AJ Bell’s revenue jumps 22 per cent as investors take advantage of market volatility May 21, 2020 AJ Bell has reported a 22 per cent increase in revenue after it saw record numbers of new customers flock to the investment platform amid the market volatility. The figures Revenue increased 22 per cent to £60.9m, with profit before tax up 28 per cent to £22.7m in the six months to 31 March. Total [...]
Government looks ahead to re-opening UK leisure and travel sectors May 20, 2020 The government has stepped up its plans to get the leisure, travel and technology sectors up and running, with the announcement of a new taskforce. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden announced today that the taskforce will be made up of experts in the fields of sport, technology and the arts in a bid to get these [...]
Boris Johnson sparks cabinet reshuffle confusion with PMQs comments May 20, 2020 Boris Johnson said today that he wanted more women in government before appearing to say that a cabinet reshuffle may be on the way. When asked about the potential for increased involvement of women in government, the Prime Minister said he had “taken dramatic action even before a reshuffle” and pointed out two female appointments [...]
Brexit: Government confirms there will be checks on some goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland May 20, 2020 The government has confirmed there will be checks on some products travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain from next January as a part of the EU withdrawal agreement. Checks will need to be done on agri-food and live animal arrivals from Great Britain at Belfast port, Belfast international airport, Belfast City airport and Warrenpoint [...]
World Trade Organization: Global trade to drop ‘precipitously’ May 20, 2020 The World Trade Organization (WTO) has said international trade is set to drop “precipitously” in the first half of 2020 as coronavirus wreaks havoc on global supply chains and consumer demand. The WTO’s gauge of the health of global trade fell to 87.6, its lowest reading since the goods trade barometer was launched in 2016. [...]
Insurance is a jewel in the City crown May 20, 2020 As the relatively new Member of Parliament for the City, I have been finding my way around the incredible range of financial services which London offers the world – and insurance and reinsurance are definitely jewels in the crown. So, the publication of the third edition of the London Matters report this week was a [...]
UK: Brexit trade deal demands ‘go beyond’ other EU agreements May 20, 2020 The government released legal texts for the proposed EU free trade deal yesterday, with some trade experts claiming the UK’s demands are in excess of what Brussels has allowed in previous deals. Talks between the EU and UK are at a crossroads, after little progress has been made on several key areas in the first [...]
The City View: The pandemic-shaped hole in global dividends, with Jane Shoemake of Janus Henderson May 20, 2020 In this episode Christian is joined by Jane Shoemake, investment director at Janus Henderson’s global dividend index. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS With dividends set to slump between 15 and 35 per cent this year, where should the income investor look? There are a few bright spots and safe havens amid the gloom, but on [...]
Brexit: Minister won’t rule out prospect of City losing EU access over fishing policy row May 19, 2020 A senior minister has refused to rule out the prospect of the UK’s financial services industry losing access to EU markets over a row with Brussels over fishing policy. Environment secretary George Eustice at today’s press briefing said the government would not “get into saying you have to sacrifice one industry in order to give [...]
Michael Gove: Brexit deal can be struck if EU loses its ‘ideological fastness’ May 19, 2020 Michael Gove has said a zero tariff, zero quota trade deal can be done with the EU if its negotiators shed their “ideological fastness” during talks. The Cabinet Office Minister updated MPs today on Brexit trade negotiations, claiming the EU “wants us to obey the rules of their club, essentially, even though we are no [...]