The year of the vampire: 2017 is when political risk bites back January 3, 2017 “I have never met a vampire personally, but I don’t know what might happen tomorrow.” – Bela Lugosi Perhaps the greatest single indicator that the West no longer rules the world is its constituent nations’ signal inability to solve any of their many festering crises. Gormless, wildly overrated Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany epitomises this [...]
Trump will bring growth to the United States – but instability to global markets and trade January 3, 2017 Developments in the United States tend to drive global markets. We expect this to hold firm in 2017. This year I expect Trump will bring growth to America, but instability to global markets and trade. Donald Trump’s two key business appointments are aggressively pro-business. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and commerce secretary Wilbur Ross both come [...]
13 events that will change the world in 2017: Article 50, Snapchat’s IPO, more Libor trials and a vote on Heathrow January 3, 2017 2017 looks like it's going to be a busy one: we're looking ahead to some of the key business and political events already pencilled in for this year's calendar. 1. Supreme court to rule on Article 50 The Supreme Court is due to deliver its ruling on Gina Miller's case this month (Source: Getty) The Supreme [...]
UK economic data this week expected to show continued resilience towards end of 2016 January 2, 2017 New economic data out this week is expected to show the continued resilience of the UK at the end of 2016. Fourth-quarter purchasing managers’ index (PMI) figures for manufacturing are due to be released on Tuesday, followed by PMI data for construction on Wednesday and the service sector on Thursday. Read more: US services PMI [...]
Disposable incomes grew in November but households will feel the pinch as inflation begins to bite, say experts December 29, 2016 Household disposable incomes have swelled by 4.5 per cent over the last year despite price inflation being at a two-year high. Including bonuses, the average cash families have to splash out on discretionary items stood at £202, up over £9 on the previous year, according to data prepared by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and [...]
An ageing population, robots taking jobs and increasing inequality: The 10 biggest dilemmas facing the UK in 2030 December 29, 2016 It's not even 2017 yet, but think tank the IPPR has turned its attentions to the year 2030, to work out what challenges the UK will be facing by then. The resulting report, Future Proof, suggests we'll be grappling with an ageing population, increased automation of jobs – and increasing inequality. But what will be the [...]
Four of Donald Trump’s New Year resolutions on the economy December 28, 2016 Predicting the future is hard. Predicting what US President-elect Donald Trump will do is potentially harder. Trump's campaigning style might politely be characterised as "shoot from the hip", which makes it tricky to know what exactly he has planned for the world's largest economy. Luckily, the man who will be leader of the free world [...]
No Brexit effect on their business say UK managers – but watch out for the broader economy December 28, 2016 British managers are confident about their prospects for the next year, but think Brexit is going to dent the UK economy over the course of 2017, according to a poll. More than half of managers think their own business has a positive outlook for the next year, compared to only a quarter who think they [...]
A sign of things to come? Mortgage approvals fall in November, although consumers are still borrowing at ultra-low rates December 28, 2016 Mortgage approvals are nine per cent lower than the same point last year, but UK consumers were still borrowing to power the economy in the five months after EU referendum. The number of house purchase mortgage approvals fell slightly in November to 40,659, down from 40,835 in October, according to the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), [...]
India’s economy to overtake UK – and France will enjoy a brief period on top as sterling fall makes its mark December 26, 2016 India’s economy is set to overtake the UK in size in the next two years as the second largest country by population continues its heady pace of development, according to a new study. France’s GDP will also rise above the UK’s for the next five years, according to forecasts in the World Economic League Table, [...]