“Big four” banks’ small business lending placed under official investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority November 6, 2014 Britain’s biggest banks are to be thrust under the microscope by a watchdog launching an in-depth investigation into personal current accounts and small business lending. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) believes the UK retail banking sector is failing its customers through a "crippling lack of competition and transparency". HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking [...]
London house prices: As rents keep rising, here’s how the Monopoly board looks in 2015 June 11, 2015 Click to see table in a new window There has been a shake-up in the London property price hierarchy, and the most profitable places to be a landlord have moved dramatically. That well-established measure of London property values – the humble Monopoly board – has been shaken and stirred by fluctuations in the market, and [...]
EU beats UK in bonus cap legal battle November 20, 2014 Britain’s standing in the EU is lower than ever, and the UK yesterday admitted defeat in the latest spat. Should Britain ever have challenged the bonus cap? The Bank of England thinks the bank bonus cap does more harm than good. British institutions such as Barclays took a pummeling in the US when they cut bonuses, losing [...]
Rate of inflation is not as bad as you think but survey shows consumers are feeling the pinch September 5, 2014 The Bank of England has released the results of its latest survey into what consumers believe the rate of inflation will be over the next 12 months. The figure was up 0.2 percentage points to 2.8 per cent, while respondents believed the current rate to be around 3.4 per cent. Were the true figure to be hovering [...]
India Martin: Former JP Morgan COO on why she left to start a nailcare business August 31, 2015 Do I feel like quitting? Yes, every single day,” says India Martin, founder of luxury nail polish firm Only Fingers and Toes. But she won’t. Not only does she know the value of her business, but when you talk to her, you know this is one of the most tenacious people you’ve ever met. [...]
New build or old house? Just one in five prefer new properties dubbed “rabbit hutches” with “zero charm” June 17, 2015 There may be new developments popping up all over London as housebuilders scramble to serve the property needs of an ever-growing capital, but just one in five Brits would prefer buying a newly built house. New builds have been lambasted as too small, poorly built and lacking in character and nearly half of Brits prefer [...]
My mid-life crisis over technology stocks – CNBC Comment June 22, 2015 Nostalgia is a dangerous thing. A couple of years ago I broke a golden rule of mine. I went to a LIFFE market reunion. It was a big mistake. There is nothing worse than a bunch of greying, balding, slightly tubby middle aged men (mostly) banging on about how great times were “back on the [...]
Self-employment is at its highest for 40 years August 20, 2014 The rise in the employment rate since 2008 has largely been amongst the self-employed, according to new data from the ONS. What is more, the percentage of the workforce that answers only to itself is at 15 per cent, the highest rate for 40 years. To make matters worse, the average salary for a self-employed [...]
Regular pay growth at lowest rate since records began August 13, 2014 Regular pay has grown at its lowest rate since records began in 2001, according to the Office for National Statistics. Average earnings excluding bonuses between April and June rose by just 0.6 per cent year-on-year, while pay in the three months to May had risen by 0.7 per cent. In comparison, consumer price [...]
Both a friend and a voice August 12, 2015 Mencap is a partner and voice for people with learning disabilities Mencap’s Head Office has always sat on the edge of the City of London — between Old Street and the Barbican — but this year Mencap are determined to make sure our message gets heard loud and clear right to centre of the Square [...]