EU-US trade deal: Business vs NGOs October 11, 2014 The proposed EU-US free trade deal known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has become a subject of hot controversy across Europe and the US. TTIP even made its way into the campaign for Scottish independence, with the SNP claiming the deal would open up the NHS for privatisation. The debate intensified last [...]
Balfour Beatty circular on Parsons Brinckerhoff deal gets approval October 11, 2014 Infrastructure company Balfour Beatty announced yesterday that its shareholder circular regarding the proposed sale of its US business Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) to a Canadian bidder has been approved by the UK listing authority. The sale price of PB amounts to £820m. The company said in a statement: The sale price represents a significant return on [...]
UK set to land 378,000 jobs thanks to re-shoring October 11, 2014 The UK could see 378,000 jobs created over the next three years thanks to mid-market firms re-shoring some of their business, according to research from General Electric Capital and Warwick Business School. Furthermore, executives of these businesses believe revenues could rise by 14.8 per cent – or £3.8m firm per annum, with an average up-lift [...]
France suffers cut to credit outlook as economy struggles October 11, 2014 The beleaguered French economy has been dealt a fresh blow by credit rating agency Standard and Poor's (S&P), with its credit outlook cut to negative due to the country's sluggish performance and lack of reform. Furthermore, the prospects for economic prosperity in the near term remain low with S&P commenting in a statement: We believe [...]
Does Uber really deserve an F grade from the Better Business Bureau? October 10, 2014 Uber received some bad news on Thursday, receiving an F grade from the 100-year-old Better Business Bureau. The US nonprofit gave the taxi app its lowest possible grade, primarily because of the company's price surging policy. Surge pricing means the price can shoot up when demand rises sharply, such as New Year's eve or during [...]
Developing countries are the most supportive of free markets October 10, 2014 The free market system has suffered intense criticism in the years following the financial crisis. Growing income inequality in the developed world and lacklustre growth have elicited much comment about the free market's failure to deliver sufficient rises in living standards. However, despite the concerns over inequality and seemingly endless media commentary slamming capitalism as [...]
Venezuela ordered to pay Exxon Mobil $1.6bn over nationalisation October 10, 2014 Venezuela has been instructed to pay US oil company Exxon Mobil $1.6bn in compensation for the seizure of its assets. Back in 2007, Venezuela's socialist government nationalised Exxon's Cerro Negro Project. Exxon Mobil said in a statement: The decision confirms that the Venezuelan government failed to provide fair compensation for expropriated assets. The ruling, which [...]
London ranked world’s best for business and innovation October 9, 2014 LONDON has topped a survey measuring attractiveness for innovation and business and a host of other metrics. In yet another feather in the capital’s cap, Japan’s Global Power City Index saw London retain its place at the top, beating other global power hubs such as New York and Tokyo. The index ranks the world’s major [...]
World economic freedom falls as rule of law retreats in the US October 9, 2014 World economic freedom has fallen and is well below its peak level of 6.92 in 2007, according to the Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) report. The report examines the policies and institutions of 151 countries. In 2012, the most recent year for which data is available, the average score dropped to 6.84. [...]
Small business confidence surges to four-year high October 9, 2014 Small business confidence in the UK has climbed to a four-year high, according to the annual Sage Business Index. The annual survey of almost 14,000 businesses in 18 countries showed the majority expecting significant growth over the next year. However, the good news is not confined to the UK, with businesses across the globe more [...]
