UK house prices: Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) says government failure to confront Nimbys is fuelling the housing crisis March 2, 2016 A leading free-market think tank has accused the government of yielding to self-interested local residents at the expense of pressing ahead with major housebuilding projects. In a new report out today, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) argues that the government’s “failure to tackle the housing crisis is due to its unwillingness to confront the [...]
This is what analysts expect to happen to the oil price in 2017 (spoiler: things are going to get better) December 21, 2016 It's been a turbulent year for oil markets. After bottoming out at below $27 a barrel in January, global benchmark Brent crude looks set to end the year at more than double that price, averaging at the $55 a barrel mark. Analysts believe Brent crude will have an even rosier start to 2017, when prices [...]
A free market think tank has joined calls to scrap “inefficient” corporation tax September 2, 2016 Margaret Thatcher's favourite think tank has joined calls to abolish corporation tax, blasting the failure of politicians to grasp the impact of the charge. The free market backing Institute of Economic Affairs said long overdue reform of the system has been held back by a “fiction” that the bill is foot by companies, instead of [...]
Whisper it, but Britain may be about to get a housing policy fit for the crisis we actually face February 3, 2017 A quiet, but very optimistic, cheer for the communities secretary Sajid Javid. Many politicians use the UK’s cost of living crisis as a talking point, but Javid’s blueprint for a new housing policy – set to be fully published next week – looks like it was designed to actually start tackling it in a meaningful [...]
Network Rail’s “hybrid” system must go, says IEA report – and abolishing it would save each family £180 a year February 10, 2016 Jeremy Corbyn's crowd may be calling for the UK's train network to be fully nationalised – but a new report is arguing the reverse would lead to cost reduction, better services and the ability to improve the system for future usage. Abolishing the "hybrid" Network Rail would save households £180 a year – and make the [...]
Oil price rally pushes stocks up around the world as US indices hit multiple record highs November 22, 2016 The continuing rally in oil prices led stocks around the world higher as a succession US indices hit all-time record highs at the close. Oil prices are rising on expectations that oil production cartel Opec will cut production at the end of the month. It meets on 30 November. The US oil benchmark, West Texas [...]
Oil prices sink on massive increase in US crude oil stockpiles November 2, 2016 Oil prices have slipped today after US crude stockpiles registered their largest ever weekly increase. The rise blew expectations out of the water, with the US Energy Information Administration (IEA) saying crude-oil stockpiles rose by 14.4m barrels in the week to 28 October. Analysts had pencilled in a build of 1m barrels. Oil prices moved sharply lower, falling [...]
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices rebound as dollar surge weakens and Opec hopes revive November 18, 2016 Oil prices rebounded this morning after a surge in the US dollar weighed on the black stuff and took Brent crude below $46 and US sweet crude under $45. Brent crude flat at $46.49 a barrel this morning, lifting from a low of $45.78, as optimism that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) managed [...]
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices lift as Iraq indicates it will cut production and US stockpiles fall November 23, 2016 Oil prices were lifted this evening after Iraq signalled it is willing to "shoulder responsibility" for part of Opec's planned production cut and data showed US crude inventories declined by 1.3m barrels. Iraq, a key member of the 14-member consortium, had previously called for it to be exempt from efforts to strike a final slash to output [...]
London’s Brexit wish-list must include rules allowing entry for migrants without jobs, according to Assembly Members November 17, 2016 New immigration rules must not prevent people without job offers entering the country, according to London Assembly Members, who have drawn up a post-Brexit wish list for the capital and the Square Mile. While Theresa May has suggested new restrictions will be a key part of any divorce terms negotiated with the EU, chancellor Philip [...]