Bitcoin hit an all-time high this morning February 24, 2017 Bitcoin rose to an all-time high this morning according to a widely followed measure, breaking the $1,200 mark for the first time ever before dropping back steeply. The cryptocurrency rose to a peak of $1,206.60 (£960) early on Friday morning, according to Coindesk, which uses measures from multiple exchanges to determine a price. The price [...]
What are the biggest obstacles to global economic growth? February 24, 2017 | City Talk Global economic growth is lagging. The question is why. For insight into this, we asked readers of CFA Institute NewsBrief what they believe is the single biggest obstacle to global economic growth. I believe the biggest obstacle to global economic growth is . . . * Results do not add up to 100% due to [...]
How the Victorian obsession with a shade of green was driving them slowly insane February 24, 2017 Toward the end of the 19th century, a silent pandemic had swept the country. The deadly malaise is hinted at in writing of the time, and well documented in the journals of confounded medical practitioners. A mysterious sickness would strike without warning and seemingly at random, driving certain individuals mad and rotting their flesh, while [...]
“We are not in a bazaar”: German minister rules out HQ compromise in London Stock Exchange-Deutsche Boerse talks February 24, 2017 Politicians in Frankfurt appear determined to accept nothing but the headquarters of the combined London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse, with an influential minister making clear he is not interested in compromise. “We are not in a bazaar,” Thomas Schaefer told City A.M. when asked whether there was anything the exchanges could offer to the [...]
Buy a house worth worshipping like one of these ultra-ambitious and clever church conversions February 24, 2017 British buyers in particular want to tick three boxes when they go house-hunting; location, space and character. Church conversions offer all three. They’re often in the centre of town, where they would have been convenient for parishioners; have high ceilings and a generous footprint; and are often packed with historical details and period features. Here [...]
Economists want an industrial strategy from the government – but will it solve the productivity puzzle? February 24, 2017 An updated industrial strategy for the UK is long overdue, a poll of prominent economists says, with the process of leaving the EU set to begin in earnest within a month. Two-thirds of the economists’ surveyed, including some of the leading academic economists in Britain, agree that the UK needs a new industrial strategy, according [...]
UK stamp prices will increase by 1p from March, the Royal Mail has said February 24, 2017 The Royal Mail has announced the price of stamps in the UK are due to increase by 1p from the end of March. In a statement today it said first class stamps will rise to 65p, while second class stamps will rise to 56p. Meanwhile, the price of a large letter first class stamp will [...]
Rapidly rising petrol costs are putting consumers off driving and pushing them to cut spending in other areas February 24, 2017 Higher pump prices have pushed UK consumers to spend less on their cars and cut back on driving. At the beginning of February, Britain's petrol prices rose to an average of 120p while diesel rose to 122p, and according to a new study, a quarter of drivers said they're now restricting their car use while [...]
Southern rail claims victory over the RMT, giving itself a pat on the back for its service February 24, 2017 Southern rail has labelled the ongoing industrial action by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) as "impotent and ineffective", while bragging about how many trains it had managed to run in spite of the strikes. The RMT held its latest walkout on Wednesday, this time a 24-hour downing of tools, taking its tally to 29 strikes. Fears have resurfaced that [...]
Nigel Farage says he will never forgive media coverage of Ukip February 24, 2017 Nigel Farage has said he will never forgive the British media for having “demonised” Ukip and made him “frightened” to leave his home. The former Ukip leader accused sections of the press of using members with controversial views in order to discredit the party as a whole. Read more: Nigel Farage is staying away from [...]