Unilever goes on gardening leave as two of its brands launch publicity stunts with giant animals made out of plants May 16, 2016 Unilever has brought a whole new meaning to gardening leave. The food firm, which owns brands like PG Tips, Walls and Bertolli, has become rather green fingered lately after two identical but unrelated publicity stunts involving giant topiary statues launched this year. PG Tips Green Tea gave commuters a shock on Monday when a giant topiary [...]
British cities and regions need to seize the opportunity provided by HS2, says Independent Transport Commission May 16, 2016 British cities and regions should seize the opportunity provided by HS2 to generate economic growth, according to a new report. The study by the Independent Transport Commission found that there could be social and economic benefits brought by HS2, and that British cities should jump on the once-in-a-generation public infrastructure investment project to propel growth. [...]
Analysts puzzled as gold and silver prices suddenly drop during US morning trading May 16, 2016 The price of gold dropped suddenly during US morning trading and swiftly lost almost all the gains it had made since markets opened. In early morning trading, spot gold made gains of 1.38 per cent, reaching a high of $1,287.86 per ounce. However, within an hour this had swiftly fallen 1.2 per cent, reaching a low of $1,271.18 per [...]
“Persistent” poverty rates show UK citizens among the least likely in the EU to be trapped in poverty May 16, 2016 People living in the UK are among the least likely in the European Union to be trapped in poverty, new numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released today have shown. Between 2011 and 2014, 6.5 per cent of the UK’s population were classified as being in “persistent poverty”. The number – which equates to [...]
The Netherlands is the most lucrative buy-to-let property hotspot in the EU according to study from World First UK May 16, 2016 You might have thought it would be somewhere coastal on the Mediterranean, or a country better-known for its second home culture such as Italy or France. But the most lucrative buy-to-let market in the European Union turns out to be the modest, not-so-hilly, tulip-saturated Netherlands. With the EU's highest rental yield rate in April, at [...]
London housing: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan plans to fast-track scores of sites owned by Transport for London to build homes May 16, 2016 After pledging to build new homes on land owned by City Hall if elected Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has said he intends to fast-track scores of sites for development. During a visit to Landmark Court in Southwark, which is owned by Transport for London, Khan announced that the wants to unlock the site, which [...]
Pressure is growing for the government to introduce a new Pensions Bill in the Queen’s Speech May 16, 2016 The Government is under increasing pressure to include a new Pensions Bill as part of the Queen's Speech later this week. Work and Pensions Committee chair Frank Field wrote to chancellor George Osborne in early May to press the case for better regulation of the market, and in particular, the master trusts which provide multiple [...]
The Women in Banking and Finance Awards aren’t all about women, according to this year’s shortlist May 16, 2016 NULL
Green Party leadership: Who are the runners and riders to replace Natalie Bennett May 16, 2016 Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has announced she will stand down from the helm of the party in August after four years leading the party, paving the way for younger blood. Bennett won't be standing for re-election when her second two-year term comes to an end this summer, though she does intend to stay "fully engaged". Given [...]
EU referendum: Fitch warns that protracted post-Brexit negotiations could trigger recession May 16, 2016 The stakes of any post-Brexit negotiations were laid bare today in a new report from ratings agency Fitch, which assesses how the UK economy will perform if it were to secure different terms of exit after voting to leave the EU. In its worst scenario – in which Fitch predicts at least two years of political wrangling along with [...]