Valentine’s Day 2016: Forget about Black Friday and Cyber Monday – today’s the day for peak online hunting for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift February 8, 2016 If your colleagues' computer screens have taken on a pink and red hue, don't fire off a concerned email to IT. They're probably just on the hunt for a gift for their significant other as Valentine's Day looms. According to an analysis of Google Trends data released today by the Post Office, the Monday before Valentine's Day [...]
The National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank and Alphabank share price: Banks send Greek stocks to lowest level since 1990 February 8, 2016 Heavy losses among Greek bank shares, sparked by fresh political uncertainty over the country's €86bn (£66.4bn) bailout, sent its stocks to their lowest level since 1990 today. Traders and analysts attributed the turbulence to uncertainty that a bailout review by the country's lenders could drag on. Greece's "troika" of creditors – the European Commission, the European Central [...]
Déjà vu… US crude is under $30 again as industry leaders predict the supply glut will continue February 8, 2016 The US oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), has once again dipped under the $30 per barrel mark, having hovered over the psychological barrier for a week. Brent crude was trading around $33.29 when WTI fell under $30. The latest drop comes as world’s largest independent oil-trading house warns the oil prices could stay low for as long as [...]
India overtakes China as world’s fastest growing large economy in 2015 February 8, 2016 India's economy has overtaken China's to become the world's fastest growing large economy. Figures published by the country's Central Statistics office today showed the economy grew 7.3 per cent in the final three months of the year compared with the same period in 2014. It marks a slight slowdown from the three months to September when the economy [...]
UK financial services touted worldwide, but Yorkshire and the Northern Powerhouse oust London as stars of the show February 8, 2016 The City of London may be known for its financial prowess but, as government gears up to promote the financial services sector worldwide, it's Yorkshire, not the capital, that is taking the starring role. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is adding Yorkshire to its Financial Centres of Excellence initiative, which is designed to promote UK financial services to [...]
Brent crude and WTI: Low oil prices aren’t a death knell for the global economy February 8, 2016 At times like these it is easy to caught up in the rhetoric, particularly as there seems to be a race to go to press with the most unnerving and doom-laden headline. We acknowledge that downside economic risks have risen: There's generally weak data, fears of a destabilising Chinese currency devaluation and speculation that the [...]
EU referendum, slowdown in China, volatility in global markets and turmoil in the Middle East to rock UK growth in 2016 – BDO report February 8, 2016 Global economic fears and uncertainty over the EU referendum have pushed business confidence to a three-year low. The economic slowdown in China, volatility in global markets and turmoil in the Middle East are all starting to take their toll on the previously resilient UK economy, accountancy firm BDO has warned this morning. The impending EU [...]
Consulting giants, including PwC, Accenture and IBM, club together to figure out why so many women are fleeing the profession and not returning February 8, 2016 Some of the biggest names in consulting have today joined together to figure out how they can prevent high-flying women from quitting their profession. The firms – PwC, Accenture, IBM, KPMG and PA Consulting – are collaborating with the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) and She’s Back to identify why experienced women are leaving the workplace and not [...]
Infrastructure to lift construction sector but risks are intensifying February 8, 2016 The UK's construction sector is forecast to have a strong year, but experts are warning of risks to the rosy outlook. The Construction Products Association (CPA) said today it expects construction output to climb 3.6 per cent this year and 4.1 per cent next year. Private house building is projected to rise five per cent in [...]
Manufacturing trade body EEF warns Britain risks falling behind on internet capability February 8, 2016 Britain's digital infrastructure will hold the country back during the fourth industrial revolution, a manufacturing trade body has warned today. Internet access is as essential as electricity and water, according to 91 per cent of companies surveyed. The survey from EEF also found that connection costs had gone up for half of manufacturers in the last [...]