People risks disrupting M&A activity as cross-border deals become more popular, new study finds March 10, 2016 A new report has highlighted M&A dealmakers' concerns over people risks impacting on transactions. Issues such as employee retention, cultural integration and talent management are especially prominent in relation to cross-border deals, according to Mercer’s People Risks in M&A Transactions report, out today. In addition to legislative and regulatory issues, Mercer also highlighted concerns over cultural and operational [...]
Policy Exchange calls for cleaner air measures March 10, 2016 Policy Exchange, a UK-based think tank, suggests road taxes should be raised on new diesel cars to improve air quality. The group suggests that the government should increase the first vehicle exercise duty (VED) rate for new diesel vehicles in order to reflect their bigger contribution to high levels of air polution. The group says the measure would raise £500 [...]
Hyperloop is coming to Europe as Slovakia plans to reduce travel from Bratislava to Vienna and Budapest to less than 10 minutes March 10, 2016 The most exciting transport innovation in the world right now – Elon Musk's ambitious Hyperloop – is coming to Europe and could create the fastest ever cross-border travel. A Hyperloop company has inked a deal with the government of Slovakia to explore bringing the super-fast transport to this side of the pond, potentially connecting Bratislava with Vienna in Austria and Budapest in Hungary [...]
Greg Mulholland slams “unacceptable” appointment of Paul Newby as Pubs Code Adjudicator by Sajid Javid March 10, 2016 Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland has slammed Sajid Javid's appointment of Paul Newby as the new Pub Codes Adjudicator (PCA). Newby, who will take up the role of PCA on 2 May for an initial term of four years, will be responsible for enforcing the Pubs Code – new legislation that will govern the relationship [...]
Brent crude and WTI: Global oil prices back below $40 as oversupply concern weighs March 10, 2016 Oil prices fell today, as seasonal changes fed into fears that the recent rally would be short lived. Brent crude, the global benchmark, fell three per cent to $39.8 per barrel this afternoon. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark, slumped 2.3 per cent to $37.4. Analysts said they expect refineries around the world to buy less oil [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron admits the EU needs more reform as he makes positive case for EU after criticism over “project fear” March 10, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted that the European Union needs more reform as he laid out the benefits of the UK staying in the EU, after claims the pro-Remain campaign had resorted to project fear. The Prime Minister said: "I'm the first to say there needs to be further reform of the EU. My renegotiation isn't end [...]
Whisky costs on the rocks: the UK’s tax rate on Scotch is 1.5 times than the European average finds Scottish Whisky Association March 10, 2016 Years after Don Draper made drinking whisky cool again, it might be time to stop pouring that Old Fashioned, after new research by the Scottish Whisky Association showed the UK's tax rate on Scotch is 1.5 times the rate found in the rest of the European Union. In addition to the higher domestic tax rate, the research revealed despite Britain [...]
EU referendum: Savills posts record results but warns uncertainty surrounding Brexit vote could slow UK housing market March 10, 2016 Estate agency Savills posted a strong start to the year but warned that it expects the UK property markets to cool this year due to stamp duty reforms and uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum. The company beat analyst forecasts by posting a 21 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to £121.4m last year, fuelled by its expansion in the [...]
This is what ECB president Mario Draghi’s big TLTRO II reveal is doing to banking stocks including Deutsche Bank, UniCredit, Soc Gen and Sabadell March 10, 2016 European banking share prices soared on the back of Mario Draghi's big reveal this afternoon, with the likes of Deutsche Bank, UniCredit and Societe Generale leading the pack. The European Central Bank president cut its deposit rate to minus 0.4 per cent, from minus 0.5 per cent, as well as expanding its quantitative easing programme by €20bn to €80bn a [...]