London titans fear business rates relief cap will leave them with ‘same old headache’ October 28, 2021 Central London businesses and landlords have been left disappointed after a cap on a new business rates discount. At the dispatch box on Wednesday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a one-year discount of 50 per cent for businesses in the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors. Eligible businesses will be able to claim a discount on their [...]
Over 70 per cent of black City workers have suffered discrimination at work October 28, 2021 More than half of the UK’s black financial services professionals don’t believe they have equal opportunities at work and more than 70 per cent say they have experienced discrimination at work, according to a new survey that reveals just how far the City has to go in terms of workplace equality. The detailed survey of [...]
Oil prices slump to lowest levels in two weeks October 28, 2021 Brent crude prices slumped to their lowest levels in two weeks this week, falling to $82.32 a barrel on Wednesday before stabilising above $83 on Thursday. In the US, WTI Crude prices fell 2.4 per cent to $80.83 on Wednesday, before recovering and dropping again by 1.1 per cent to $81.77 a barrel. Outbreaks of [...]
China’s small cities barred from reaching for the stars with sky scraping vanity projects October 28, 2021 China has put limits on smaller cities, restricting their ability to build “super high-rise buildings”, for fear of indulging in too many vanity projects. The country, home to the largest number of tall buildings in the world, has already banned buildings taller than 500 metres – which joins another ban on “ugly architecture” from earlier [...]
Your choice of fabrics is key to beating the winter blues October 28, 2021 Last week I wrote with anticipation about overcoats. The promise of an Indian summer is now long gone and the air grows colder and harder by the day. As the clocks go back this weekend, we will soon be plunged into dark evenings, but this shouldn’t be cause for despair: as with many things, it [...]
World’s SMEs will need as much as $50 trillion to make net zero, says HSBC and BCG report October 28, 2021 The world’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will need as much as $50 trillion worth of investment to meet net zero, according to a joint report by HSBCs and the Boston Consulting Group. Smaller businesses have struggled amid the decarbonisation push, which seeks to reduce the world’s emissions to avoid climate change, as they have [...]
Brexit: UK says France will break international law if it bans British seafood October 28, 2021 The UK has said France’s decision to ban British seafood exports and clamp down on cross-Channel trade next week will break international law and the post-Brexit trade deal. Environment secretary George Eustice said this morning that if France carries out its threats that it “will be met with an appropriate and calibrated response” as the [...]
World’s largest brewer AB InBev upgrades earnings growth forecast after success in Brazil October 28, 2021 Budweiser maker AB InBev has upgraded its earnings growth forecast for 2021 after it reported a surprise jump in profit. An unexpected third-quarter profit increase came after the world’s largest brewer’s beer sales were boosted by Brazilian consumers. The Belgium-based brewer said on Thursday it anticipated EBITDA to grow between 10 per cent and 12 [...]
MPs mull the end of hotel quarantine as battered travel firms yearn for recovery October 28, 2021 MPs are mulling the end of hotel quarantine and wiping remaining countries from the red travel list, according to reports. The red list has been drastically cut down earlier this month, ahead of the October half-term, with just seven Latin American countries remaining. Though ministers could reportedly scrap the red travel list on Thursday, which [...]
BBC gets borrowing boost to compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime October 28, 2021 The BBC has been given a £400m borrowing boost by the government as it tries to keep up with the streaming giants.