The year of the activist shareholder: Vocal investors rebel more as FTSE companies struggle to get directors re-elected and pay approved December 30, 2021 Investors in FTSE companies are becoming more activist, with a 29 per cent jump in shareholder votes against the re-appointment of directors, according to new data shared with City A.M. In total 42 directors have been subject to major dissenting votes against their re-election, compared to 30 in 2020, according to a new report from [...]
UK house prices accelerate at fastest pace since before financial crisis December 30, 2021 UK house prices have accelerated at their fastest pace since before the financial crisis, shooting up over 10 per cent over the last year, reveal fresh figures released today. The cost of buying a home in Britain hit £254,822 this month, the highest price on record and up around £24,000 since December last year, according [...]
Small British businesses leave larger rivals riding their coattails December 30, 2021 Small British businesses are leaving their larger listed rivals behind by growing rapidly over the last half a decade, reveals new research released today. Revenue at privately owned and medium-sized UK companies jumped around a quarter over the last five years, compared to just four per cent growth at all FTSE 350 firms, according to [...]
Brexit red tape: More disruption to food supplies looming as EU is ‘not prepared’ for new UK import rules that take effect on 1 January December 30, 2021 The food industry is warning of more disruption to food supplies when new UK import rules take effect this Saturday. From 1 January, importers must make a full customs declaration on goods entering the UK from the EU or other countries. Traders will no longer be able to delay completing full import customs declarations for [...]
London markets join global Santa rally December 29, 2021 London markets joined the global stock rally today after they missed out due to being shut at the start of the week for public holidays in the UK. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index closed 0.63 per cent higher at 7,418.76 points, while the mid-cap FTSE 250, which is more aligned to the health of [...]
Omicron curbs and roaring inflation could tip economies into double dip recessions, warns World Bank top economist December 29, 2021 A return to strict restrictions on daily life to curb the spread of Omicron and roaring inflation could plunge the world’s leading economies into double dip recessions, according to the World Bank’s chief economist. Speaking to The Telegraph, Carmen Reinhart, the organisation’s top economist, said the emergence of the new strain of coronavirus and historically [...]
City winners: This year’s most popular funds and shares, which include BP, Rolls Royce, Tesla and Argo Blockchain December 29, 2021 DIY fund buyers didn’t get the memo that value investing is back in fashion, instead largely plumping for growth strategies over the course of 2021. “Success breeds success they say, and retail investors clearly have a high conviction that these funds will continue to prosper,” Laith Khalaf at AJ Bell told City A.M. as he [...]
Staggering 60 per cent of UK employees plan to find new job in 2022 with salary not the most important driver December 29, 2021 The so-called Great Resignation is set to continue into 2022, with a staggering 60 per cent of employees planning to leave their jobs in the next 12 months, according to a new survey shared with City A.M. This is largely a result of over 80 per cent of UK employees feeling less connected to their [...]
Mayday: Year from hell in aviation as empty flights crash-land by staggering 71 per cent from pre-pandemic levels December 29, 2021 Covid-related travel restrictions led to a 71 per cent reduction in the number of international flights to and from UK airports this year compared with pre-pandemic levels, new analysis shows. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said around 406,060 international flights served UK airports during 2021 up to December 22, compared with 1,399,170 in the pre-pandemic period [...]
Poverty looms for millions of UK families as energy bills climb by £1200, inflation rises and taxes jump 1.25 per cent in 2022 December 29, 2021 Soaring energy bills, inflation and rising taxes are likely to lead to a ‘cost of living catastrophe’ for millions of UK families, an economic think tank warned this morning. The Resolution Foundation (RF) said from next April families would typically face a £1,200-a-year hit to their incomes as the energy price cap is raised and [...]