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, [...]
Solarcentury rules out IPO as search continues for buyer of £250m firm May 29, 2019 The UK’s largest solar company Solarcentury has ruled out a public float as it looks for a new owner in a deal which could reportedly reach around £250m. The firm, which builds solar projects across several continents, has seen interest from oil and gas utilities, large financial firms and other global players. Read more: Ofgem [...]
Centrica launches new tariff for business customers to charge their electric cars May 28, 2019 British Gas owner Centrica has launched a new power tariff for business customers looking to charge their electric vehicles as the UK prepares for the switch to plug-in cars. More than three quarters of businesses plan to start shifting towards electric vehicles (EVs), Centrica said today as it launched an EV product aimed specifically at companies. Read [...]
The extremist Green party is trying to overthrow capitalism May 22, 2019 The Green Party is doing well. It gained nearly 200 council seats in the recent local elections and is hoping for a strong showing in the European ones this week. Publicity over school children going “on strike” to protest about climate change has helped. With politicians competing to fawn over the truants, the Green Party [...]
Puzzled over Australia’s shock election result? Economics can help explain May 22, 2019 The surprise of the week was the re-election of the centre-right Coalition government in the Australian General Election. The Labor opposition had led every major opinion poll for the past two years. But Scott Morrison of the Coalition is still Prime Minister – and it is his Labor opponent who is resigning as leader. Economists, regardless [...]
Greenpeace activists blockade BP’s London offices in climate change protest May 20, 2019 Environmental protesters have blockaded BP’s central London headquarters this morning as they claim “this is a climate emergency”. Read more: Extinction Rebellion founder wants to upend the UK's financial sector Greenpeace activists have set up five steel containers outside all entrances to BP’s offices in St James's Square, W1. On Twitter, the group said: “Volunteers have [...]
To avert the deluge, business must unleash its heroic spirit May 20, 2019 After us, the deluge. These are the words not of our Prime Minister, but from another troubled time and uttered by Madame de Pompadour, the lover of King Louis XV of France. The French Revolution would prove the prophecy. And for revolutionaries since, the idea of the deluge has inspired. Karl Marx went as far [...]
It’s time to challenge Corbyn’s grotesque stereotype of business May 17, 2019 This week, business leader and rich list regular Julian Richer announced that he was handing over 60 per cent of shares in his company to the firm’s 522 employees. You’d be forgiven if you missed this news. Despite Richer Sounds’ 53 stores across the country and annual turnover of £157.5m, the founder is hardly a [...]
Tried-and-failed plan to nationalise energy in the UK is a step backwards May 17, 2019 Last week, I ventured to Athens for this year’s Atlas European Liberty Forum conference, which brings together free market groups, not just from Europe, but from all over the world. It’s always a remarkable experience, which puts into perspective the battles for freedom we face here in the UK. You meet people – particularly young [...]
Storms and abandoned nuclear projects take chunk out of National Grid profits May 16, 2019 Profits fell by a third at National Grid last year it said a day after being thrown into the centre of a debate over nationalisation. The figures The FTSE 100 grid operator lost 31 per cent of its profit before tax, down to £1.84bn in the year ending March, it said this morning. Read more: [...]