UK economy sees no Brexit downturn with two per cent growth in 2016 January 26, 2017 The UK ended 2016 on a high as economic growth in the last three months of the year showed little sign of a hit in the aftermath of the Brexit vote. The economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the fourth quarter, beating economists’ expectations. This means the UK economy grew by two per cent [...]
Royal Bank of Scotland has set aside another £3.1bn for US settlements January 26, 2017 Royal Bank of Scotland today confirmed that it has set aside a further £3.1bn to pay fines relating to the issuing and underwriting of US residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). However, shares in the group were up almost two per cent in early trading. The bank said this takes the total sum it has provided for [...]
City Moves for 26 January 2017 – who’s switching jobs? January 26, 2017 Today's City Moves cover a challenger bank, one of the best-known social media management platforms and a law firm. Take a look at these movers and shakers: Hampshire Trust Bank Chris Forsyth has been appointed as chief operating officer at Hampshire Trust Bank. In his executive role at the specialist challenger bank, which focuses on [...]
Business needs more leaders like George Soros – to fearlessly speak out against Trump’s bullying January 26, 2017 There was something odd about the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos this year, and it wasn’t only that the typical Davos-attendee (pro-trade, pro-global) felt he was under attack because of the wave of populism that crashed through the US and the UK in 2016. There was also the odd moment when the President [...]
Bank of England governor Mark Carney warns fintech’s democratic revolution poses risk to financial system January 25, 2017 The fintech revolution poses significant risks to the stability of the financial services sector, according to Bank of England governor Mark Carney. Fintech’s assault on the business models of traditional banks could increase liquidity risks for the broader financial system, Carney warned in a speech delivered at a G20 conference in Wiesbaden, Germany. “The opening [...]
Will ‘value investors’ win in 2017? January 24, 2017 Value investing, the discipline made famous by the legendary investor Benjamin Graham in the 1930s and 1940s, fell out of favour after the global financial crisis. Investors have instead preferred to pay a premium for more dependable stocks rather than back those unloved by the market. That trend may be turning around. What is [...]
Will ‘value investors’ win in 2017? January 24, 2017 Value investing, the discipline made famous by the legendary investor Benjamin Graham in the 1930s and 1940s, fell out of favour after the global financial crisis. Investors have instead preferred to pay a premium for more dependable stocks rather than back those unloved by the market. That trend may be turning around. What is value [...]
The year of the stock picker: Which value shares look underpriced in 2017? January 24, 2017 We've heard it before. When there is greater volatility and more dispersion in the market, canny investors should be able to beat the index. The great rotation in equities which markets are anticipating due to looser fiscal policy and higher interest rates under Donald Trump is filling active managers with optimism that they can use [...]
EU follows UK lead and considers plans to test bank defences against a cyber attack January 23, 2017 The EU is contemplating plans to test banks' ability to repel cyber attacks in an initiative that would mirror measures already put in place by the Bank of England. Cyber and technological-enabled attacks have been on the Bank of England's radar since 2013 with 30 out of 35 "core firms" having completed the UK's cyber stress testing [...]
Commercial rental growth on the UK’s most exclusive shopping streets has fallen January 23, 2017 Commercial rents in London's most exclusive areas slowed to its lowest in 2016 in the final quarter of the year, new figures have shown. Rental values on so-called prime commercial property fell to 0.4 per cent between October and December, the lowest quarterly growth in a year. During the full year rents increased 3.7 per cent. [...]