What Brexit vote? The number of foreign workers in the UK is still going up, despite the EU referendum and sterling’s drop November 16, 2016 The number of foreign nationals working in the United Kingdom has increased by 241,000 to 3.49m in the past year, despite the Brexit vote in June which was seen by many as a referendum on migration controls. This increase was 28,000 higher than the number of UK nationals with UK jobs, which grew by 213,000 [...]
The dollar just reached its highest level since 2003 November 16, 2016 The US dollar has reached its highest level since 2003, as continued concern about the impacts of President-elect Donald Trump’s new era of fiscal policy pushed it over a previous high point in December of last year. The index measuring the dollar against multiple currencies today rose to 100.53 at around midday, before falling back slightly [...]
Wage increases under threat as slowdown in UK manufacturing weighs on productivity growth November 16, 2016 UK productivity growth fell two-thirds between July and October, despite better than expected GDP growth, new figures have shown. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the main measure of productivity, growth in average output per hour worked, declined to 0.2 per cent from July to September, down from 0.6 per cent in [...]
From crowdfunding to IPO in 16 months: Edinburgh tech company claims UK first with Aim flotation November 16, 2016 The London Stock Exchange’s junior market today welcomed its first company with roots in equity crowdfunding. Edinburgh-based tech company Freeagent Holdings began trading on the Alternative Investment Market (Aim) this morning, with the float raising £10.7m and valuing the company at £34.1m. Freeagent, a cloud-based software-as-a-service accounting software company, is believed to be the first [...]
Super Mario Nintendo bounce helps Nikkei to nine-month high November 16, 2016 Never underestimate the power of Mario. Japan’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, enjoyed a Super Mario boost as share prices rose for video game maker Nintendo and Japanese banks. The delightful dungareed character is delivering the goods for Nintendo. The company announced the release date of the new Super Mario game for the iPhone yesterday (15 [...]
Brexit effect? Wage growth stays slow as unemployment benefit claimants rise November 16, 2016 Is this a sign the Brexit vote is beginning to have an impact on the jobs market? Growth in average weekly earnings including bonuses remained resolutely flat at 2.3 per cent between July and September, figures published today showed – although real wage growth could only muster a disappointing 1.7 per cent. The figures, by [...]
Oversubscribed investment trust and Scottish tech firm announce flotations November 16, 2016 A Scottish technology company floated on the London Stock Exchange this morning and is set to be joined by an oversubscribed new investment trust on Friday. City A.M. first reported that the investment trust, Civitas, which focuses on social housing, was planning to raise £250m through a float on 18 November. The IPO was oversubscribed [...]
Snapchat IPO is go: Photo-messaging app said to have filed for flotation November 16, 2016 Photo-messaging app Snapchat is reported to have filed for an initial public offering (IPO), which could value the company at up to $25bn (£20bn). The US flotation, which would be the biggest since Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba went public in 2014 valued at $171bn, has been on the cards for some time. Read more: Snapchat [...]
The number of deaths might be reducing but terrorism is costing the global economy billions of dollars each year November 16, 2016 Terrorism cost the global economy an eye-watering $90bn during 2015 according to a report by a leading global think tank. The Institute for Economics and Peace today produced its Global Terrorism Index, which revealed the impact terrorism is having on the world's finances. Read more: How nuclear terrorism is a $1bn opportunity for this UK firm Perhaps unsurprisingly, [...]
Trump does not mean the end of liberalism November 16, 2016 We are told the fifth stage of grief (following denial, anger, bargaining, and depression) is acceptance, and for some people in the US and beyond who this time last week found themselves aggrieved by the outcome of the presidential election, the journey to this final step has been swift. “Trumpism could be a solution to the [...]