Baulking boards to blame for pay probe November 28, 2016 Don't say you weren’t warned. Britain’s big listed companies have, in recent years, been told loud and clear – reform your executive pay structures before the government storms in and does it for you. The Institute of Directors, for example, has been preaching this message in the hope it could ward off any populist interventions [...]
The chancellor’s economic programme contains much the City should welcome November 28, 2016 The chancellor stepped up to the despatch box last week to make his most important speech since taking office in July. Where previously the Autumn Statement was an important political date on the calendar for UK media, it had gone largely unnoticed by the European press. This year, however, was different. Philip Hammond’s address was [...]
Michael Gove just totally dissed economists and “expert” pollsters and social scientists November 27, 2016 Michael Gove has dissed economists, calling them out for failing to predict the financial crisis back in 2008 and for getting it wrong when it comes to the impact of June's vote for Brexit, as well as labelling the profession "in crisis". The former justice secretary and Leave campaigner who was sacked from the frontbench by [...]
Going where no market has gone before: Dow Jones and S&P 500 scale new heights on Black Friday November 25, 2016 Most of the US population might be out beating each other to a pulp to get at Black Friday deals – but traders were on more of a share-buying frenzy, sending two of the US' blue chip indexes to record highs. The Dow Jones jumped more than 50 points to 19,143.9 points in early trading in [...]
Housebuilder shares fall on a quiet day on the markets November 25, 2016 It's so quiet on the markets today you can hear a pin drop – but that didn't stop housebuilders from being hit after this week's Autumn Statement. On the FTSE 100, Persimmon and Barratt were among the biggest fallers – they were both 0.8 per cent lower, at 1,715p and 469.6p respectively. Tayler Wimpey, the other [...]
Saudi Arabia won’t meet with non-Opec oil producers November 25, 2016 Saudia Arabia has told the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) that it won't attend talks with non-Opec producers due to be held next week. Opec is scheduled to discuss supply rates with producers that aren't a part of the cartel on Monday, with Opec oil ministers meeting on Wednesday to hammer out a final deal. However, [...]
Early-stage businesses could rake in £25bn next year from retail investors, who want more risk and higher returns November 25, 2016 Early-stage companies could be raking in a combined £25bn from individual investors in 2017, a new report has estimated. Retail investors are planning to take more risks next year and may be looking to early-stage companies for higher returns, according to an analysis of the sentiment and expectations of 1,000 retail investors by crowdfunding platform SyndicateRoom. [...]
The City will remain at the vanguard of financial innovation post-Brexit November 24, 2016 A year ago, London Stock Exchange celebrated the first Green Bond from China to be listed internationally, a landmark renminbi and dollar issuance by the Agricultural Bank of China. I wrote here at the time how London was leading the world in financing the global shift to a low carbon economy – a transition endorsed [...]
Euro and pound get a Thanksgiving relief from the stronger dollar November 24, 2016 The euro is enjoying a small rally on as the US celebrates Thanksgiving, after it hit its lowest level since March 2015 against the US dollar, still riding high as investors continue to adjust in post-election market turmoil. The pound held off the dollar in Thursday’s trading to rally slightly back towards $1.25 while US traders are on holiday. [...]
Let’s face it: the UK’s stagnant productivity levels are here to stay November 24, 2016 Key elements of the chancellor’s Autumn Statement were policies both to increase productivity and to curb the government deficit. Unfortunately, neither of these goals is likely to be realised. Stagnant productivity certainly is a major millstone round the UK economy’s neck. Output per hour today is only fractionally above what it was 10 years ago, [...]