Hammond predicts economic boost from ‘Brexit deal dividend’ October 12, 2018 Chancellor Philip Hammond said today that securing a Brexit agreement with the EU will lift the economy. Speaking in the run up to the Budget later this month, Hammond told the BBC that there has been a “measurable change of pace” in the negotiations between the UK and the EU, adding that the UK could [...]
Going Pacific: The CP-TPP is the perfect trade partnership for post-Brexit Britain October 12, 2018 This week, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan added his voice to those calling for the UK to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CP-TPP). This trade agreement between a group of 11 countries that border the Pacific has been identified by the UK’s Department for International Trade as a priority for [...]
Action on productivity must take centre stage as calls for action grow louder October 12, 2018 The British economy has surprised experts time and time again in recent years, as unemployment has continually hit new lows. Yet the flipside of this miraculous fall in jobless numbers has been a truly dire slump in productivity growth – a slowdown which threatens the UK’s place at the top table among the world’s big [...]
Supermarket chain announces $300m London float plans in first overseas Belarusian listing October 11, 2018 Grocery chain Eurotorg today announced plans to float on the London Stock Exchange in what would be a first overseas listing for a Belarusian business. Eurotorg is the largest grocery chain in Belarus with a market share of approximately 19 per cent of the food retail market. The float will mark the first overseas listing [...]
Stockpiling, sterling plunge, and demand slump consequences of no-deal Brexit warns Budget watchdog October 11, 2018 The government’s independent budget watchdog today warned that a no-deal Brexit would likely prompt a wave of stockpiling, plunging asset prices and a slump in demand in the British economy. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the body tasked with producing economic forecasts based on government policy, warned that increased barriers to trade will have [...]
FAANGs out: Tech stocks set to continue slide after losing $172bn in a single day October 11, 2018 Yesterday's $172bn (£130bn) tech stocks slide is set to worsen today, as pre-market trading indicates each of the so-called FAANG companies could stand to lose further value. Amazon was the worst hit overnight, losing an additional 2.24 per cent on top of yesterday's 6.15 per cent slide which wiped around $56bn off its market capitalisation. Apple [...]
Leaseplan cancels planned float as stock markets wobble October 11, 2018 Car leasing group Leaseplan today announced it was cancelling its planned initial public offering (IPO) just a week after confirming its float plans. The private equity-backed company, which has a market capitalisation of more than €6bn (£5.2bn), blamed market conditions for its decision. Leaseplan said last week that it was planning to float on the [...]
It’s a mistake to dismiss the Anglosphere as mere romance – it could be the future October 11, 2018 The Prime Minister’s strong point is not vision, particularly when it comes to post-Brexit Britain. But as the Chequers Agreement dies a slow death, she would do well to consider the possibilities for a much wider geopolitical shift with regard to the so-called Anglosphere. A Canada+++ agreement with the EU could lead to trade agreements [...]
IMF data shows there’s even less cash to splash October 11, 2018 Positive news around the public finances has been forthcoming in 2018, following years of disappointingly slow deficit reduction. Borrowing fell to a 16-year low in the fiscal year that ended in April, while in July the Treasury recorded its biggest surplus since 2000. Thus it was a shame to be brought crashing back down to [...]
Bitcoin may take years to regulate, but does not pose risk to global stability October 11, 2018 Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin do not pose a risk to financial stability, but need to be monitored, while the government may take two years to regulate the sector, two new reports have warned. City-headquartered law firm RPC said any government regulation could take a long time to come into force. Based on past extensions of the [...]