British services sector growth declines to slowest since September 2016 February 5, 2018 Output from the massive British services sector grew at the slowest pace since September 2016, according to a closely watched survey. The purchasing managers’ index for the services sector declined from 54.2 in December to 53 points in January, according to data firm IHS Markit – well below the 54.3 reading expected by economists. A [...]
House prices in UK cities are now less affordable than any time in the last 10 years February 2, 2018 Buying a house in UK cities has reached its least affordable in a decade, new research has shown, after the gap between house prices and average earnings widened further. The average worker in must now spend seven times their earnings to buy a house in a city, figures by Lloyds Bank showed, up from 6.9 [...]
Financial services trade jumps with EU fastest-growing services trade partner for UK ahead of Brexit January 31, 2018 The EU was the fastest growing partner for trade in British services during 2016, with companies’ increased use of financial services at the vanguard of record growth, according to government data published today. UK imports of services rose by £5bn in 2016, according to the most up-to-date data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), [...]
London startup Ahauz is helping millennials buy a home with an innovative new Help to Buy-style scheme January 31, 2018 Forget ditching coffee and avocados, a new startup which describes itself as the “bank of mum and dad for everyone” is aiming to help more young people get on the property ladder with an innovative take on the Help to Buy scheme. Ahauz is set to start offering first-time buyers help by offering a loan [...]
DEBATE: Should we take the leaked Brexit impact assessments seriously? January 31, 2018 Should we take the leaked Brexit impact assessments seriously? Sir Vince Cable, leader of the Liberal Democrats and former secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, says YES. Any official document produced by the government to brief ministers has to be taken seriously, all the more so given that the impact assessment – which [...]
Corporate bonds vs shares: eight questions answered January 30, 2018 Investors face a constant dilemma over which assets, such as shares, bonds and property, to invest in. The answer is often that a mix of assets can help meet your goals. Different investments can perform well at different times. For example, when shares languish, government or corporate bonds may fare better. This is considered to [...]
UK GDP: The economy grew faster than expected in the fourth quarter of last year January 26, 2018 The UK’s economy grew 0.5 per cent in the fourth quarter, an official estimate has suggested, higher than economists had expected Fourth-quarter figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed growth was up on the third quarter’s figure of 0.4 per cent. However, the estimate put growth for the whole of 2017 at 1.8 [...]
The warning lights for the next economic crisis are starting to flash January 25, 2018 The global economic zeitgeist has shifted. A decade on from the financial crisis, the world economy can at last see over the hill and make out the features of the “Promised Land” called normalisation. There is a palpable sense that the world economy has crossed three important lines. First, that it is finally achieving synchronised [...]
The seedy Presidents Club fundraiser that forgot what year it is January 25, 2018 Corporate Britain has been working hard in recent years to tackle gender imbalance. The business case for genuinely diverse executive boards is well established and any company worth its salt is ensuring that its pipeline of executive talent is broad and inclusive. Meanwhile, when it comes to those who are just starting out in their [...]
Presidents Club to close after groping scandal at men-only event January 24, 2018 The Presidents Club has announced it is shutting down following accusations of sexual harassment at a men-only charity dinner. A statement issued by the organisation this afternoon said: “The trustees have decided that the Presidents Club will not host any further fundraising events. Remaining funds will be distributed in an efficient manner to children’s charities [...]