China sets lowest growth target in more than 20 years March 5, 2017 China has reduced its growth target for 2017 to its lowest level for more than 20 years, as the country seeks to manage the decline in its potential for catch-up growth and a new relationship with the US. The communist party government of the world’s second largest economy will aim for growth of around 6.5 [...]
Merger between Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management set to create UK’s largest asset manager March 5, 2017 Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management are expected to announce detailed plans for their £11bn merger on Monday morning, in a move that will create the second-largest fund manager in Europe. The new £11bn company will have £660bn in combined assets under administration, making it the biggest fund manager in the UK on completion, as [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond expected to bank £12bn from borrowing outperformance in his first Budget March 5, 2017 Budget-day forecasts from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) are expected to give chancellor Philip Hammond a boost in his efforts to hit his new fiscal targets. Borrowing could undershoot previous targets by as much as £12bn during the 2016-17 tax year, according to the OBR’s analysis of government borrowing figures up to January. [...]
British private sector growth picks up as the UK consumer’s strong form continues March 3, 2017 Private sector growth picked up in February as services geared towards consumers continued to impress, according to a survey of British companies. The balance of firms from across the UK economy reporting growth increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent positive in the three months to February, according to the Confederation of British [...]
Snap shares sparkle and pop on first day of trading as it gets valued at around $28bn March 2, 2017 Shares in tech company Snap, parent of messaging app Snapchat, jumped more than 40 per cent in their first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, defying doubts about the company’s early-stage business model, losses and slowing user growth. In a frantic day of trading, shares changed hands at more than $25, well [...]
New Glaxosmithkline chief executive pay package under scrutiny from shareholders March 2, 2017 Another row over pay at one of Britain’s top companies is brewing, after major shareholders in Glaxosmithkline (GSK) reportedly objected to the high levels of remuneration suggested for the pharmaceutical giant’s new chief executive. Investors are demanding lower pay for Emma Walmsley, who will start as chief executive on 31 March, according to Sky News. [...]
Private equity buyouts of UK companies start year at highest level ever March 2, 2017 Private equity buyouts of UK companies have surged to record the fastest start to a year since at least 2001 as investors look to put money to work. Deal value to this point has increased by 73.3 per cent year-on-year, according to data company Mergermarket. There have been 30 private equity buyouts in the first [...]
US jobless claims fall to 44-year low to strengthen Fed rate rise case even further March 2, 2017 The number of people collecting unemployment benefits in the US fell to its lowest in 44 years, astonishing economists and prompting further expectations of an interest rate hike for the Federal Reserve at its next meeting on 15 March. There were 223,000 jobless claims in the week ending 25 February, a 19,000 fall from the [...]
Growth in the UK’s construction industry was stronger than expected in February – but housebuilding floundered March 2, 2017 Growth in the UK's construction sector was stronger than expected in February, figures published today showed – but housebuilding struggled. Markit's purchasing managers' index for the sector rose to 52.5 in February, up from 52.2 in January – and beating forecasts it would stay flat. Any figure below 50 denotes a contraction. However, activity in the residential [...]
PwC auditors involved in the Best Picture mix up unlikely to work at the Oscars again March 2, 2017 The auditors behind the Oscars Best Picture mix-up will likely never tread the red carpet again, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has said. PWC’s Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz will not reprise their starring roles administering the vote, Cheryl Boone Isaacs told the Associated Press. PWC could still lose [...]
