Back to work September 2, 2012 THE COALITION announced a raft of new policies yesterday in a desperate attempt to get the economy – and their poll ratings – back on track. But critics said ministers’ infighting and U-turns were making matters worse, creating extra uncertainty for businesses while failing to come up with any meaningful solutions to the double-dip recession. [...]
Euro summits tend to follow clear patterns October 16, 2012 GOING into tomorrow’s European summit, there seems to be an air of optimism – even excitement. With positive chatter, you might dare to hope that this summit will be the one where Europe’s politicians finally deliver. This week, confidence has come from economic data showing Eurozone inflation to be stable at 2.6 per cent, as [...]
RAPID RESPONSES July 19, 2012 Let Heathrow fly [Re: We need supply-side reforms not more off-balance sheet spending, yesterday] This is an excellent article. If only the government would take notice and read it. Infrastructure is vital to economic growth but, as is made clear here, experience has proven that the private sector is more capable at providing it than [...]
Morgan Sindall profits jump but tough market conditions persist August 6, 2012 BUILDING group Morgan Sindall reported a 13 per cent leap in profits yesterday despite weaker revenues for the first half of the year. The group, which has a host of infrastructure and social housing subsidiaries, said pre-tax profits had shot up from £16.7m last year to £18.8m for the first six months of this year [...]
Coalition’s new growth plan another damp squib September 3, 2012 FOR those of us returning to work after a summer break, it feels as if not very much has changed. The City is still subdued, reeling from tough conditions and the regulatory onslaught; the Eurozone remains in crisis, endlessly debating the latest variant of its latest plan to delay its demise; and the British government [...]
Coalition to put focus on green energy projects August 5, 2012 THE GOVERNMENT hopes to reinforce its focus on renewable energy today, putting coalition squabbles behind it as part of a global energy get-together. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is poised to announce which energy efficiency fund managers have been picked to run £100m-worth of government funds. Equitix and SDCL will be taken on to manage [...]
RAPID RESPONSES July 24, 2012 Mutual benefits [Re: It’s not all bad: Britain is becoming safer despite recession, Friday] Allister Heath is sceptical of mutuals’ ability to add something positive to the market for banking services. But the contribution of mutuals is simple – diversity. For too long, the banking sector has been dominated by a model that emphasises maximising [...]
RAPID RESPONSES July 16, 2012 Building problems [Re: London homes still horribly expensive for first time buyers, yesterday] Unfortunately, policy-makers are stuck in a house building dilemma. If they supply more homes to help first-time buyers, the price of the average home will drop – therefore moving many existing homeowners into negative equity. Stephen Bishop Private sector contractors are certainly better [...]
Cable calls for house building to lift economy June 18, 2012 BUSINESS secretary Vince Cable yesterday blamed the destruction of Britain’s building societies for the lack of mortgage lending, and hinted at plans to help spark a house-building boom that could boost the construction sector. In a speech to the Centre Forum given in the City, Cable compared today’s economic slump with the depression of the [...]
RAPID RESPONSES July 18, 2012 In praise of Mervyn [Re: Somebody needs to guard the City of London’s guardians, yesterday] To me the story comes across a little differently. The recent facts on Libor point to regulators knowing that the rate was rigged, but doing nothing – or at least nothing in a timely fashion. But Mervyn King succeeded where our [...]