Scottish independence: How a Yes vote would “markedly lower” GDP growth September 10, 2014 With the polls tightening and the possibility of a break-up of the United Kingdom looking ever more credible, politicians and investors are weighing up the possible consequences of a Yes vote. Axa Investment Managers has released a research note examining the economic aftermath for the remaining part of the UK in the event of a [...]
France to miss budget deficit target September 10, 2014 France has admitted that it is not going to make its budget deficit target until 2017. The target set by the EU is for all nations to reign in their budget deficit (the amount the government has to borrow annually) to three per cent of GDP Now Michel Sapin, the French finance minister, has indicated that 2017 [...]
G20: Shortage of jobs is hindering economic recovery September 10, 2014 Not enough jobs are being created in the G20 economies, and this is hindering prospects for economic growth according to a report by the OECD, ILO and World Bank Group. The G20 consists of the world's 20 biggest economies, which together account for an estimated 85 per cent of global GDP and 80 per [...]
Oil, childcare and mortgages: Last hurrah for Scottish independence campaigns as leaders go head to head on Mumsnet September 10, 2014 The two faces of the Scottish independence campaigns got their final chance to go head-to-head today – on women's networking site Mumsnet. While Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling kept references to "Darling Son" and "Darling Daughter" to a minimum, they did broach topics including the impact separation would have on mortgages and childcare. There was [...]
Scottish independence: Now even the English and Welsh think Yes camp will win September 10, 2014 English and Welsh people believe Scots will vote for independence a new report shows, as the Better Together campaign flounders in the final week before the polls open. There has been a massive swing from those who thought independence was unlikely before the weekend – 48 per cent of respondents to the YouGov poll as [...]
Manchester United chairman Ed Woodward hails potential of US market September 10, 2014 Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward believes the club are in a strong position to capitalise on the growing popularity of football in the US. During their pre-season tour of the country this summer, United set a new national attendance record for a sporting event, attracting 109,310 to their friendly against Real Madrid at [...]
Scottish independence: Oil giant BP backs the Union September 10, 2014 BP has become the latest FTSE 100 company to nail its colours to the mast and argue for a No vote in Scotland's independence referendum on September 18. BP's declaration comes shortly after Sir Ian Wood, the former chief executive of Wood Group, warned voters they were being misled by wildly inaccurate forecasts about Scotland's [...]
Want to buy a holiday home this year? Getting the best exchange rate could add thousands to your budget September 10, 2014 If you are thinking of buying overseas chances are it's an escape to the sun that's on your mind. According to research from Moneycorp and Savills, France and Spain are the favourite countries for Brits to own a second home, together accounting for just under 50% of all second homes sampled in the survey. If [...]
Bad education? 14pc of English adults are now less educated than their parents September 10, 2014 Fourteen per cent of English adults aged 25-64 are less educated than their parents, according to a new study. The report explored educational mobility – or the likelihood people of a given generation achieve a higher level of education than their parents. The figures, by the OECD, showed educational mobility had slowed in the developed world, including [...]
London property market: Why a mansion tax could be disastrous for government coffers September 10, 2014 The threat of a mansion tax still looms large over the prime London housing market – despite the fact it could end up cutting the amount of tax paid to the government, according to research from property consultancy Savills. A mansion tax has been suggested by both the Liberal Democrats and Labour, and has proven [...]