UK PMIs: Construction activity contracts for the first time since May February 4, 2021 Construction output declined for the first time in eight months in January as lockdown measures and near-term economic concerns led to hesitancy among clients. The IHS Markit/Cips purchasing managers (PMI) index for construction scored 49.2 in January, with any score below the 50-mark indicating contraction. The reading was a sharp drop from December, when a score of [...]
Porsche Taycan rear-wheel drive review: the best EV just got better February 3, 2021 The Taycan rear-wheel drive is the most affordable version of Porsche's sleek and sporty electric car. It might be the best to drive, too.
Property chiefs: Lockdown and end of stamp duty holiday push down house prices February 2, 2021 The most recent drop in house prices is primarily caused by the soon-to-end stamp duty holiday, combined with the UK’s third national lockdown, property professionals told City A.M. this morning. According to new figures, published by Nationwide earlier this morning, January saw property prices fall for the first time in six months as the end [...]
Concrete changes can allow Britain’s digital firms to fly January 28, 2021 Britain’s technology entrepreneurs seem the last people who need any attention from Government right now. Valuations are soaring. IPOs are being lined up. Even as the pandemic constrains our daily lives, businesses that will deliver the jobs, growth and tax revenues of the future are thriving. But in the great global race to create and [...]
Why we built a better Tether January 27, 2021 This week I had a long meeting with the FCA reviewing our fully regulated Peer to Peer savings and loan platform JustUs. The FCA has the unenviable task of trying to stress test the health of the financial services industry in the middle of a health and economic crisis via their quarterly “Covid19 Financial Impact [...]
EU opens up to US clearing houses in blow to City of London January 27, 2021 Brussels will allow US clearing houses operate throughout the EU in what could be a blow to the City of London’s largest clearing agencies. The European Commission announced today that it had decided that the US’ financial regulator’s rules was equivalent to the EU’s around clearing houses. This means the EU will now allow Wall [...]
Taper Tantrum 2: is there a sequel in the making? January 26, 2021 Sequels – occasionally they’re better (The Godfather Part II), but most of the time they’re worse. Often far worse (Jaws: The Revenge). As investors and economists look for the next market risks after the pandemic, some are now expecting a follow-up to 2013’s blockbusting Taper Tantrum. This sequel could even be coming to (trading) screens [...]
Toyota RAV4 Plug-in review: an expensive way to save money January 26, 2021 The Toyota RAV4 Plug-in is a part-electric, part-hybrid SUV with impressive fuel economy and emissions – but a high price tag.
Boohoo buys Debenhams brand and website for £55m – but stores set to close January 25, 2021 Online retail giant Boohoo has announced it will buy Debenhams’ brand and website for £55m, but will not rescue the high street chain’s stores or jobs. The deal – announced this morning – means Debenhams’ remaining 118 department stores will close down and could result in up to 12,000 job losses. Boohoo said the acquisition [...]
London house prices: Which exclusive areas suffered the biggest drop in property values? January 25, 2021 House prices in some of London’s most exclusive neighborhoods plunged due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest research. Sold prices across prime central London postcodes have fallen 10 per cent since the start of the pandemic, while property values across the capital grew three per cent on average. The W1J postcode in Mayfair [...]