What does the year of the pig hold for stocks? History has some clues February 8, 2019 | City Talk Chinese stock markets are currently on holiday, with traders and consumers off celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Pig. But maybe equity markets across the world have something to celebrate, given the past performance of stocks during previous porcine-themed years. Statistically speaking, the Year of the Pig is a good one for stocks. [...]
Time to clamp down on the work-life double standard February 8, 2019 Ironically, it’s technology that will solve the very predicament it has created This year marks five years since legislation was broadened out to give all employees the right to request flexible working from their employer. What’s developed since then is a highly mobile workforce that has made the most of flexible working freedoms and the [...]
Three themes for 2019 – and some black swans February 8, 2019 | City Talk 2018 was a challenging year for investors with US equity and government bond markets both returning less than cash. Two factors were instrumental in delivering this outcome: disappointment with global growth and less cash flowing through the global economy (tighter liquidity). These factors will continue to influence markets in the year ahead. We have identified [...]
DEBATE: In light of its limited success so far, should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped? February 8, 2019 In light of its limited success so far, should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped? Charlie Mullins, chief executive and founder of Pimlico Plumbers, says YES. The purpose of the apprenticeship levy was to increase the number of new apprentices, in a genuine effort to combat the UK’s skills gap. However it has proven an unmitigated disaster, [...]
UK fintech unicorn Oaknorth to nail $440m round led by Softbank February 7, 2019 Japanese mega investor Softbank has led a $440m funding round in savings challenger Oaknorth, investing in the company via its $100bn Vision Fund. City A.M. understands the Clermont Group also participated in the round, which is expected to close tomorrow morning. The funding will be used to expand Oaknorth's SME loan origination and credit capabilities to banks and [...]
Why are female founders being shortchanged by venture capital investors? February 7, 2019 When the British Business Bank published the first ever report on UK venture capital and female founders on Monday, the insights that surfaced were shocking, but quite frankly unsurprising. To give you an idea of how dire the situation is, of the £5.6bn invested by the UK VC sector in 2017, only £56m (less than [...]
Net retail sales plummet as investor confidence knocked by political and economic uncertainty February 7, 2019 Investor confidence was knocked by a "perfect storm" of political and economic uncertainty last year sending net retail sales plummeting by 85 per cent. Brexit, US-China trade tensions, the slide in the Turkish Lira and the Italian budget crisis all impacted investor sentiment last year and saw sales drop to £7.2bn in 2018 in comparison to £48.5bn [...]
Professional headshots can be a minefield – especially if you take them too seriously February 7, 2019 TAKE a look at that picture of me. No tie or jacket. Not even a shirt for that matter. Hair a little on the louche side. Facing the camera squarely. Chin jutting out a bit, if we’re honest. And pixels. Lots of pixels. It’s not a professional photo, either in standard or purpose. But it’s [...]
If Trump reaches a hand across the aisle, Democrats would be wise to take it February 7, 2019 For a brief moment on Tuesday evening, the customary rancour of US politics was set aside in a most unusual spontaneous display. To everyone’s surprise, President Donald Trump’s delayed 2019 State of the Union speech – which had itself become a political football in the struggle between a Democratic House of Representatives and a Republican [...]
DEBATE: Should schools start later to help teenagers be more productive, as MPs will debate on Monday? February 7, 2019 Should schools start later to help teenagers be more productive, as MPs will debate on Monday? Will Williams, wellbeing adviser to the OECD, says YES. We must take steps to reverse the sharp decline of our children’s mental wellbeing, and starting the school day later would be a brilliant start. Teenagers should be afforded the opportunity [...]
