Czech koruna (EURCZK) jumps after Czech Republic central bank, the Czech National Bank, unpegs currency from the euro April 6, 2017 The Czech koruna jumped today against major currencies as the country’s central bank abandoned its policy of pegging its value to the euro. The decision, taken today, was announced with immediate effect, sending the koruna, or crown, up by 1.55 per cent against the euro at the time of writing. One euro hit lows of [...]
Shoreditch is out, King’s Cross is in: These are the top tech hotspots for startups April 6, 2017 Shoreditch is out as the hotspot for tech startups, while the popularity of a reinvented King’s Cross is on the rise, new figures reveal. The majority of startups are now looking for space in Soho and Clerkenwell, data from Hubble shared exclusively with City A.M. reveals, leapfrogging Tech City. But it’s King’s Cross which has [...]
UK and London house prices: The disastrous new tax on buy to let landlords is really a tax on tenants April 6, 2017 Theresa May stood on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street last summer and pledged to help those “just about managing” families and build “a country that works for everyone”. After a divisive referendum campaign and a period of political turmoil, it was a reassuring message. Tackling Britain’s housing crisis was quickly identified as one [...]
Up to 3,000 jobs at risk as Tesco cuts down opening hours at 69 stores April 5, 2017 Thousands of jobs are at risk in Tesco as the supermarket cuts down opening hours. Up to 3,000 employees in 69 stores across the UK will be affected by the changes, announced today by the FTSE-listed supermarket. Restocking hours will be moved from night to day in the stores affected, with 24-hour opening ending at [...]
A driverless shuttle has hit London roads for the first time to be tested out by the public April 5, 2017 A driverless shuttle has made its way to the capital. That’s right folks, members of the British public are getting their first extended trial of a driverless bus and over the next three weeks around 100 people will travel in a prototype on a route in Greenwich. Read more: Daimler and Bosch announce tie-up to [...]
MEP Manfred Weber’s parochial demands over euro clearing will do Brussels no favours April 5, 2017 If the last few days have taught us anything, it’s to expect a lot of frivolous political bickering around the upcoming Brexit negotiations. The row over Gibraltar has oscillated between the absurd and the ridiculous, reminding us how quickly debate can slip into an exaggerated, nationalist tit-for-tat. Yesterday provided another example, albeit on a lesser [...]
Forget a €60bn Brexit bill: The EU should pay Britain to leave April 5, 2017 Why all the alarm that the Brexit waters are getting choppier? Advocates of leaving, like myself, never denied the EU would play tough in any negotiations; it is what one would expect for the opening gambits of any hard-nosed business deal. And that’s what it is, a deal. Likewise, supporters of remaining tied to the [...]
British banks threatened by rise in consumer credit the Bank of England warns April 4, 2017 The rapid growth of lending to consumers risks weakening the resilience of British banks, according to the Bank of England body tasked with maintaining the UK’s financial stability. Weaker underwriting standards could “reduce the resilience of lenders to shocks”, the Financial Policy Committee said, according to the minutes from its latest meeting. The FPC said [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan confirms date of April 2019 to bring in daily charge on the capital’s most polluting vehicles April 4, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed he will bring forward the introduction of an ultra-low emission zone and plans to expand it from central London to the North Circular and South Circular roads. The most polluting vehicles will have to pay a daily charge (£12.50 for cars, vans and motorbikes; £100 for buses, coaches and [...]
Britain should prepare for the Article 50 talks to fail April 4, 2017 The starting gun has been fired and the two year Article 50 process for exiting the European Union has begun. Last week, both Theresa May and EU leaders were remarkably clear about their ambitions, at the same time as indicating their priorities for the talks. For the EU, the primary concerns are its own finances [...]