Tony Pidgley, self-made co-founder of FTSE 100 homebuilder Berkeley, dies at 72 June 27, 2020 British homebuilder Berkeley Group has said its chairman and co-founder, Tony Pidgley, died suddenly on Friday, aged 72. “He died of a stroke, he was working yesterday and went to (the) hospital last night and then sadly passed away earlier today,” a company spokesman told Reuters. Pidgley helped set up Berkeley Group in 1976 and [...]
A message from a former Extinction Rebellion activist: Fellow environmentalists, join me in embracing nuclear power June 25, 2020 As the lockdown measures we have become so familiar with over the past three months are slowly eased, discussions are turning to how to move forward with recovering from the economic hit of Covid-19 in a way that also addresses climate change. I have a long history of campaigning on environmental issues, most recently as [...]
Barnier: Brexit deal ahead if Britain stops backtracking June 24, 2020 Britain can still achieve a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union as long as the UK stops “backtracking” on its commitments, the EU’s chief negotiator said today. In a virtual think-tank event this afternoon, Michel Barnier called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to give “clear signals” that the UK is ready to work towards [...]
Innovating for the greater good June 24, 2020 The collective fight against financial crime requires greater achievement by regulated businesses. Financial crime, in its various forms, has serious social and economic consequences. Whether it is misappropriated public funds, laundering of criminal proceeds, financing of terrorist activity, tax evasion, or fraud, the victims are you and I. Although the harm manifests differently – a [...]
EU prepares ban on US travellers over high coronavirus case count June 24, 2020 The EU is said to be ready to issue a travel ban on US citizens and travellers from other countries, due to their high coronavirus infection rates. Documents seen by the New York Times showed American, Russian and Brazilian visitors to the EU would be unwelcome as their governments’ fail to control the virus’ spread. [...]
The risks are elevated, but investors have faith UK financial services can weather the storm June 23, 2020 The mood music in Brussels has changed over the last few weeks — and the financial services sector is back in the spotlight. In recent negotiations, the EU explicitly challenged the notion that Britain will be able to “cherry-pick” the benefits of the Single Market and retain its strategic position in financial services post-Brexit. With [...]
UK economy set to return to growth in third quarter after coronavirus chaos June 23, 2020 The UK economy’s coronavirus-induced downturn eased in June as key health indicators hit a four-month high, according to a closely-followed survey. The UK’s economic output hit a measure of 47.6 on IHS Markit’s flash purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a four-month high. Anything below 50 represents a contraction. But it was a stark improvement from May’s [...]
Japan gives UK just six weeks to secure post-Brexit trade deal June 23, 2020 Japan has given the UK a mere six weeks in which to strike a post-Brexit trade deal, which would be one of the shortest timetables for trade negotiations in history. Tokyo’s chief negotiator Hiroshi Matsuura told the Financial Times that both parties will have to “limit their ambitions” when it comes to agreeing the deal, [...]
UK house prices to fall five per cent this year June 23, 2020 UK house prices will continue to fall and won’t recover those losses until the end of 2022, analysts have forecast. Buyers are likely to be nervous about big purchases and house prices as personal finances come under scrutiny amid the coronavirus pandemic, forcing house prices to drop five per cent this year, the 9–22 June [...]
One in six auto jobs at risk, car industry body warns June 23, 2020 One of every six jobs in the UK automotive sector remains at risk from the coronavirus pandemic, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) warned today, unless the government supplies a dedicated restart package to get the industry going again. Over 6,000 jobs were cut already in June, while a third of all sector [...]