EU chief von der Leyen: Time too short for comprehensive post-Brexit deal by 2021 January 8, 2020 The new head of the European Commission has said there will not be enough time for the UK and European Union to reach a comprehensive trade agreement by the end of 2020, saying the two sides “must prioritise”. However, in a broadly conciliatory speech at the London School of Economics this morning, she said the [...]
What the return of Middle East tensions could mean for markets January 8, 2020 Last week’s assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ overseas forces, has reignited tensions in the Middle East and sent tremors through asset markets. The oil price has risen sharply to over $70 a barrel at the time of writing, amid concerns that tensions in the region will impact supply. Meanwhile, [...]
Central banks running low on ammunition to fight recession, Mark Carney warns January 8, 2020 Central banks may not be able to fight off a sharp economic downturn because their monetary policy arsenals are still depleted following the global financial crisis, outgoing Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has warned. “It’s generally true that there’s much less ammunition for all the major central banks than they previously had and I’m [...]
DEBATE: Should we pursue a trade deal with the EU and the US at the same time? January 8, 2020 Should the government pursue a US trade deal and negotiate with the EU at the same time? YES, says Michael Haston, chief executive of Leonne International. As we reach the brink of the UK’s long-debated departure from the EU, the finer details of a trade deal are still very much up for debate. Businesses cannot [...]
Qassem Soleimani’s death is the UK’s first test of post-Brexit foreign policy January 8, 2020 It would be safe to say that the last thing our new government expected at the start of 2020 — flush with enthusiasm for its domestic agenda — was a foreign policy crisis, much less so one sprung upon it by the reaction of the mercurial Trump administration. But in truth, the drone strike on [...]
Labour refuses to learn the lessons of defeat January 8, 2020 Having overseen Labour’s worst defeat since the 1930s Jeremy Corbyn called for “a period of reflection”. Unfortunately, this overlaps with the campaign to replace him, so instead of ruminating on the reasons for their electoral humiliation Labour MPs are busy pandering to a party membership that still thinks Corbyn was right and the voters were [...]
Chinese investment in Europe and North America slumps to nine-year low January 8, 2020 Chinese investment in Europe and North America hit a nine-year low in 2019, new analysis has shown, as Beijing focused increasingly on the domestic economy and geopolitical tensions hurt capital flows. Chinese foreign direct investment in Europe tumbled 40 per cent in 2019 and fell 27 per cent in the US, analysis from law firm [...]
World’s largest law firm Dentons set to launch in Ireland January 8, 2020 The world’s largest law firm Dentons is poised to open its first office in Ireland. Dentons has hired banking partner Peter O’Brien from Irish firm Matheson to spearhead its expansion into the market. Since the Brexit vote in June 2016, Ireland has been targeted by UK and international law firms looking to set up operations [...]
Gracechurch developer bangs drum for a city with a ‘bright future’ January 7, 2020 As an overseas investor in the City of London, the election of the new Conservative majority government and the message it sends to people like me who are keen to invest in the UK economy is welcome. After three and half years of political turmoil, the UK can finally move forward as a country and [...]
Boris Johnson to tell Von Der Leyen trade deal must be done without extension January 7, 2020 Boris Johnson will tell the new European Commission president that a post-Brexit trade deal must be concluded before the end of December 2020, refusing to consider any extension. The Prime Minister is hosting Ursula Von Der Leyen in Downing Street this afternoon, in the pair’s first meeting since she took the reins from Jean-Claude Juncker. [...]