Forget trade deals: Unilaterally tearing down our tariffs would be Britain’s Berlin Wall moment September 7, 2016 The Aussies are itching for a free trade deal and the Prime Minister is said to want to lead the world against protectionism. For most people such issues are economic, pure and simple. Unfortunately, what is missing is the moral dimension, which needs to be far better understood. Adam Smith argued that “all commerce that [...]
US economy struggles to impress over the summer September 7, 2016 Growth in the US remained sluggish over the summer, according to the latest economic indicator out of the world's biggest economy this afternoon. The Markit purchasing managers' index (PMI), which tracks activity across the economy, came in at an uninspiring 51.5 in August, bang in line with expectations but down from 51.8 in July. The news settled [...]
Fast growing fantasy sports firm FanDuel scores big in the US and launches UK fantasy football product September 7, 2016 | City Talk Daily fantasy sports provider, FanDuel, epitomises Edinburgh’s new generation of high growth, disruptive digital businesses capitalising on the city’s rising reputation as a world-leading tech cluster. Since 2009, FanDuel has been on an incredible journey, which, in recent years, has seen the business revolutionise the daily fantasy sports market in North America. With operations in [...]
Irish government gearing up to introduce sugar tax on soft drinks September 6, 2016 The sugar tax announced by former chancellor George Osborne's looks like it's catching on, with the Irish government expected to introduce a similar levy on soft drinks in its upcoming budget next month. Although minister for finance Michael Noonan is believed to be gearing up to announce the levy within weeks, its implementation may be delayed for a [...]
UN high commissioner compares Donald Trump and Nigel Farage to Isis September 5, 2016 A top United Nations official has compared Nigel Farage and Donald Trump to terrorist outfit Isis. In a stinging attack on "populists demagogues and political fantasists", Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the UN's high commissioner for human rights has deplored the likes of Farage, Trump and Marine Le Pen for spreading "half-truths, manipulations and peddling fear". Read more: Nigel [...]
US Presidential Election 2016: Donald Trump blasts US Federal Reserve for creating a “false economy” September 5, 2016 Donald Trump has hit out at the US Federal Reserve, saying the era of record low interest rates since the financial crisis has created a "false economy". On the campaign trail in the key swing state of Ohio, the Republican presidential nominee waded, once again, into the thorny issue of monetary policy, stating the Fed would [...]
Extension of quantitative easing “close call” for ECB September 5, 2016 The European Central Bank (ECB) faces a tough decision this week as it decides whether to unleash a new bout of monetary stimulus to support the Eurozone. ECB ratesetters will gather in Frankfurt on Thursday, with markets divided as to when president Mario Draghi will announce a hotly-anticipated extension to the Bank's €80bn (£67bn) a month [...]
Bank of Japan paves the way for more monetary stimulus September 5, 2016 Bank of Japan (BoJ) chief Haruhiko Kuroda has insisted he has plenty of ammunition left to fire up the Japanese economy in a robust defence of the Bank's twin policies of negative interest rates and quantitative easing. In a defiant speech early this morning, Kuroda said the BoJ had "ample room for more monetary policy easing", insisted "new ideas should [...]
Fresh pressure on UK government to change Chinese visa arrangements September 5, 2016 Lobby group UK China Visa Alliance (UKCVA) and West End landlord Shaftesbury are ramping up pressure on the government to accelerate planned Chinese visa reforms in the wake of the Brexit vote. They want Whitehall to bring forward plans to extend the current two-year visa for Chinese nationals visiting Britain to a 10-year multiple entry visa. It comes amid a drop [...]
Bayer board to debate making a hostile approach for Monsanto September 4, 2016 The board of German multinational chemical and pharmaceutical firm Bayer is expected to debate taking another swing at US seed company Monsanto when it meets next week. Bayer’s supervisory board will meet on 14 September and will weigh up whether to sweeten its offer for Monsanto again or even pursue a hostile takeover, German newspaper Rheinische [...]