DEBATE: Should the audit and consultancy arms of the Big Four firms be divided, as proposed by MPs? April 3, 2019 Should the audit and consultancy arms of the Big Four firms be divided, as proposed by MPs? YES, says Rachel Reeves MP, chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee. We have two major problems in the audit market today: a lack of competition and quality. The Big Four’s dominance has led to a precarious [...]
Generation Rent needs more help to buy property, not Help to Buy April 2, 2019 Britain is not yet a nation of renters – but it’s getting there. Half of children are now born in rented accommodation, versus a third back in 2003-4. The number of families renting with children has doubled in a decade, according to the insurance provider Royal London. Meanwhile, new analysis shows that the government’s Help [...]
While Westminster is distracted by Brexit chaos, Labour puts the finishing touches to its plan for revolution April 1, 2019 While the Brexit process pushes the British constitution to its limits, the Labour party continues to develop and promote policy proposals that, if implemented, would make the UK's torturous departure from the European Union look like a modest tweak to our political operating system. While all of Westminster focuses on the near collapse of functioning [...]
John McDonnell’s Marxist ideas for financing would be a disastrous experiment March 31, 2019 While the Brexit process pushes the British constitution to its limits, the Labour party continues to develop and promote policy proposals that, if implemented, would make the UK’s torturous departure from the European Union look like a modest tweak to our political operating system. While all of Westminster focuses on the near collapse of functioning [...]
Kingfisher makeover fails to impress March 29, 2019 | City Talk The Kingfisher makeover has yet to win over investors, with results from the B&Q owner showing why. There are signs of progress within the Kingfisher (LSE:KGF) transformation plan, but the retail environment remains fiercely competitive and will continue to move on as the company tries to put its own house in order. Unfortunately, any benefits [...]
It’s not about copyright – the EU is trying to destroy the internet March 29, 2019 One of the feistiest debates in the classically liberal community revolves around the concept of property rights, especially in the digital age. I realise that, for many, this may not seem the sexiest topic, but at least this column isn’t about Brexit, so stay with me. Those who broadly share a similar, free-market worldview can take [...]
Best 5 US stocks for an ISA March 28, 2019 | City Talk By Rodney Hobson from interactive investor. Brexit makes investing overseas especially attractive now, argues our commentator, author and columnist. Rodney Hobson is an experienced financial writer and commentator who has held senior editorial positions on publications and websites in the UK and Asia, including Business News Editor on The Times and Editor of Shares magazine. [...]
Invest in Isas like it’s 1999 March 28, 2019 The Individual Savings Account (Isa) is approaching its twentieth birthday, and since its inception it has been hugely popular. In the last tax year alone, 10.8m adult Isas were opened. But despite this popularity, have savers made the most of the opportunity? Big benefits When the Isa launched in 1999, it had an annual allowance of [...]
Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey pledges ‘aggressive’ action against absentee landlords March 28, 2019 Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey has said he will crack down on London's empty "ghost homes" if he replaces Sadiq Khan as the capital's mayor. Bailey has pledged to give more money to councils to levy empty dwelling management orders, which give them legal powers to take over unoccupied properties to use as housing. A review by housing [...]
Bellway hikes dividend as revenues jump despite Brexit knock on confidence March 27, 2019 Bellway posted a double-digit rise in revenues this morning, shrugging off fears of Brexit uncertainty as cheap borrowing, high employment and the government’s Help to Buy scheme all provided a boon for the housebuilder over the last six months. In its interim results for the half-year to to 31 January 2019, the FTSE 250 developer posted [...]