Business secretary backs City as a “huge national asset”, and hopes there won’t be fewer bankers as a result of Brexit January 23, 2017 The business secretary has today given his backing to the City of London, calling the financial sector a "huge national asset". His comments come just days after bosses from UBS and HSBC warned they could move thousands of jobs overseas because of the Brexit vote and, in particular, the risk they might lose valuable access rights to [...]
Shop prices drop at the beginning of January as retailers clear Christmas stock February 1, 2017 Shop prices fell at the beginning of January as retailers cut prices to clear leftover Christmas stock. Overall, shop prices fell by 1.7 per cent year-on-year between 3 January and 9 January, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen. Price cuts were particularly dramatic in clothing and footwear, with prices falling [...]
Toyota gives the UK a vote of confidence as it plugs £240m investment into its Burnaston plant with government support March 16, 2017 Toyota has signalled it is committed to manufacturing in Britain after announcing today it is plugging £240m into its UK operations in a bid to improve its Burnaston plant's competitiveness. The Japanese car firm said the investment into its plant near Derby will enable production of vehicles using its new global manufacturing system and promote UK [...]
City Moves for 14 February 2017 – who’s switching jobs? February 14, 2017 Today's City Moves cover investment management, residential property and the business of charities. Take a look at these movers and shakers: Close Brothers Asset Management Close Brothers Asset Management has bolstered its high net worth service with the appointment of Eileen O’Rourke as investment director. Eileen joins CBAM following a 23-year career at Brewin Dolphin, [...]
14 years of returns: history’s lesson for investors June 20, 2017 The temptation among investors is to stick to what you know. That is no bad thing. It is a strategy championed by pioneers of investment such as Warren Buffett. It can work when the market is rising and you have picked the right asset. However, it is also important for investors to also consider the [...]
As official figures show a drop in net migration, should we fear a post-Brexit brain drain? February 24, 2017 Russ Shaw, founder of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, says Yes. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show a drop in net migration of 49,000 in the 12 months to September 2016 – so including the three months immediately after the Brexit vote. It also highlighted a worrying trend for the British [...]
Theresa May and Philip Hammond stick up for the City in Davos after banking job threats over Brexit January 19, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May and her chancellor Philip Hammond came out fighting at Davos yesterday following reports that London’s banking sector faces job losses in the wake of Brexit. Ahead of a crunch meeting between May and global investment banking bosses including Lloyd Blankfein, German newspaper Handelsblatt said that Blankfein’s bank – Goldman Sachs – could [...]
Industrial strategy needs a three-pillared approach to boost British productivity February 15, 2017 It is clear that government intervention is required to address faltering productivity across the UK, and that this could be a positive step towards meeting the underlying structural challenges facing the UK economy, such as regional inequality and low wage growth. The government has now released its industrial strategy to address such issues. So how does [...]
British business groups welcome Theresa May’s wide-ranging industrial strategy January 23, 2017 Britain's top business groups have thrown their weight behind government plans for a sweeping new industrial strategy, seeking to boost productivity across every sector and in every corner of the country. Prime Minister Theresa May will launch a green paper in the north west today by calling on businesses and workers “to help us create [...]
The UK’s services sector grew unexpectedly fast last month – pushing up GDP expectations December 5, 2016 Growth in the UK's three main sectors suggests the economy will 0.5 per cent in the fourth quarter, against Bank of England expectations of 0.4 per cent, new figures have suggested. The purchasing managers' index for the services sector, published today by Markit, grew unexpectedly fast in November, rising to 55.2 from 54.5 last month – [...]