Hedge funds struggle against equities as investors look for stability rather than outsized returns January 24, 2017 Hedge funds struggled to keep pace with equity markets over the course of 2016, with an average return significantly lower than benchmark indices. Average hedge fund returns for 2016 hit 7.4 per cent over the course of 2016, according to data from Preqin and the Alternative Investment Management Association (Aima). That performance was the highest [...]
Sterling pushed higher by dollar weakness as Donald Trump fails to reassure investors January 23, 2017 The pound has risen to a one-month high against the dollar as traders failed to be reassured by US President Donald Trump’s inauguration speech. On Monday he pulled the US out of the major Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal with multiple Pacific-rim countries. The pound rose by almost one per cent in intraday trading on Monday. [...]
China’s growth boom could be threatened by debt levels says Fitch Ratings January 23, 2017 China’s massive levels of debt will cause an economic slowdown over the next two years, according to an influential ratings agency. The pursuit of “policy settings that prioritise short-term growth targets” could leave the world’s second-largest economy vulnerable to a slowdown next year, according to Fitch. The agency predicts growth will slow to 6.4 per cent [...]
European consumers keep on ignoring politics as confidence improves for fifth month in a row January 23, 2017 Consumers in the Eurozone continue to ignore the looming political risks in the bloc, with confidence improving for the fifth month in a row. The European Commission’s measure of consumer confidence rose to a negative score of 4.9. The broader EU measure was slightly higher, at minus 4.3 points. While the confidence measure is negative, [...]
HMRC’s Affluent Unit has almost doubled in size in the last four years as it looks to squeeze revenues from wealthy middle class January 23, 2017 Tax authorities have increased the number of employees set to investigate middle-class earners, as they push to increase revenues. The UK's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has increased the number of employees at its “Affluent Unit” by 20 per cent in the last year, according to accountants Moore Stephens. There are now 395 employees at the [...]
Theresa May announces extra £170m for technical education ahead of Brexit industrial strategy launch January 21, 2017 The government has announced a new injection of cash into technical education as part of her plan for an industrial strategy for the UK as it leaves the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May will launch the £170m in new funding when she unveils a Green Paper consultation on the industrial strategy during a trip to [...]
Australia would swap more open immigration for a quick trade deal with post-Brexit UK says top diplomat January 21, 2017 Australia has said it is willing to wrap up a trade deal with the UK in less than a year, if immigration restrictions are relaxed between the two countries, according to a top diplomat. Australia’s high commissioner to the UK, Alexander Downer, said a quick free trade agreement would be possible once there was more [...]
In pictures: Women march against Trump in London and around the world January 21, 2017 Thousands of Londoners are marching from the US embassy to Trafalgar Square to protest against US President Donald Trump. They have joined Women's March protests around the world against the new President. Here are some of the best photos and tweets from the marches. London (Source: Getty) (Source: Getty) (Source: Getty) Pristina, Kosovo (Source: Getty) [...]
100,000 Londoners join protests around the world marching for equality – and against Donald Trump January 21, 2017 Over 100,000 people marched through London today in support of women’s rights, joining groups around the world in protests spurred by the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President against discriminatory policy. Protesters marched from the US embassy in Mayfair to Trafalgar Square to show support for a wide variety of causes, including equality and access to reproductive healthcare. [...]
US President Donald Trump’s White House describes policy priorities on trade, foreign policy, and the economy January 21, 2017 Donald Trump’s team have taken over the levers of power, with the new President looking to reshape Washington politics in his image. Among the first actions once Trump was sworn in was taking control over the official White House website, where his team have given some signs of their priorities in office. While Trump has [...]
