Universities can be powerhouses of UK innovation February 27, 2012 THE government is aiming high with the publication of the Wilson Review today – a comprehensive report with the aim of making the UK the best place in the world for businesses and universities to work together. In the shadow of recommendations of how the sector can best do this, familiar voices will undoubtedly emerge [...]
Moody’s UK warning hits FTSE 100 February 14, 2012 The FTSE dipped this morning after debt rating agency Moody’s warned it could downgrade top-rated sovereigns including Britain. Moody’s grim assessment sapped some of the confidence of investors who had been encouraged by Greece finally agreeing a package of austerity measures to steer it away from a default. The move put the UK’s rating in [...]
Rajoy: A bigger bailout pot will cost donors less January 26, 2012 THE MORE money is put into the Eurozone bailout fund, the less it will be used, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said yesterday, arguing that the larger safety net would calm markets and so make it less likely that countries will need to fall back on it. He met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin [...]
The Greek deal built on a bed of sand February 21, 2012 CAPITAL SPREADS ANGUS CAMPBELL The jump in the euro was as short lived as the expectations that this bailout deal will actually solve Greece’s problems. Euro-dollar failed at the major resistance level of $1.3300 creating a double top that bears feel could be a tough one to break through to the upside. We’ve heard of [...]
Hysteria over student visas is damaging our reputation and Britain’s future growth February 28, 2012 THE UK’s higher education sector is an export success story. Only the United States recruits more international students. Those from outside the European Union contribute £2.5bn each year in fees to our universities and spend a further £2.5bn while they are here. If students in further education and private sector colleges are included, the figure [...]
Predicting post-budget direction for sterling March 20, 2012 IG MARKETS CHRIS BEAUCHAMP Given that the Chancellor has engaged in the now obligatory routine of leaking almost the entire Budget ahead of the actual speech, there seems little chance of much excitement for sterling. A slight increase in UK growth forecasts from the Office for Budgetary Responsibility will be welcome news, but Osborne remains [...]
Freeing Abu Qatada showed that Europe is the new judge of Britain’s national security February 13, 2012 THE release on bail yesterday of the terror suspect Abu Qatada has generated headlines around the world. Once described by a Spanish judge as “Bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe”, Qatada is wanted in a host of countries on serious charges. Our own courts and Home Office regard him as a direct threat to our [...]
Draghi: I will bail out banks but not states December 8, 2011 THE EUROPEAN Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates to record lows and vowed to step up efforts to keep banks afloat – but will not fulfil hopes that it will bail out indebted governments, bank boss Mario Draghi (pictured) announced yesterday. Acknowledging the credit crunch sweeping the Eurozone, banks can now access unlimited amounts of [...]
It’s hard to account for flaws in the rule-book February 6, 2012 IT SHOULD be no surprise that socialist economies give the impression of creating more output than capitalist ones. Under socialism you get rewarded based on what you produce – hence an incentive to overstate production. Under capitalism you get taxed based on what you produce – hence an incentive to understate production. These are two [...]
Gender quotas are wrong and don’t work – it’s time to treat people as individuals February 12, 2012 LAST week, the Prime Minister delivered a speech in Stockholm about diversity in the work-place, making the capitalist case that equality should drive more efficient business outcomes by realising a broader range of entrepreneurial talent. This welcome shift in emphasis highlights why mandatory gender quotas in the boardroom are such a bad idea. In Norway, [...]