London takes top spot in future global cities ranking May 31, 2019 London has taken the top spot in a new global index that has ranked the best cities for future business investment, trumping the likes of Singapore, San Francisco and Paris. The capital has moved from third to first place as the world’s prime contender to be the next top powerhouse, according to the 2019 Global [...]
Mortgage approvals rebound after delay on Brexit deadline May 31, 2019 Mortgage approvals for house purchases hit a three-month high in April, rebounding after Britain's March deadline for Brexit was postponed. The number of residential mortgages approved in April ticked up to roughly 66,300, nearing a two-year average and bouncing back from a fall in March, according to new data released this morning by the Bank [...]
FTSE 100 bosses to meet President Donald Trump during UK state visit May 31, 2019 A group of FTSE 100 chiefs will meet US President Donald Trump during his state visit to the UK next week, Sky News has reported, along with the heads of various US companies. Read more: European stock markets bleed red as Trump takes trade war to Mexico The bosses of Barclays, National Grid, BAE Systems, [...]
Tories face worst election result ever as Brexit Party and Lib Dems surge ahead May 31, 2019 The Conservatives would fall outside the top two parties if a general election were held today, a new poll reveals. Read more: Which Tory leadership candidates favour a no-deal Brexit? The Tories would crash to third place with just 19 per cent of the vote, tied with Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party, a Yougov survey has [...]
CBI calls on Tory leadership contenders to drop no-deal Brexit threat May 31, 2019 The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has published an open letter calling on the Tory leadership candidates to commit to avoiding a no-deal Brexit. The message calls on the 12 rival MPs to “champion business”, with director-general Carolyn Fairbairn saying that it is "no secret that firms’ frustration with Westminster has grown" over the last few years. [...]
UK house price growth slows in May amid Brexit uncertainty May 31, 2019 Annual growth of UK house prices remained below one per cent for the sixth consecutive month in May, as political uncertainty continued to weigh on the property market. Prices fell 0.2 per cent month-on month, while annual house price growth slowed to 0.6 per cent, falling from 0.9 per cent in April and below the [...]
Tory leadership contest can spark a much-needed debate on the future of tax May 31, 2019 Should the Conservatives slash taxes? Social media star Liz Truss certainly thinks so, arguing yesterday that "taxes hold back growth, and by cutting rates in a targeted way we can turbocharge economic growth and boost wages so the overall tax burden falls." Her leadership rival Dominic Raab has also made headlines this week by pledging [...]
The CBI had a chance to look beyond the Brexit debate, and they blew it May 31, 2019 The Tory leadership election resembles a family dinner that starts off friendly enough but which will, inevitably, descend into a wine-soaked argument. And that’s before we’ve even got into policy details. The front-runners are currently gung-ho about a no-deal Brexit but those that aren’t, notably Matt Hancock and Rory Stewart, are keen to talk up their [...]
UK consumer confidence holds up in May despite Brexit impasse May 31, 2019 Consumers were feeling more upbeat about the British economy in May than they were in April despite Brexit, a new survey has shown, although confidence was well below the longer-term average. Read more: Warm-weather pub trips boost tepid consumer spending growth in April Meanwhile, more people felt positive about their personal financial situation than during [...]
Interest rates would be hiked if Britain achieves orderly Brexit, says Bank of England May 30, 2019 Deputy governor of the Bank of England Dave Ramsden has said interest rates would need to be hiked if Britain leaves the European Union in an orderly manner with a transition deal. Read more: Hammond may topple new PM to prevent no-deal Brexit Ramsden, speaking in Inverness, Scotland, said although he expected growth to pick [...]