Artificially limiting rises in house prices will do more harm than good September 15, 2013 ECONOMISTS should be humbled by Friedrich Hayek’s famous plea: “The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.” If only government and central banks – and those who lobby them – realised how little good came from their proposed interventions, and how [...]
The Treasury will gain nothing from property tax hikes December 4, 2012 A S THEY consider a “back-door” mansion tax and another increase in stamp duty in today’s Autumn Statement, George Osborne and Vince Cable should take a quick look at a dramatic drop in tax receipts after the last Budget. In March, stamp duty was hiked to 7 per cent for people buying property over £2m [...]
The year in preview: Our in-depth guide January 5, 2014 City A.M.’s journalists take a wide-ranging look at what 2014 has in store for the world of finance and business BANKINGRestoring faith means costly overhaulsA CAUTIOUS optimism pervades the British and European banking system at the start of 2014. The incoming economic recovery is at last improving customers’ creditworthiness, while the hard work running down [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 17 September 2013 September 16, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Record Saudi oil output in supply gap The trigger for the jump in Gulf production has been huge disruption to supplies from Libya, where striking workers and militias have reduced exports from about 1m b/d to merely a trickle. Saudi Arabia has responded by pushing output to 10.2m barrels a day in August, [...]
How online and part-time MBAs compare with full-time study October 16, 2013 Emerging course options have benefits, but networks matter Full-time MBAs, long the gold standard of business education, face increasing competition from more flexible part-time and online options. Data from the General Management Admissions Council (GMAC) shows that the number of students taking online MBAs grew by 20 per cent between July 2011 and June 2012. [...]
Dealmaker of the year September 15, 2013 There’s been a lack of mergers and acquisitions so far this year but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some exciting deals for bankers to get a buzz from. From innovative rights issues to a resurgence of flotations, with a few traditional acquisitions and sales thrown in, the year has been a lively one for [...]
London house prices slide as gloom sets in December 2, 2012 GREATER London saw its first house price fall in a year in November, new data has revealed this morning. This came as forecasts, also published today, saw the UK housing market taking another two years to recover to its pre-crisis peak, before staying stuck in the so-called new normal of weaker house price growth for [...]
Rapid responses December 11, 2012 The payday debate [Re: The poorest will suffer if we ignore the real evidence on payday loans, yesterday] This is the first honest, data-driven response to the payday loan industry debate I’ve seen. Unfortunately, screaming headlines about sky-high interest rates and vulnerable borrowers have led some to ignore the sad truth that many are far [...]
London risks its prosperity if it fails to join the global rise of the airport city July 21, 2013 THE deadline has now passed for interested parties to lodge their proposals with the Airport Commission for increasing Britain’s airport capacity. Much has been said of the virtues and vices of each idea, but the basic reasons why London so desperately needs this expansion are equally important. Transport and connectivity are inextricably linked to the [...]
Who’s switching jobs December 5, 2012 Royal London Kerr Luscombe has been appointed group finance and strategy director at the financial services provider. He joined in 2011 as group strategy director, and has previously worked as finance director at Scottish Widows and Clerical Medical. Westhouse Holdings Simon Pettitt has been appointed head of the stockbroker’s fixed income business. He joins from Eurodekania. [...]