With real wages rising at the fastest pace since 2007, should interest rates rise now? July 15, 2015 Guy Foster, group head of research at Brewin Dolphin, says Yes Inflationary pressures are probably muted but there are four compelling reasons for raising interest rates as soon as possible. There is a growing generation of borrowers who do not know that variable interest rates can vary. The longer they remain unaware, the more risk [...]
Building the next five years in alternative finance: How marketplace lending is becoming part of industry furniture July 15, 2015 When we look back, 2015-16 will be seen as the watershed moment: when peer-to-peer (P2P) lending and crowdfunding made the big time, transitioning from quirky innovation to a respected alternative source of finance and investment opportunities. The government has clearly been persuaded of the potential benefits of so-called alternative finance – especially as a [...]
We need a new approach to tackle youth unemployment: Lack of proper skills is strangling productivity growth across EU – ACCA Comment July 15, 2015 It is no secret that productivity is not an area of strength for the UK. In fact, productivity levels in Britain are 21 per cent lower than the average for the other six members of the G7 – namely the US, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Canada. Clearly mindful of this fact, and the [...]
Apple Pay: How does it work and is it any quicker? A guide for the new contactless payment system July 15, 2015 Apple Pay has finally arrived in the UK. Well, sort of. If you have the right iPhone and the right bank and you shop in the right place and if the sun is shining at just the right angle – then you can use Apple Pay (okay, we made the bit about the sun up). [...]
5 the war on cash July 15, 2015 Transport With apps like Uber, cashless buses and contactless payments on the Tube, public transport is practically a note-free zone already. The London Underground has had NFC technology since the introduction of the Oyster card, which means it’s Apple Pay ready. Retail Many high street retailers have jumped onto the contactless bandwagon in recent years, [...]
The Bridge’s Saga: My business idol July 15, 2015 The fictional Scandinavian detective may be embarrassingly direct but she gets the job done IS IT acceptable to call your boss in the middle of the night?” asked Michael Brimm, emeritus professor of organisation and management at Insead, when I was doing my MBA. His daughter had just called him at 3am to say [...]
Spieth: I prepared for my Open bid on a simulator July 15, 2015 OPEN favourite Jordan Spieth has revealed he turned to a video simulation of St Andrews after leaving himself short of practice rounds for the year’s third Major, which starts today. Spieth – aiming to land the third leg of a grand slam, having already won the Masters and US Open – only touched down in [...]
Sam Torrance on The Open 2015: Subtleties of St Andrews take players a short while to notice but far longer to truly master July 15, 2015 It may be the Home of Golf and one of the most iconic settings in sport, but St Andrews is actually not the toughest course on which to make a reasonable score. The Old Course is no Royal Birkdale; you can hook the ball 100 yards off each tee and still make the fairway, [...]
Chris Tremlett’s cricket comment: After a bad Ashes opener, Aussies should bounce back at Lord’s July 15, 2015 I didn’t think England would beat Australia at all during this Ashes summer, let alone thrash them by 169 runs inside four days in the series opener at Cardiff. It was great to see. But while there has been a shift in momentum towards England, I don’t think there has been a major change in [...]
Attacking Australia is only way to maintain Ashes lead, says Cook July 15, 2015 SKIPPER Alastair Cook has vowed to attack Australia with the same vigour which saw England annihilate the Ashes holders in the series opener when the second Investec Test at Lord’s gets underway today. The hosts surged into a 1-0 lead after mauling Australia by 169 runs inside four days at Cardiff, as they bid to [...]