Do not succumb to the ‘Fat Cat Friday’ outrage January 3, 2019 As if Greggs’ vegan sausage rolls hadn’t prompted enough misplaced shock and outrage for the start of a new year, you can expect more of the same this morning when campaigners declare it to be “Fat Cat Friday”. The High Pay Centre, which opposes current levels of executive remuneration, calculates that by this afternoon a [...]
Trump blames US government shutdown on Democrats’ 2020 election efforts January 3, 2019 US President Donald Trump has blamed the ongoing partial federal government shutdown on his opponents playing politics, as the new look Democrat-controlled congress convenes for the first time. Shortly before newly-elected members were sworn into the House of Representatives, including two Muslims, Trump said Democrats were “going all out on the desperately needed Wall and [...]
Oil price volatility driven by supply curbs and worries about economic contraction January 3, 2019 Oil prices were changeable today as evidence that production had dropped was counterbalanced by fears of an econonomic contraction that could hit demand. A survey from Reuters showed oil supply had its largest month-on-month drop since January 2017 in December. The 15 countries that make up the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) pumped [...]
DUP still has ‘principled objections’ to May’s Brexit deal after Downing Street meeting January 3, 2019 Theresa May’s hopes of winning key support for her Brexit deal appear to have suffered another blow after the DUP said its “principled objections” remain. Nigel Dodds, the DUP’s leader in Westminster, met with May in Downing Street on Thursday lunchtime as the Prime Minster sought to calm fears over the so-called ‘backstop’ in the [...]
Sir Terry Morgan to appear at London Assembly grilling over lead-up to Crossrail delay January 3, 2019 Former Crossrail chairman Sir Terry Morgan will give his account of the events leading up to the announcement of project's delay after Sadiq Khan accused him of "misremembering events". Morgan, who was ousted from his role in December, will appear before the London Assembly's transport committee next Wednesday as it probes his account of events leading [...]
Bowmark Capital closes £600m UK-focused fund amid Brexit uncertainty January 3, 2019 Private equity firm Bowmark Capital has raised £600m to invest in UK companies, indicating investor confidence in British business despite Brexit uncertainty. A total of 44 per cent of the capital has come from European investors, and 35 was invested from North America, the company said. The Bowmark Capital Partners VI fund reached its target in [...]
Manufacturers face worst staff scarcity since 1989 after Brexit leads to exodus of EU workers January 3, 2019 Manufacturers are struggling with the worst drought of workers in 30 years, as fewer EU workers come into the country in the wake of the Brexit vote. Labour shortages in the sector are at their worst since 1989, according to research, with Brexit-related uncertainty partly to blame. A report by the British Chambers of Commerce today [...]
TfL has the worst gender pay gap of all of City Hall’s agencies, new data reveals January 3, 2019 The gender pay gap at Transport for London (TfL) grew to 21.5 per cent last year – the only City Hall body to have seen an increase in the difference between men and women’s average hourly earnings. Last year the gender pay gap at TfL, which is chaired by London mayor Sadiq Khan, increased by 1.8 [...]
Eurozone bank lending rate quickens despite growth concerns January 3, 2019 Bank lending to eurozone households and companies accelerated in November despite signs the bloc’s economy is slowing, the European Central Bank said. Corporate loans grew four per cent year-on-year in November, compared with 3.9 per cent the previous month and loans to households grew to 3.3 per cent from 3.2 per cent in October – [...]
Ex-Virgin Money boss among two women replacing men on Bank of England’s financial policy committee January 3, 2019 Former boss of Virgin Money Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia has been added to the Bank of England’s financial policy committee alongside the chair of the Banking Standards Board Dame Colette Bowe, chancellor Philip Hammond announced today. The pair will replace Richard Sharp and Martin Taylor, who are stepping down at the end of the first quarter [...]