Gloomy skies: London’s FTSE 100 set for a rocky start to 2023 January 1, 2023 FTSE 100 could benefit from China re-opening but global headwinds threaten The London market kicks off 2023 with a gloomy backdrop as the UK is forecasted to plunge into recession and economies globally wrestle with sky-high inflation amid the energy and cost crisis. After the extreme volatility of 2022, the FTSE 100 Index is expected [...]
Not-so-happy New Year: Hospitality bosses expect weaker trade due to strikes December 30, 2022 Hospitality leaders say venues could see weaker trade over the key New Year period after sales were knocked by strike action. But there are signs for optimism amid more bookings and strong demand over the festive period for other areas of the sector. The Night Time Industries Association, which has more than 1,400 members including [...]
Huawei out of ‘crisis mode’ after years of US restrictions on Chinese tech giant December 30, 2022 Huawei, the Chinese technology giant, says it has emerged from “crisis mode” after years of US restrictions that have stifled its overseas sales, even though its revenue for 2022 failed to grow from a year earlier. “US restrictions are now our new normal, and we’re back to business as usual,” Eric Xu, Huawei’s current chairman, [...]
Families facing ‘groundhog year’ in 2023 as living standards to be squeezed December 30, 2022 Families are facing a “groundhog year” as further squeezes on living standards take place in 2023, a think-tank has warned. While the year ahead may offer economic policymakers some relief, with signs inflation will ease and interest rates peak lower than feared, family finances face a repeat of 2022’s squeeze as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, [...]
2023 set to be just as ‘horrendous’ as 2022 with falling pay and soaring energy bills December 30, 2022 Next year looks set to be just as “horrendous” for many families’ living standards as this year, as they are hit with falling pay and soaring energy, tax and mortgage bills, a think tank has warned. Households face a cost-of-living “groundhog year” with disposable incomes plummeting even further than in 2022, which saw the biggest [...]
Scottish Widows: Unmarried couples missing out on life insurance payouts December 30, 2022 Many unmarried couples with life insurance could be at risk of not receiving a payout if one of the partners dies, a survey suggests. Just over half (52 per cent) of unmarried people know if their partner has a life insurance policy, while 43 per cent said their other half has no plans to ensure [...]
Tony Blair: Vladimir Putin should have got seat at international ‘top table’ December 30, 2022 Tony Blair argued that Vladimir Putin should be given a seat at the international “top table” despite deep misgivings among officials about the new Russian president, according to newly released official files. Papers released to the National Archives in Kew, west London, show Mr Blair, as prime minister, believed the former KGB man was at [...]
Supertax on private jets could raise £1.4bn a year December 30, 2022 A supertax on private jets should be introduced to fund public transport improvements, according to a pressure group. Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) wants private jet passengers to pay £780 in air passenger duty (APD) for every flight from the UK. That could raise around £1.4 billion each year, CBT said. Currently, private jet passengers [...]
Revealed: Blair wanted to regulate papers for ‘accuracy’ of reporting, former top aide says December 30, 2022 A key official in the team of former prime minister Tony Blair wanted to regulate newspapers for the “accuracy” of their reporting, according to newly-released official papers. Files released by the National Archives show Mr Blair’s principal private secretary Jeremy Heywood (a future cabinet secretary) became exasperated by what he regarded as the inaccurate reporting [...]
Strikes: Ministers will not be ‘held to ransom’ by unions, says Wallace December 29, 2022 The government will not be “held to ransom” by striking public sector workers, defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. As the wave of industrial action showed no sign of abating, Mr Wallace insisted there was “no magic wand” to produce the money for above-inflation pay awards. His warning came after new TUC general secretary Paul [...]
