BoE does not expect wave of bankruptcies when Covid support measures end May 7, 2021 A tide of bankruptcies among UK firms is not expected when the government pulls its emergency Covid support measures like the furlough scheme later this year, BoE Chief Economist Andy Haldane has said. Many debts racked up recently by companies are spread over long durations “which increases the chances of them being able to be [...]
Activist investor sells stake in Barclays May 7, 2021 Activist investor Edward Bramson has sold his firm’s 6 per cent stake in Barclays, ending a three-year campaign against the bank. Since 2018, Bramson’s fund, Sherborne Investors, pressured Barclays CEO Jes Staley to scale back investment banking, and demanded his removal over his links to US financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but Bramson struggled [...]
What does your postcode say about your taste in wine? May 7, 2021 The most popular wine in north and east London this year was the Picpoul De Pinet, Réserve De La Roquemolière. In south and west London, it was Comte De Provence Rosé, La Vidaubanaise. According to on-demand delivery service Wineapp, East Londoners order 15 per cent more red than white wine. West Londoners order 30 per [...]
New Ferrari 812 Competizione is a Superfast… but faster May 7, 2021 Ferrari has revealed an even more powerful version of the 812 Superfast. The Competitzione develops 830hp and revs to 9,500rpm.
Vacancies explode at fastest rate in 23 years as easing of lockdown restrictions boosts confidence May 7, 2021 Hiring activity rose sharply for both temporary and permanent staff in April, as the UK began to emerge from its third national lockdown and more parts of the economy reopened. Overall vacancies expanded at the fastest at the quickest rate for 23 years, according to data compiled by KPMG and REC. Demand for permanent staff [...]
FCA proposes structure shake-up to tackle illiquid fund flaws May 7, 2021 Britain today put forward a new long-term asset fund structure to invest in illiquid assets, such as real estate and infrastructure, following a series of high-profile suspensions. Illiquid assets typically offer better long-term returns but come with higher risk. They can be difficult to value or sell in a crisis, making it hard to meet [...]
Germany hits back at US patent waiver proposal for Covid-19 vaccines May 7, 2021 Germany has rejected the Covid-19 vaccine patent proposal today, urging that production capacity is key to boosting vaccine output. The country’s health minister said the primary challenge to increasing production volumes of vaccines is quickly and effectively transferring technology. “The main issue is not patent protection but production capacity,” Jens Spahn, said at a news [...]
Now what for Sir Keir Starmer and Labour after crushing Hartlepool defeat? May 7, 2021 Labour’s crushing defeat in the Hartlepool by-election has already sparked recriminations and finger pointing, with the party quickly descending into factional warfare. Labour left MPs have been reasonably quiet about their discontent with Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership and his attempt to moderate the party until now, however we should expect to see this change from [...]
City Corporation calls on policymakers to help UK compete with US for tech listings May 7, 2021 The City of London Corporation has today (7 May) published a new research report calling on policymakers to take vital steps to improve the UK’s attractiveness as a destination for new listings. London’s Equity Capital Markets Ecosystem finds that the UK should act to address the current disparity which exists with competitors, notably the US which [...]
Britain’s plan for economic recovery should shoot for the moon with a radical rethink May 7, 2021 China was ground zero for the pandemic, but the nation also saw a huge profit from the crisis, with an unprecedented eight per cent growth in GDP as other countries’ economies tumbled. While many continue to ring the toll for Britain’s economic growth, there is, contrary to popular belief, the potential to shoot for the [...]