Small business advisers, your country needs you July 9, 2020 Like a rallying cry in 1940s war-time Britain, thousands of the UK’s business advisers have been called up to do their bit for Britain’s small businesses as part of a timely initiative we are launching today. The national effort is asking accredited advisers to sign up and lend their expertise for an hour a month [...]
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 [...]
Small businesses are counting on Rishi Sunak for a jobs-first approach to recovery July 8, 2020 A cut to stamp duty? A drop in VAT? A cash incentive to take on apprentices? While we have seen glimpses of what today’s economic update from Rishi Sunak will hold — notably an ambitious support package for the arts sector and funding for traineeships — a great deal remains unknown. One thing we do [...]
DEBATE: Do we need a government rescue plan to save UK universities? July 7, 2020 In light of the new IFS report, do we need a government rescue plan to save UK universities? Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, says YES. It has been months since our own research identified a funding black hole for universities of around £2.5bn in income lost from tuition fees and [...]
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 [...]
To avert an unemployment crisis, the government must act now and equip workers for the post-pandemic world July 7, 2020 Tomorrow, the chancellor will rise to make his economic statement with the country teetering on the edge of the worst unemployment crisis since the Great Depression. Around 10 million people face the possibility of losing their jobs. Clearly not all of them will, but as the furlough scheme unwinds, half of businesses say they expect [...]
Egypt and Morocco capital markets attract growing international recognition July 7, 2020 | City Talk Heidi Raubenheimer, PhD, CFA, is head of Journal publications at CFA Institute. Experienced Board Member with a PhD focused in Business Management and Administration from University of Stellenbosch. CFA Institute has examined Africa’s 10 largest capital markets in a major report compiled by Heidi Raubenheimer, CFA, our senior director for journal publications. Here we highlight key [...]
AIM high: At 25, the junior index is coming of age July 7, 2020 In June, AIM turned 25 years old. The index has passed its somewhat risky youth and maturity is treating it well. With stripped-down regulatory and governance requirements, the junior exchange has, over the past 25 years, offered companies an easier platform to raise capital. As the London Stock Exchange puts it, “AIM helps founders and [...]
Equity fund outflows hit all-time high as investors cash in after market rally July 7, 2020 Outflows from UK equity funds hit an all-time high in June as investors cashed in on their profits following the stock market rally. Investors bought heavily into the markets in April and early May, as prices remained depressed, before banking on gains in June. Last month saw the highest outflows from UK equity funds, outstripping [...]
Transferwise to hit $5bn valuation in secondary share sale July 6, 2020 British fintech stalwart Transferwise is to secure a $5bn valuation on the close of a secondary share sale this week, cementing its place in the sector’s upper echelon of tech companies. Transferwise is close to finalising the $300m sale, which will allow staff and early investors to offload part of their stakes, people close to [...]
