Liberal Democrats split over new Revoke A50 position September 16, 2019 The Liberal Democrats are fracturing over the party’s new position to revoke Article 50, less than a day after it was agreed as formal policy. Yesterday afternoon members overwhelmingly voted for MPs to stand on a manifesto promise to revoke Brexit without a referendum. Under the plan, the Liberal Democrats would still support a second Brexit referendum [...]
Oil prices post record jump after attack on Saudi Arabia supplies September 16, 2019 Oil prices rocketed almost 20 per cent to more than $71 a barrel today after the US accused Iran of gutting half of Saudi Arabia’s oil production in a strike on two refineries over the weekend. Brent crude trimmed its record-breaking gains but its price still blew up 10.5 per cent to $66.56. World (WTI) [...]
Bubbling over: Meet the English sparkling wine makers beating the French at their own game September 16, 2019 The Nyetimber estate is toast-worthy: tree-lined country lanes give way to a manicured driveway, revealing the lovingly restored tasting room. The medieval estate’s garden in full-bloom complete with fountains. The weather is, however, nothing to celebrate. I’m greeted with umbrellas and wellies. Another roaring British summer. The scene encapsulates what the owner of the Sussex [...]
Petra Diamonds loses its sparkle as annual profits plunge September 16, 2019 Petra Diamonds suffered a double-digit fall in annual profits during the last year as weak diamond prices dragged down the South African mining giant. London’s largest quoted diamond mining group reported adjusted core profits of $153m (£122.8m) in the 12 months to 30 June 2019, plunging 22 per cent from the previous year. Read more: [...]
Lord Livingston to step down as chair of Man Group September 16, 2019 Man Group confirmed today that its chair is to step down, making way for the ex-boss of Deutsche Bank as part of the latest boardroom shake-up inside the world’s largest listed hedge fund. Former BT boss Lord Livingston of Parkhead is to resign as chair of the FTSE 250 firm at the end of this [...]
Punching power: F45 is innovating gyms using technology September 16, 2019 Fitness is a cut-throat business. Competition is intense: there are over 7,000 gyms in the UK, and the market is worth about £5bn. Around one in seven people are paying some form of gym fee. Unsurprisingly, new fitness brands are popping up all the time to capitalise on the health and wellbeing trend. To stand [...]
Peering through the Brexit haze: What we know so far September 16, 2019 One of my favourite intellectual exercises that we use in my political risk firm is what we call “seeing through the fog”. When a long-standing geopolitical topic seems to resemble nothing so much as King Minos’ labyrinth, senior staff and I repair to a good wine bar and spend an afternoon not talking about all [...]
Ignore the doom-and-gloom headlines – people keep getting happier September 16, 2019 The news gives us plenty to worry about these days. From trade wars to political polarisation, the world seems full of risks. It is therefore perhaps surprising that – as far as we can tell – people are getting happier. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) surveys 150,000 people in the UK every year, and [...]
DEBATE: Are business transformation programmes a waste of time and effort? September 16, 2019 Are business transformation programmes a waste of time and effort? Scott McArthur, a performance and transformation coach, says YES. Alarm bells should go off in a leader’s mind whenever anyone claims to offer a silver bullet for improving employee behaviour and transforming a firm. The best any business can achieve is “promising practice”. Each organisation [...]
The City is looking to India for future partners September 16, 2019 As people back home enjoy what we hope is an Indian summer, I am heading to the subcontinent this week for a five-day visit to Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai – just as monsoon season draws to a close. The political weather in the UK may be stormy, but when the dust settles, one thing is [...]