UK and EU plan post-Brexit Northern Ireland hotline for officials February 15, 2021 The UK and the EU are planning to create an emergency hotline for officials to discuss post-Brexit problems in Northern Ireland. European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said the Brexit treaty’s Northern Ireland protocol needed “day-to-day care” and that Brussels and London both wanted to de-escalate tensions. Tensions have escalated in Northern Ireland since the [...]
Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley to join the wave of institutions entering the Crypto fray. It begs the question – when $50,000 for Bitcoin? February 15, 2021 Crypto at a Glance It was an eventful weekend in the markets, though one characterised primarily by near misses. Bitcoin came within a nose hair of $50,000, Ethereum still hasn’t quite made it over the $2,000 line, and Cardano is yet to hit that dollar mark. The total market cap of all crypto markets did [...]
EU to allow UK data flow in boost for business and law enforcement February 15, 2021 Brussels will allow data to continue to flow from the EU to the UK after deciding that Britain had an adequate level of protection for personal information. A draft decision by the European Commission is expected to be approved this week, the Financial Times reported on Monday. The move will help with features of EU-UK [...]
The Week Ahead: Barclays, Natwest, retail sales, public borrowing February 15, 2021 City A.M. takes a look at some of this week’s market-shaping events. Barclays – Full year results (Thursday) The past 12 months have been difficult ones for banks in general, but UK banks have underperformed relative to their peers, Hewson said, with the unknowns of what a final Brexit deal might look like also weighing [...]
Scotland to Northern Ireland underwater tunnel could be green lit next month February 14, 2021 An underwater tunnel connecting Great Britain and Northern Ireland could get the green light as early as next month. The tunnel, which could be dubbed Boris’ Burrow, would help ease post-Brexit tensions, after Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement created checks for some goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Network Rail chair Sir Peter Hendy [...]
City of London’s biggest competition post-Brexit will not be EU, says Raab February 14, 2021 The UK’s financial services industry will face its biggest post-Brexit competition from Asia and the US, according to foreign secretary Dominic Raab. Raab said EU financial capitals may “nick a bit of business here and there from the City”, but that they will not challenge London’s status as Europe’s global financial capital. It comes as Amsterdam [...]
Runaway inflation might not happen. But what if it does? February 13, 2021 As 2021 dawned, we were all inevitably thinking thank Goodness 2020 is over. And fair enough. But I felt a little less easy when friends went on to say, 2021 can’t be any worse. Actually, how can we know? Think of January 1666: was the average Londoner – say, a baker on Pudding Lane – thinking, thank Goodness [...]
UK financial services sector contributed record £76bn in tax last year February 12, 2021 The UK’s financial services sector paid a record £75.6bn in tax last year, according to a new report. The sector’s contribution in the fiscal year ended March 2020 included £34.1bn in taxes borne directly by firms and an additional £41.5bn from employees and customers, according to a recent report by the City of London Corporation. [...]
Miami Nice! Is crypto returning home? February 12, 2021 Crypto at a Glance There was yet another all-time high for Bitcoin yesterday, as it came within touching distance of $50,000. Will we see $50,000 this week? If the good news continues to flow in, it’s more than likely we will. Yesterday, we had Mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez share the progress they’re making towards [...]
Social distancing measures may stay in place until autumn February 12, 2021 Social distancing measures may have to stay in place until at least the autumn to push down circulation of coronavirus once the population is vaccinated, according to reports. Ministers are considering plans to place face masks and one-metre distances at the heart of the government’s lockdown exit strategy, the Times reported. The restrictions could stay [...]