A blow for Nicola Sturgeon’s independence referendum? Poll reveals 57 per cent of Scottish voters back remaining in the UK March 15, 2017 Nicola Sturgeon's plans for another independence referendum look like they've taken a knock, as a new poll reveals support for remaining in the UK is at a two-year high. Sturgeon announced on Monday that she will seek a second referendum on the issue. The Scottish first minister will go to MSPs next week to seek approval [...]
Brexit secretary David Davis: We’re just totting up how much it will cost if we don’t agree a deal with the EU March 15, 2017 The government does not know the economic impact on the UK of a "no deal" Brexit, David Davis told MPs this morning. Responding to questions from the exiting the EU committee, Brexit secretary Davis admitted the government has not totted up how much it will cost the country if the UK fails to agree a new [...]
The trends the world’s top firms are cheering March 15, 2017 Corporate fundamentals are now seen to be improving – in all regions and sectors. After three years of deteriorating sentiment, our annual Analyst Survey, encompassing the views of 146 equity and fixed-income analysts, has found there’s much more confidence among the world’s largest companies. Demand growth is back, and we find signs of reflation, rather [...]
The Supreme Court has sided with charities in their battle against a disinherited daughter who was written out of her mother’s will March 15, 2017 The Supreme Court today ruled in favour of three animal charities, arguing a lower court had been wrong in reassigning money left to them to the deceased's disinherited daughter. The Court of Appeal decided in 2015 Heather Ilott should be handed over £163,000 of her late mother's wealth, despite the two having been estranged for over two decades and [...]
The deadly risk of sugar: It’s time investors reassessed food and drinks companies March 15, 2017 In a year where major political earthquakes have moved markets and dominated the news agenda, it’s easy to overlook an investment risk posed from a more mundane source. Overconsumption of sugar, an everyday household item, has consequences both for businesses and their investors that could leave a bitter taste. In 2014, more than 1.9bn of [...]
Pound reverses gains as wage growth falls – but unemployment in the UK reaches lowest level since 1975 March 15, 2017 The rate of unemployed people in the UK has fallen to its joint lowest level since 1975 as the rate of people in employment in the UK stayed at record highs in the three months to January. Unemployment fell to a four-decade low of 4.7 per cent of the work force, down from 5.1 per [...]
London transport chaos: Cannon Street rail service disruption due to flooding on platforms 1 and 2 continues for a second day March 15, 2017 City commuters are facing a second day of delays caused by flooding at Cannon Street rail station. National Rail said train services running to and from this station may be cancelled or diverted to and from London Blackfriars with disruption set to continue until noon. This follows a day of delays yesterday, with several services [...]
The augmented workforce isn’t coming – it’s already here: Are you ready? March 15, 2017 Digital technology is moving at an unprecedented speed, raising some of the most difficult social, political and ethical questions of our time. Along with disrupting the way we live our lives, it’s fundamentally rewriting the rules of work. Deloitte’s human capital trends survey reveals that despite being the top priority for nine in 10 UK [...]
“Paypal of renting” proptech startup Goodlord just landed millions more from investors Ribbit Capital, LocalGlobal and Global Founders Capital March 15, 2017 A startup aiming to be the Paypal of renting, making lettings easier for tenants, landlords and agents, has landed millions more in funding from top investors. Goodlord has landed £7.2m from Silicon Valley's Ribbit Capital and existing investors: Robin Klein's LocalGlobal and Global Founders Capital, the fund founded by Rocket Internet's Samwer brothers, following on from £2m raised in May [...]
Leaked tax returns: Four things we learned about US President Donald Trump’s income March 15, 2017 US President Donald Trump paid $38m (£31m) in taxes on income of $150m (£123m) in 2005, according to leaked copies of his tax return. Two pages of what are purported to be Trump’s tax return were sent in the post to David Cay Johnston, founder of the website DCReport.org, and reported by MSNBC. The White [...]