UK PMIs: Manufacturing growth hits 27-year high in April May 4, 2021 The UK’s manufacturing growth gathered pace in April as production increased for the 11th consecutive month. The IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 60.9 per cent last month, marking the highest reading since 1994. The reading also came in ahead of a flash estimate of 60.7. The growth was driven by a [...]
Fear is being weaponised against the good intentions of cryptocurrency August 29, 2022 Dr Chris Kacher explores how sowing the seeds of fear, uncertainty and doubt in different fields have a knock-on effect for cryptocurrency.
Caffe Nero seeks rescue deal due to second coronavirus lockdown November 13, 2020 Caffe Nero has launched a restructuring plan to reduce costs due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the coffee chain’s branches in city centre and transport hub locations. The high street cafe chain has appointed KPMG to advise on a Company Voluntary Arrangement following the introduction of a second coronavirus lockdown. City A.M. [...]
Post-Brexit regulatory changes for the City could free up £95bn, says study February 23, 2021 The UK could free up £95bn for City insurance firms to reinvestment into the economy if the Treasury waters down the EU’s Solvency II regulations post-Brexit, according to a new study. The Association of British Insurers report, researched by accounting firm KPMG, recommends easing the cap on how much capital insurance firms must hold at [...]
House prices rise but annual growth slows to 7.6 per cent as ‘steadier period’ predicted August 6, 2021 Houses prices rose again in July but slower annual growth suggests the market may be ‘cooling’, according to Halifax House Price Index data published today. The average cost of a property in the UK is now £261,221, up 0.4 per cent from June, adding £1,122 to the price of an average house. Annual growth fell [...]
Loungewear sales up 1,303 per cent as lockdown changes consumer habits December 30, 2020 Loungewear and leggings sales spiked by 1,303 per cent in 2020 according to new data from John Lewis. The department store’s annual look at consumer habits shows lockdown’s impact on customers’ baskets. As well as sitting room fashion, sales of chess sets (a 121 per cent increase on 2019), TVs (45 per cent) and paint [...]
Banning proof-of-work is the biggest threat facing Bitcoin April 21, 2022 Dr Chris Kacher suggests the game is rigged, and the world needs to push back against the proof-of-work naysayers.
Recruitment firm Hays to pay out £150m in special dividends February 18, 2021 Hays plc said on Thursday it had identified £150m of surplus capital that it plans to return to shareholders as special dividends. The move was encouraged by hiring activity rebounding to pre-Christmas levels by early February. Alistair Cox, CEO of Hays, said: “With recovery in fees and our profits accelerating in Q2, this provides us [...]
Boohoo appoints new auditor following factory working conditions scandal December 21, 2020 Boohoo has appointed PKF Littlejohn as its auditor, after PwC quit earlier this year in the wake of allegations of poor factory conditions in the fashion group’s supply chain in Leicester. Deloitte, KPMG, BDO and Grant Thornton each ruled themselves out of the race to replace PwC, with PKF ultimately winning the bid. PKF will [...]
Are you ready for multidimensional metaverses? September 22, 2022 Dr Chris Kacher explains how recession and on-risk assets are heading towards multidimensional metaverses.