Price wars versus trade wars: Markets work just fine when we leave them alone September 21, 2018 David Lewis is ramping up a food fight of epic proportions. The chief executive of Tesco has launched a spin-off chain of discount supermarkets called Jack’s (named after Tesco’s founder Jack Cohen). The aim is to become more competitive with German chains Aldi and Lidl, which have been saturating the market with cheaper products since [...]
Africa deserves more optimism and attention from City investors September 21, 2018 In Johannesburg last month, the Prime Minister set a new ambition for the UK to be the largest G7 foreign direct investor in Africa by 2022. Achieving that ambition won’t be easy, but for UK investors who are prepared to change their attitudes and look beyond the easy choices, there are great opportunities. I was privileged [...]
DEBATE: Is Chris Grayling to blame for the rail chaos earlier this year? September 21, 2018 Is Chris Grayling to blame for the rail chaos earlier this year? Andy McDonald, Labour MP and shadow transport secretary, says YES. Chris Grayling’s reverse Midas touch has made a mess of the railways. Under his watch, passengers have suffered timetabling chaos, ever increasing fares, and broken promises on investment. In any other line of [...]
RBS, Natwest and Ulster outages: Digital banking comes back online September 21, 2018 Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Ulster Bank and Natwest's online banking services were down for around three hours this morning, leaving millions of users without digital access to their accounts. Natwest’s mobile app couldn't establish a connection, and referred users to an online status page, which failed to open, a problem shared by Ulster and [...]
RBS, Natwest and Ulster outages: Digital banking comes back online September 21, 2018 Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Ulster Bank and Natwest's online banking services were down for around three hours this morning, leaving millions of users without digital access to their accounts. Natwest’s mobile app couldn't establish a connection, and referred users to an online status page, which failed to open, a problem shared by Ulster and [...]
City jobs bump bucks trend as salaries entice workers September 21, 2018 City hiring picked up in August, bucking the downward trend of the past year amid uncertainty over the status of financial services post-Brexit, data to be published today will show. The number of jobs available in the Square Mile rose by 10 per cent during the month, according to recruitment firm Morgan McKinley – although [...]
Four-fifths of manufacturers not ready for no-deal Brexit as economists warn of £40bn hit September 21, 2018 The vast majority of British manufacturers are unprepared for a no-deal Brexit, a poll will show today, as economists predict a major £40bn hit to the UK economy in the event of a disorderly exit from the EU. More than four in every five manufacturing firms say they are not prepared, the survey by the [...]
City jobs bump bucks trend as salaries entice workers September 21, 2018 City hiring picked up in August, bucking the downward trend of the past year amid uncertainty over the status of financial services post-Brexit, data to be published today will show. The number of jobs available in the Square Mile rose by 10 per cent during the month, according to recruitment firm Morgan McKinley – although [...]
Four-fifths of manufacturers not ready for no-deal Brexit as economists warn of £40bn hit September 21, 2018 The vast majority of British manufacturers are unprepared for a no-deal Brexit, a poll will show today, as economists predict a major £40bn hit to the UK economy in the event of a disorderly exit from the EU. More than four in every five manufacturing firms say they are not prepared, the survey by the [...]
Insurance giant makes a £4.3bn bet on the future of Brexit Britain, Uni-leaving doesn’t make sense, and Macron’s not one to mince words September 21, 2018 The news that US insurance giant Marsh and McLennan has swooped on British rival Jardine Lloyd Thompson in a shock £4.3bn move sparked a lot of City chatter about the future of the sector. Will other US firms look to snap up UK rivals as they eye expansion? As one Lloyd’s veteran put it [...]