Government admits the UK could rejoin the EU’s customs union after Brexit January 9, 2018 A government minister has admitted the UK could rejoin the EU’s customs union after Brexit. Speaking last night, as part of the debate over the Cross Border Trade Bill, financial secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride told MPs they would be able to vote on entering a customs union after leaving the EU, but insisted [...]
Investment themes to watch in 2018: inflation, ‘value’ and emerging markets January 9, 2018 | City Talk Inflation, interest rates and politics are big themes for investors in 2018 but how will they affect asset prices? Below, fund managers from Schroders give their perspectives on the year ahead in three 60-second videos. Where to consider investing for 2018 Johanna Kyrklund, global head of multi-asset investing at Schroders, is optimistic for 2018 and [...]
Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburn bags more than £100m bonus after year of strong sales January 9, 2018 Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburn is in line to collect a bonus of more than £100m after the housebuilder posted a nine per cent growth in annual sales. “Modestly” ahead of consensus expectations, Persimmon profits were boosted by average selling prices rising three per cent. Annual revenues were £3.42bn as Persimmon increased legal completions by 872 [...]
Range Rover SUV hybrid electric review: This PHEV could get you through your commute petrol free January 9, 2018 A decade ago, you couldn’t park up an SUV in London without risking it being covered by faux parking tickets castigating you as a gas-guzzling planet-destroyer. So intense was the kickback from green groups, Land Rover even invested in an official carbon off-setting scheme. All new cars carried big stickers on their windscreen proclaiming their [...]
Fintech startup Transferwise launches consumer “borderless” account and debit card January 9, 2018 Transferwise is moving another step closer to banking territory with the expansion of its “borderless” account to consumers. The accounts can hold cash in more than 20 different currencies and will initially role out to 1,000 users following its launch last year for businesses. Read more: Here’s what fintech startups think of delays to Open [...]
Samsung posts record profits but investor hopes go up in flames January 9, 2018 Samsung revealed overnight it is in line to make record annual profits. But quarterly profits missed expectations as staff bonuses and a strong currency took some gloss off a buoyant chip market. The South Korean electronics giant said fourth-quarter operating profit would be 15.1 trillion (£10.4bn) won, a jump of 64 per cent, but below [...]
No more dodging hard questions, we need a conversation about AI January 9, 2018 Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the hottest areas of technology in recent years. It’s in our phones, cars, and living rooms. It’s part of our banking decisions, love lives, and even our weekly grocery shop. By 2035, Accenture estimates that AI could add £654bn to the national economy. Given its rapid adoption [...]
Our state-run healthcare model makes winter crises inevitable January 9, 2018 The Daily Mirror claimed “our NHS is dying”. The Sun reported on “third world A&E”. The Daily Mail saw the “A&E crisis worst for 10 years”, while the Daily Express lamented “hospitals just can’t cope”. No, these were not last week’s newspaper headlines, as Britain’s ailing health service cancelled thousands of operations, and large queues [...]
Drivers of these cars have been declared the rudest on Britain’s roads January 9, 2018 BMW and Range Rover drivers have won the dubious award of being declared the most inconsiderate car owners, according to a new survey of British motorists. By contrast, Mini drivers were deemed the friendliest, closely followed by Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus car owners according to the 2,000 motorists in a poll by TV channel [...]
Will Fraser interview: Why the former Saracens flanker will never be bitter at rugby despite retirement at 27 January 8, 2018 For much of his career, Will Fraser was tipped to be England’s first-choice openside flanker. A couple of years ago, you did not have to look hard to find column inches suggesting that by now the Saracens flanker would — if he could just get over his injury troubles — have nailed down the national [...]