DEBATE: Is there any point in members of the wealthy elite calling for higher taxes in response to Covid-19? July 14, 2020 In light of this week’s Millionaires for Humanity letter, is there any point in members of the wealthy elite calling for higher taxes in response to Covid-19? Gary Stevenson, inequality economist and trader, says YES. On Monday, 83 millionaires — myself included — signed an open letter calling on governments to raise taxes on people [...]
What are “accidental savers” doing with their surprise savings? July 14, 2020 | City Talk Lockdown restrictions have curbed spending, resulting in higher savings in the UK. Some of this has found its way into the financial markets; actively managed responsible investment funds have been the biggest beneficiaries. The words “accidental” and “saver” don’t often appear in the same sentence together. Saving usually takes some effort and requires sacrifices and [...]
Wealthy investors anticipate lasting lifestyle shifts after coronavirus July 13, 2020 Wealthy investors have not been immune to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and anticipate long-term lifestyle changes as a result. Three quarters of wealthy investors in the UK see a permanent shift in the wake of the crisis, according to research by wealth manager UBS. The survey of 200 UK-based investors, with between [...]
Can international tourism ever recover? July 8, 2020 | City Talk We look at what might reignite demand for overseas travel and whether the downturn could profoundly change some countries’ economies. Travel restrictions are slowly being lifted, but most people are more likely to be jumping into their cars to go on holiday than onto an aircraft. So, can international tourism ever recover? And might the [...]
WFH: Is it the death knell for offices? July 7, 2020 | City Talk Some real estate investors believe the successful working from home experiment during this crisis will lead to a long-term decline in demand for offices. We think this is premature. One of the more mundane aspects of the coronavirus has been the sudden evacuation of offices and mass adoption of home working. In the US it [...]
The taxing question of unsustainable corporate debt July 2, 2020 Although we are by no means out of the danger zone, eyes are starting to turn away from how the UK’s businesses can survive the Covid-19 crisis and towards how to rebuild the economy in the longer term. However, there is a very real issue facing the UK economy as a whole: are our levels [...]
FCA extends credit card payment freeze until October July 1, 2020 A credit card payments freeze could be extended for another three months for customers still suffering from the economic impact of coronavirus, the financial watchdog said today. After imposing a three-month pause on repayments for those struggling amid the fallout of the pandemic on the economy, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said firms must [...]
How Fintech can help during and after COVID-19 June 29, 2020 | Sponsored In the coming weeks, tools that support the financially vulnerable will come to the fore. Fintech has the capacity to support the most vulnerable with affordable credit and promote financial wellness. The COVID-19 crisis has sent shockwaves through the UK economy. Many companies have applied for business support, with around 8.7 million jobs currently furloughed [...]
Can Fintech and big data transform a post COVID-19 landscape? June 29, 2020 | Sponsored COVID-19 has transformed the world in a short space of time, possibly forever. With this change brings opportunity, and Fintech has the potential to be part of a brighter future. The SARS-CoV-2 virus epidemic has generated widespread strife and conflict in economies across the globe. Virtually overnight, consumers shifted their activities online. There is an [...]
Innovation and decentralisation are key June 29, 2020 | Sponsored The financial services industry is held back by rules imposed after the 2008 crash. We need to move forward. To liberate the financial industry, decentralisation is the way ahead. One of the unexpected side effects of of social distancing and the lockdown has been the uncovering of a lot of pain points in the business [...]