This Autumn Statement could significantly change the UK state and the Tories’ fortunes November 23, 2015 For the third time in a year, tomorrow, George Osborne will take to the despatch box to deliver a budget or budget-like statement. We will be treated to a feast of announcements as the Treasury pontificates on just about every policy issue imaginable in its “Autumn Statement” – showing the huge governmental power hoarded within [...]
November Spending Review 2015: Chancellor George Osborne to say basic state pension will rise by the most in 15 years in 2016 November 21, 2015 The basic state pension is set to rise the most in real terms since 2001, according to media reports. Chancellor George Osborne will confirm that 2.9 per cent increase to £119.30 a week from April 2016 in next week's widely anticipated Spending Review. The government has committed itself to a so-called "triple-lock" on state pensions over the next five [...]
A meal with a view: Why street food market maverick London Union is looking for investors November 20, 2015 We're just scratching the surface of what’s possible in London,” says Jonathan Downey, co-founder of London Union, which transforms sad corners of the city into vibrant street food markets. Downey, known as JC and founder of Street Feast, teamed up with Henry Dimbleby, the founder of restaurant chain Leon, to start the new company. [...]
Facebook Fundraiser: Is Facebook taking on Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms with this JustGiving-style donation tool? November 19, 2015 Is Facebook planning to give crowdsourcing platforms like Kickstarter a run for their money? Looks like it. The social media giant has launched a new fundraising tool set to help charities and non-profits raise money through the social network. The tool, similar to existing fundraising sites like JustGiving, lets charities easily set up a page [...]
Is Workie, the government’s psychedelic embodiment of the workplace pension, a hit with audiences – or is it P45 time? November 19, 2015 Eyebrows have been raised at his £8.5m price tag; Baroness Altmann, the pensions minister, has taken to her government blog to defend him and he's been described (somewhat uncharitably) as an "outrageously condescending supersized gonk". So the question is…is "Workie", the government's psychedelic embodiment of workplace pensions, working? It's clear something had to be done to get the message [...]
Seeking income: Three contrarian ideas for hunters, from Cyprus government bonds to energy companies November 19, 2015 Times have been tough for investors seeking regular income payments. Nearly all bond sectors have made losses for investors this year. Meanwhile, some of the companies which could once be relied upon for good dividend payments from their shares – such as Tesco and Glencore – have cut or scrapped them entirely. But specialist fund [...]
Q&A with Yogi Dewan: Why everyone misunderstands risk November 19, 2015 For high net worth families, preserving wealth for future generations is more important than risking it for an outsized return. “Financial markets are environments for preserving wealth,” explains Yogi Dewan, chief executive and founder of boutique wealth management firm Hassium Asset Management. “But whether you invest in equities, real estate or government bonds, there’s no [...]
Booming Vietnam’s image is a generation out of date November 19, 2015 When most westerners think about Vietnam, they tend to think of war movies, chronicling the country’s relatively recent anti-colonial struggles against first the French and then the US. But such a view has outlived its shelf life, for Vietnam is now a country worth betting on. The Vietnamese Communist Party, much like its Beijing counterpart, [...]
Ladies who don’t lunch: Lady Barbara Judge talks first impressions and why moderation is boring November 19, 2015 Ping! A reply from Lady Barbara Judge drops in my inbox, exactly 15 minutes after I sent over an email asking her whether she would be available for a “ladies lunch”. “Dear Maike I would be glad to do it. The problem is to find a date. With best regards, Barbara.” Surprised and pleased at [...]
Alarm bells sound for global growth: What does it mean for investors? November 19, 2015 The state of the world economy is spooking analysts. In October, the IMF downgraded its global growth forecast for 2015 to 3.1 per cent, from the 3.3 per cent it predicted in July. Last week, the OECD added to the gloom, trimming its 2015 forecast for world output growth to 2.9 per cent on the [...]