BP back in the black with headline profit of $115m in 2016 after cutting cash costs by $7bn February 7, 2017 BP said today that it's back in the black, after slashing costs during 2016. The figures Headline profit was $115m (£92.5m), compared with a loss of $6.5bn in 2015. The oil major said this year's results included a total of $4bn non-operating charges relating to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The group made a [...]
UK fintech VC investment plunged by a third last year while China overtook the US February 7, 2017 The cash being ploughed into the UK's fintech startups dwindled by a third in 2016, falling under the $1bn mark due to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit – but the country grasped on to its position as the third most attractive country in the world for venture capital investors in the sector.. Funding also fell for US fintech startups in similarly tumultuous political [...]
Inflation is striking back – and it will have implications for our politics February 7, 2017 Over the last two years, thanks to a low oil price, many economies have been living under a low-inflation illusion. 2017 looks set to be the year inflation strikes back. Rumbles of protectionism, uncertainty over Brexit, and Donald Trump’s expansionary fiscal policy all point to growing inflationary pressures further down the line. But immediate factors [...]
Government should let us make free choices, not subsidise our productivity February 7, 2017 Often the most misguided ideas in politics sound the most innocuous. If we were to hear a minister say that the government wanted to ensure that “every man or woman achieved their full potential”, it would be tempting to nod along unthinkingly. Who could disagree with such a positive-sounding goal? The problem is that things [...]
An open and immigrant-friendly UK can stay in the top 10 as the world economy doubles in size by 2050 says a new report February 7, 2017 The world economy is set to double in size by 2050, with the UK hanging on to a spot in the top 10 if it can forge successful new trading links and an open attitude to immigration after Brexit, according to a new report. The UK will fall one place in terms of purchasing power [...]
The UK is losing out on foreign direct investment due to the uncertainty following Brexit vote February 7, 2017 The UK is losing out on foreign direct investment (FDI) due to the uncertainty following last year's Brexit vote, according to a new study by accountancy group UHY Hacker Young. The study, which looked at FDI inflows last year in 45 major economies, found the amount of investment fetched by the UK is lagging behind [...]
Singapore Exchange in talks with Saudi Aramco to beat London and others to secondary listing spot February 6, 2017 The Singapore Exchange is said to be in talks with Saudi Aramco as it bids to co-host what is expected to be the world’s largest ever stock market listing. London, New York, Hong Kong and Japan are also thought to be in the running for the secondary listing spot of the oil and gas giant. Read [...]
ECB governor Mario Draghi rejects policies of Donald Trump as he says quantitative easing could be extended further February 6, 2017 European Central Bank (ECB) governor Mario Draghi has hit out at the policies of US President Donald Trump, rejecting deregulation and protectionism as well as claims Germany is manipulating the euro. Draghi also reiterated the ECB’s commitment to its expansive monetary policy, telling MEPs at the European Parliament the central bank was ready to increase [...]
Ireland: Brexit’s forgotten frontier February 6, 2017 Theresa May crossed the Irish Sea last week for a quick meeting with her Irish counterpart, Enda Kenny, to discuss President Donald Trump. Well, according to the official agenda she was actually there to talk about Brexit. Yet you wouldn’t have guessed it from the subsequent press conference in which every single question from the [...]
The European Union is vulnerable to trade slowdown as a protectionist runs the White House says S&P Global February 6, 2017 The EU is vulnerable to a slowdown in world trade, as the protectionist movement symbolised by US President Donald Trump threatens to start rolling back globalisation, according to an influential ratings agency. Europe is most vulnerable to decreasing trade levels because of its high trade intensity, which means it has more to lose from declining [...]