DEBATE: Will the National Security and Investment Bill make it harder for the UK to remain a business hub? November 13, 2020 Max von Thun, senior associate at political advisory firm Global Counsel, says YES. Under the screening regime proposed by the new National Security and Investment Bill, a much higher number of deals will be subject to potential government intervention on national security grounds for up to five years after they have taken place. In addition [...]
Full-fibre broadband firm Hyperoptic opens new London headquarters November 13, 2020 Challenger broadband firm Hyperoptic is set to move into new headquarters in London amid growing demand for next-generation internet services. The company will make the short hop from its current offices into two floors in Kings House in Hammersmith. It also has offices in Manchester, Reading and Belgrade in Serbia. Hyperoptic has grown steadily since [...]
Vaccine news puts growth back into The City: Moneyfarm’s investment chief November 12, 2020 This week’s news that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German manufacturer BioNTech had reached a breakthrough in the development of their Coronavirus vaccine led to one of the heaviest trading days since the height of the pandemic crisis, with nearly $2 trillion changing hands across global markets. Firms across The City are in an upbeat mood as the announcement that [...]
Could ditching the office make us all poorer? November 12, 2020 While we have in many ways adjusted to life in a pandemic, the profoundly disorientating changes we’ve seen since the initial nationwide lockdown are stark. The “death of the office” narrative has persisted through the easing and then reimposing of lockdown restrictions, and while no one can predict exactly how this will play out, it [...]
Transport for London demands £2.9bn to keep Tube service running in 2021 November 11, 2020 TfL demands £2.9bn to keep the Tube and other public transport services running
Six London music venues at risk of ‘imminent’ closure November 11, 2020 The music industry has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help secure the future of six grassroots venues in London that are in “imminent” danger of permanent closure. Kings Cross nightclub Egg, Islington favourite The Lexington and Camden’s Spiritual Bar have been named among the capital’s music hotspots that are most at risk of closure. The [...]
Snakes and Ladders: Who is moving jobs in the City this week? November 11, 2020 Snakes and Ladders provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Firms are continuing to adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic as they vie to be in prime position to recover from the economic fallout of the crisis. Read more: Snakes [...]
How does a vaccine affect investment sentiment in the Square Mile? November 11, 2020 Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German manufacturer BioNTech said on Monday they had reached a breakthrough in the development of their Coronavirus vaccine. Analysis so far suggests that the vaccine is more than 90 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19. Although studies are ongoing, the vaccine has already been tested on 43,500 people in six countries, with no major safety concerns being raised so far. Despite Boris [...]
London unemployment rate sees largest rise in a generation November 10, 2020 The number of people out of work in London soared over the summer, with the largest quarterly increase in the unemployment rate in over 30 years. Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show the unemployment rate in the three months to September rose 1.2 per cent from the previous quarter to six per [...]
90 per cent of UK trade not covered by free trade deals post-Brexit November 10, 2020 Only 10 per cent of all UK cross-border trade will be covered by current free-trade agreements after 31 December, City AM understands. Fifty-two countries currently have free trade deals in place with the UK for the end of the Brexit transition period. These agreements account for only 10 per cent of the UK’s total cross-border [...]