Winners and losers from London’s house prices: Here’s which international investors have made a mint from London’s wild property sector April 15, 2016 London house prices have been on a wild ride in the last few years – and foreign investors have seized the market with both hands as prices spiralled upwards. But with the pound weakening in the run-up to the EU referendum, and the capital's house price growth looking as though it is beginning to cool, [...]
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 [...]
None of the alternatives are better than single market, non-EU business groups warn June 15, 2016 Business groups from across the world have warned that the UK's current access to the single market beats all alternatives. In a report issued by the Confederation of British Industry, groups representing firms in Albania, Norway, Switzerland and Canada – all cited by Leave campaigners as models for potential alternatives – have said the UK [...]
The UK needs tech talent quickly and it doesn’t matter where it comes from (for now) October 11, 2016 The UK digital industry is one of the most successful in Europe. It now employs 1.6m people and contributes 10 per cent of GDP – that's the highest proportion of any country in the world. Crucially, tech has benefited hugely from a range of smart government interventions. The Tech Nation Visa Scheme; tax credits for research [...]
EU Referendum: Government stockpiling foreign currency reserves to fight sterling volatility April 5, 2016 Britain’s foreign currency reserves reached a new record high last month, passing $100bn (£70.5bn) for the first time, as the UK looks to be building a buffer to defend the pound against the prospect of a currency crisis ahead of the EU referendum. Another $4.5bn in reserves was acquired in March, taking the total amount [...]
The pound’s looking sound as it gains even more ground May 25, 2016 There's no doubt about it – the pound is tearing it up this week. Sterling smashed through another barrier this afternoon to stand at $1.4708, up another 0.5 per cent against the US dollar on the day and approaching one of its highest levels for the year. Read more: Sterling volatility just hit a seven-year high Against the euro, the quid [...]
Brexit won’t kill the EU: It’s more likely to be a long-term blessing July 26, 2016 Britain's vote to leave the European Union has engulfed the kingdom in a political, constitutional and economic storm. But it has also plunged Europe into uncharted waters. It may not be prepared for this challenging, uncertain course. We’ve so far witnessed a striking lack of consensus among policy-makers. This is not only in regards to [...]
Companies warned over the risk of foreign exchange swings as volatility set to continue throughout 2016 March 1, 2016 International companies are being warned that swings in the value of the pound mean risk is building in the foreign exchange market as levels of uncertainty in 2016 are anticipated to be similar to last year. The pound has dropped considerably against both the dollar and the euro so far this year as worries around a [...]
EU referendum: Where does your industry come on the Brexit hit list? June 7, 2016 Had enough of people talking about vague referendum uncertainty and a post-Brexit hit to the UK economy? Suspicious they don't really know what they're going on about? With so many warnings about thousands of pounds lost here, higher costs over there and general panic just about everywhere, it's understandable. In an attempt to get a [...]
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, [...]