complicit in the state-sponsored and widespread use of banned substances, is to be overseen by two independent [...]
UK steel crisis: Steel industry attacks business secretary Sajid Javid, saying it was “galling” to rule out higher tariffs for Chinese steel February 10, 2016 Business secretary Sajid Javid rejected calls for higher tariffs on Chinese steel today, less than one week after signing a letter with his counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Belgium and Luxembourg demanding that the European Commission "use every means available and take strong action" in response to "unfair trade practices". Javid told MPs on the Business, Innovation [...]