ECB keeps interest rates at record low August 7, 2014 The European Central Bank (ECB) has left interest rates at their current record low of 0.15 per cent. The move was widely in line with expectations, as the ECB has been keen to leave time to analyse the impact of the measures announced in June. Eurozone inflation slipped to 0.4 per cent in July, its [...]
Boris Johnson to be parachuted into parliament despite quotes denying he would stand August 6, 2014 London Mayor Boris Johnson has finally confirmed that he will stand for parliament at the general election next May. Johnson has pledged to see out his second term as Mayor, meaning he could take on both roles at the same time, something he had previously ruled out. A senior Conservative source last night confirmed [...]
Obama haunted by Delphi Automotive UK address move tax-loop trick August 6, 2014 When Barack Obama helped Delphi Automotive to stay afloat in 2009 by conducting a cunning tax trick, he must have known it would come back to bite him in the ass at some point – and sure enough, it looks like it just has. The Obama administration is on the war path, blasting US companies [...]
George Osborne makes a quick buck on £20 Bitcoin buy at Level 39 August 6, 2014 As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, you might expect George Osborne would like to keep his own pocket money in good old, Bank of England-regulated, sterling. But it’s apparent a trip to trendy FinTech den Level 39 has left Osborne with a sense of adventure – he’s gone where no chancellor has gone before – [...]
Return of the freedom fighter: Boris will put real liberalism back into national politics August 6, 2014 THE PROSPECT of Boris Johnson’s return to national politics will cause much discussion about Europe, given his attractively pugnacious and positive approach to possible withdrawal from the EU (which sounds good to me). But there’s a further impact which should not go unmentioned: having Boris sitting in the House of Commons once again could see [...]
Osborne announces plans to explore the future of Bitcoin August 6, 2014 George Osborne has announced plans to explore how cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin can play a role in the UK financial system. The chancellor has commissioned the Treasury to produce a report on digital currencies, examining their potential benefits and risks, which is set to be published in the Autumn. Osborne said he aims to make the UK [...]
Boris Johnson: I will stand as an MP in 2015 August 6, 2014 Boris Johnson has said that "in all probability" he will stand as an MP at next year's general election, but added that he intends to see out his term as Mayor of London until 2016. David Cameron has described the announcement as "great news." Johnson has previously been the subject of intense speculation over [...]
Draghi speech gets credit for bond yield dip August 5, 2014 MARIO Draghi’s famous “whatever it takes” speech and other market-soothing interventions had a major effect on the cost of servicing debt for some of the Eurozone’s struggling finance ministries, according to research released yesterday. A working paper from the European Central Bank (ECB) itself says that the announcements cut two percentage points from two-year Italian [...]
Osborne vows to make London world’s centre for finance tech August 5, 2014 Britain will offer prizes for finance technology innovators in a new bid to become the world’s leading centre for the sector, chancellor George Osborne will say today. The new drive will see UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) market the capital harder around the globe to attract more firms. And the Treasury, Bank of England and law [...]
Boris Johnson dismisses Uber as “excessively bumptious” August 5, 2014 London Mayor Boris Johnson has criticised the attitude of San-Fransico based firm Uber as "excessively bumptious." Johnson, speaking on LBC, added that he didn't like the way Uber were "moving into London and claiming they could take all this business away from black cabs." The company's rapid growth and penchant for innovation have clearly not conformed [...]