EU referendum: Why I identified 23 May as the date of maximum pre-referendum fear – and why it offers a great opportunity to buy up commercial property April 4, 2016 It is often said that if you repeat something enough, you will eventually come to believe it, even if you have forgotten its underlying truth. Saying it presents the risk of being called to account – as has been aptly demonstrated recently in the EU referendum debate. One such statement that I have made repeatedly is that [...]
Closing the Gap – will gender pay gap reporting be effective? April 4, 2016 The obligation for employers of 250 or more employees to report on the gender pay gap is scheduled to become law in October 2016, with the first of the submitted data to be published by April 2018. As the national gender pay gap hovers around 19 per cent, many employers are likely to be disclosing a gender-related pay [...]
Here’s another reason for investors to love Neil Woodford: He’s just stopped charging for research April 4, 2016 Here's another reason for investors to love Neil Woodford – though rivals might not share that feeling: the star fund manager has become one of the first to stop charging clients for research. Starting from 1 April (though no April Fool's) his startup Woodford Funds will bring the cost of investment research outside the firm's flagship £80m Woodford Equity Income fund [...]
Will Marks & Spencer’s new boss Steve Rowe “kitchen sink” the retailer? April 4, 2016 Marks & Spencer's new boss Steve Rowe picked up the reins from Marc Bolland on Friday – just days before the troubled retailer is due to reveal its fourth quarter figures. If M&S' most recent set of results is anything to go by, investors can probably expect another set of declines – particularly within general [...]
From the steel crisis and the living wage to stamp duty changes: Here’s what got us talking this week April 1, 2016 A plane got hijacked (but it all turned out to be something of a farce). Then a rival airline thought it could be a good selling point. And with London's weather warming up, Ben & Jerry's decided to give away free ice cream in the name of democracy. Here's what got us talking 1) Men of Steel [...]
EU referendum: City of London draws up plans for independence in the event of Brexit April 1, 2016 The City of London Corporation is drawing up plans to declare the financial district an independent city-state in the event of Britain voting to leave the European Union. City A.M. understands that meetings have taken place in the crypt of the Guildhall – the ancient seat of City power – to examine the legal status [...]
Explosion in central Paris: 17 injured, streets evacuated after side of building ripped off by blast, caused by gas leak April 1, 2016 An explosion in central Paris has ripped off virtually the entire side of a seven-storey building this afternoon. Streets and work places near to the explosion – which occurred in the sixth arrondissement, thought to be on the rue Bonapart – have been evacuated. Other buildings nearby were also damaged. In total 17 people were injured in the blast, which went off [...]
UK house price growth has accelerated – and it’s not all because of stamp duty changes, according to the Nationwide House Price index April 1, 2016 Would-be second home owners appear to have bolstered the UK's house price growth in March, with the annual rate accelerating to 5.7 per cent – up from 4.8 per cent the previous month. The price of a typical UK home rose by 0.8 per cent, at least in part as a result of buy-to-let investors [...]
Waterloo & City line shut after empty train derails April 1, 2016 City commuters were faced with a headache on Friday morning as Transport for London was forced to shut the Waterloo & City line after an empty train was derailed. The incident happened before 7am this morning but was still affecting services more than an hour later. https://twitter.com/wlooandcityline/status/715772262453010432 There was no word on when the service would [...]
Home Retail Group and Sainsbury’s share prices both fall after Argos parent tells shareholders to back the final bid April 1, 2016 Good news for all those who like it when a couple get together: The directors of Home Retail Group have told shareholders they unanimously recommend its acquisition by Sainsbury's. That means the final offer for the Argos parent company – confirmed a fortnight ago after rival bidder Steinhoff backed away – will be put to the shareholders for [...]
