The green rush? The UK’s cannabis industry is reaching dizzying new highs May 7, 2019 Predicting the emergence of the UK’s next billion-pound industry is the dream of any investor. Yet what if, unbeknown to many of its citizens, the UK were already competing as a global leader in that market? When it comes to the burgeoning legal cannabis market, this is already the reality. According to the UN’s International Narcotics [...]
Asian markets bounce back amid US trade threats to China May 7, 2019 Asian stocks bounced back in morning trading, a day after an escalation in the trade war between the US and China sparked a sharp sell-off. Read more: Car maker shares fall on Trump's Chinese tariff hike threats China’s CSI 300 index ticked up just over one per cent in early trading, after dropping almost six [...]
Britain’s low import costs could be hit by Brexit, new analysis shows May 7, 2019 The UK has far lower import costs in percentage terms than the US and China, analysis by accountancy firm UHY has shown, with Britain paying 0.5 per cent in duties on its imports in the 2017-18 financial year. Read more: Liam Fox: A post-Brexit customs union would be 'worst of all worlds' Meanwhile, the US [...]
Business confidence steadies on Brexit delay decision May 7, 2019 Business confidence has stayed steady for the first time in 12 months as the prospect of an imminent UK exit from the EU recedes. According to an index from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), business confidence stood at -16.6 per cent in the second quarter, similar to 16.4 per cent [...]
Eurozone business confidence crumbles as bosses grapple with economic uncertainty May 7, 2019 The vast majority of European chief financial officers (CFOs) continue to consider the current level of financial and economic uncertainty as high or very high, a new survey shows. Uncertainty is now higher in the euro area, increasing to 65 per cent in the last six months from 62 per cent, in contrast to the [...]
Fix Brexit, unlock investment – and maybe we can all work a little less May 7, 2019 Did you enjoy your day off yesterday? Nice, wasn’t it, coming so soon after the extended Easter break? Plus there’s another bank holiday in just three weeks from now. Happy days. Square Mile workaholics aside, most of us would prefer to have a little more leisure and a little less time in the office – and [...]
Global markets in tailspin after Trump threatens huge China tariff rise May 7, 2019 US President Donald Trump’s latest threat to ramp up tariffs on Chinese goods rattled global markets yesterday at the start of a crunch week of negotiations between the White House and Beijing. Trump tweeted over the weekend that tariffs on $200bn (£153bn) worth of goods from China would be cranked up to 25 per cent [...]
Occidental updates Anadarko bid to remove shareholder vote requirement and beat Chevron’s rival offer May 6, 2019 US oil and gas company Occidental said its updated $38bn (£29.02bn) bid to take over Anadarko Petroleum was designed to make it more attractive than a rival offer from Chevron by removing the requirement for a shareholder vote. Occidental increased the cash component of its offer to 78 per cent on Sunday, meaning the deal [...]
‘Zombie firms’ dragging down UK economy, warns KPMG May 6, 2019 Increasing numbers of underperforming “zombie firms” are acting as a drag on the UK economy and raising the risk of contagion during an economic crisis, professional services firm KPMG has warned today. Read more: UK economy 'treading water' as services sector struggles Up to 14 per cent of listed UK companies showed zombie symptoms of [...]
Payment startup Thunes closes $10m Series A funding round May 6, 2019 Emerging economies payment start-up Thunes has completed a $10m (£7.64m) Series A funding round led by Alibaba and Airbnb investor GGV Capital. The funding will be used to expand Singapore-headquartered Thunes across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Read more: Buy now, pay later, budget better – Laybuy is shaking up the retail sector Thunes will also add [...]