Banks brace for tax showdown: City giants warn jobs and growth are at risk from Whitehall interference September 21, 2015 Unpredictable and excessive taxes are pushing the British banking sector to the brink, according to a major new report by a leading industry body. The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) and PwC reveal that the UK banking sector contributed an estimated total of £31.3bn in taxes last year, and warn of the risk posed to [...]
UK target to cut immigration to the “tens of thousands” is harming British businesses, warns the Institute of Directors August 27, 2015 The Conservative government's radical plans to cut immigration is "punishing businesses" and harming the economy, the Institute of Directors (IoD) has warned. In a joint statement with think tank British Future, the IoD has called for a comprehensive immigration review, which aims to look at all options available to government. Simon Walker, director general of [...]
Beijing‘s bull market battle plan backfires: Shanghai suffers renewed sell-off as Chinese authorities grapple with volatility July 27, 2015 Chinese authorities are coming in for criticism over “heavy handed” tactics as they struggle to prevent the stock market unravelling further. As the week’s trading began, China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite index suffered the biggest one-day fall since the financial crisis, shedding 8.5 per cent. This renewed sell-off is widely believed to be down to flagging [...]
This is why we can’t blame the decline of the UK’s steel industry on climate change November 7, 2015 It has been a difficult few weeks for the steel industry in the UK. Thousands of job losses have been announced, with closures and cutbacks at three different steel companies. In the face of real tragedy for individuals and families, it has tempted some commentators to blame a familiar bogeyman – the cost of energy [...]
Greek Election sesults: Alexis Tsipras’ Syriza returns victorious but will it honour promises of stability and sea-change? September 20, 2015 This weekend Alexis Tsipras’ Syriza secured another resounding endorsement – the third in nine months – despite his about-turn which saw him sign a tough bailout memorandum, lighter versions of which he – and the electorate – had previously opposed. In total 24 political parties contested yesterday’s elections, the fifth in six years and the [...]
Work-life balance: There is no wealth but life – and work needs to fit in around that August 13, 2015 Work-life balance has become a common buzzphrase, especially with the ongoing Tube strikes, supposedly sparked by the changes the Night Tube will cause to Tube workers' home and social lives. Like all clichés, it has its roots in something really crucial – but it is my belief that the concept is becoming redundant. Simply [...]
Greek debt crisis: Greek MPs back Alexis Tsipras’ bailout plan July 11, 2015 Lawmakers in Greece voted in the early hours of the morning to back the government’s proposals in order to unlock new funds from creditors. The Greek parliament has overwhelmingly accepted the government package of economic reforms which aim to end the country’s debt crisis. Greek Prime Minister won cross-party support in the vote, saying he [...]
The biggest market moving moments of 2015, from the Chinese currency devaluations to the commodities crisis December 15, 2015 From Greece to China's Black Monday, It hasn't been an easy ride for many this year, with volatility taking global recovery in new and interesting directions. With the year nearing its end, we've looked back at the biggest market-moving moments of 2015. Contagion, anyone? Greece's General Election in January had far reaching consequences for the Eurozone, not just [...]
Buy-to-let enthusiasm can drive new supply if we demolish housing barriers July 28, 2015 It was at the time of another landmark Budget – Nigel Lawson’s in 1988 – that the UK’s rental market as we know it first began to emerge. The Housing Act’s deregulation measures of the same year, notably liberalising rents, set the scene for rapid growth in the private rented sector. This was fuelled by [...]
Labour party conference 2015: How Jeremy Corbyn will impact market sentiment September 30, 2015 The election of Jeremy Corbyn as the new Labour leader was one of the biggest surprises in the UK political arena in recent memory. It signalled a shift to the left that hasn’t been seen in a major opposition party in 30 years. In his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference in Brighton [...]