Portes vs Lilico: Growth figures trigger inflation wager April 29, 2014 News that UK GDP has grown by 2.3 per cent on a year-on-year basis has triggered a bet between two economists with very different outlooks. Andrew Lilico, chairman of Europe Economics, and Jonathan Portes, director of think tank Niesr, made a wager back in May of last year. The core disagreement between Lilico and Portes [...]
UK recovery picks up speed as growth hits 0.8pc April 29, 2014 A little softer than expected, but nonetheless an acceleration in UK growth. GDP growth has come in at 0.8 per cent for the first quarter of 2014, up from 0.7 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics. Consensus forecasts suggested that we'd see even stronger growth – of 0.9 per cent – this [...]
This new technology could give you 4pc of your life back April 28, 2014 In Mountain View, California, Google's top dogs are working on what could be one of the most important labour-saving devices of the century. Speaking to The Atlantic Cities, Google's Chris Urmson says that the typical American now spend 52 minutes of each day commuting. That's four per cent of the average American's lifetime – "If [...]
Uber offer a discount alternative to tube strike mayhem April 28, 2014 Eager to keep commuters moving throughout planned strike action on the Underground, Uber's new "KeepLondonMoving" promotion will allow Londoners to receive a 50 per cent discount for splitting a car. Those getting involved need only request a ride via the service's mobile app, then opt to split the fare with their "Uber-savvy friends". The deal [...]
Cenkos set for bumper payday from AA flotation April 28, 2014 A group of 10 institutional investors have been brought together by Cenkos, the mid-tier broker and investment house, to support an imminent flotation of AA, the road assistance specialist, in another giant new issue for the London market. The deal, which could be announced as early as this week, City A.M. understands, would mark a [...]
Want to buy a Rangers season ticket? Don’t try paying by card April 25, 2014 One football club is having some serious payment issues. Scottish team Rangers FC has been advised that allowing fans to pay for season tickets with credit or debit cards would see the club incur "considerable cost". Rangers' merchant acquirer says card payments would "require extensive security, including standard security to be granted over Ibrox Stadium [...]
LA Reign just became the NPFL’s hottest prospect April 24, 2014 If the National Pro Fitness League – a new format in the fitness world – was looking for some real star power, it just got it. It comes in the form of Samantha Briggs. Standing at 5ft 7in and at 62kg, the Mancunian is a proven athlete, having won the title of Fittest Woman on [...]
RMT calls off planned pensions strike April 24, 2014 Transport union the RMT has called off planned strike action over pensionable pay. The General Grades Committee has decided not to go ahead with action planned to begin from next Monday, so Transport for London members should work normally. The general tube strike – scheduled for 28 April to 30 April and 5 May to [...]
ECB’s Draghi suggests minutes are a “logical next step” April 24, 2014 The European Central Bank's President is pushing efforts at greater clarity. Mario Draghi has said that "the publication of a richer account of our monetary policy deliberations", otherwise known as minutes, now "represents a logcal next step". The central banking chief thinks that publication would "provide a more detailed explanation of the reasoning" behind ECB [...]
Goldman Sachs says global investors are at risk because of this fundamental bias April 24, 2014 Choosing where to put money is a tricky process – a case of weighing up the potential returns and risks of a myriad of possible investments. And many of the financial professionals we trust to deal with this problem are suffering from a fundamental bias, according to a note from US investment bank Goldman Sachs. [...]