Before the Bell: Europe set for positive start despite softness in Asia markets March 8, 2021 No one can complain about a lack of volatility in financial markets at the moment. The tug-of-war between economic recovery and inflation risks continued on Wall Street on Friday and spilt out onto the street in Asia. Friday’s outsized 379,000 gain in Non-Farm Payrolls caused US yields to spike initially. Still, equity markets just couldn’t [...]
Ministers in talks over post-Brexit global services deal March 8, 2021 The government is said to be in talks to create a global trade agreement in services in an effort to boost the UK economy after Brexit. Senior ministers and City lobby groups have held discussions over a plan that would allow countries including Britain to export services such as banking, insurance and legal advice to [...]
Brexit fuels sharper fall in takeovers by UK investors in continental Europe than worldwide average March 8, 2021 The coronavirus pandemic and Brexit hampered deal activity between the UK and continental Europe in 2020, with the number of European businesses bought by UK acquirers falling by nearly a third. The number of takeovers by UK acquirers of continental European businesses fell 30% from 488 in 2019 to 342 in 2020, new research has [...]
Service sector confidence hits 12-month high on UK vaccine rollout March 7, 2021 Service sector confidence has risen to a 12-month high amid hopes the UK’s successful vaccine rollout will fuel an end to lockdown measures. The services optimism index, compiled by accountancy firm BDO, surged to 94.13 in February from 86.60 the previous month, marking its highest level since the Covid-19 outbreak last year. The rising index, [...]
David Frost tells EU to ‘shake off remaining ill will’ toward UK post-Brexit March 7, 2021 Brussels should stop complaining about the UK’s decision to leave the EU and instead try to make Brexit work, according to new cabinet minister Lord David Frost. The UK’s new de-facto Brexit minister said he hoped the EU “will shake off any remaining ill will towards us for leaving” and “instead build a friendly relationship, [...]
Boris Johnson challenges EU after Italy blocks Astrazeneca vaccine shipment March 5, 2021 Boris Johnson has challenged the EU’s decision to approve the blockade of 250,000 doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine from being shipped to Australia. Italy yesterday announced it had blocked the shipment of vaccines made at its Anagni plant near Rome after the British-Swedish drug manufacturer failed to meet its EU contract commitments. The European Commission gave [...]
London remains most desirable city in the world to live and work March 5, 2021 A study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Totaljobs shows London remains the most attractive city to live and work in, despite uncertainty around Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. The Global Talent Survey was based on a study of over 200,000 participants in 190 countries. London appealed most to highly educated people and those working [...]
Liz Truss insists UK has not breached Northern Ireland protocol March 5, 2021 Trade minister Liz Truss has insisted Britain has not breached the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit trade deal, something it has been accused of doing by the European Union which has promised to take legal action. “These are temporary easements and it’s perfectly common practice whilst deals are being implemented to have temporary easements [...]
Germany to pay nuclear firms €2.4bn for plant closures March 5, 2021 The German government has agreed to pay nuclear operators €2.4bn in compensation for forcing them to shut their plants early in response to the Fukushima disaster. The sum will be made available from the general budget, ministries said on Friday. The four affected companies include German-listed firms RWE and E.ON, as well as Vattenfall and [...]
LSE unshaken by Brexit-driven securities shift to Amsterdam March 5, 2021 The London Stock Exchange (LSE) shook off the effects of Brexit trading movement this morning, backing the City as one of the world’s leading financial capitals. Chief executive David Schwimmer reaffirmed LSE’s confidence in being headquartered in London, despite the Brexit-driven movement of trading in EU securities to Amsterdam. “The movement of trading due to Brexit [...]