As politicians argue over the EU, the City is poised and ready to trade with the world September 9, 2019 It has now been more than 1,150 days since the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union. Many in the Square Mile have understandably found this period of such prolonged uncertainty frustrating. While there have been many twists and turns in Westminster over the past week, it remains far from clear what will [...]
Boris Johnson warned over ‘Herculean task’ of post-Brexit trade deals September 9, 2019 Boris Johnson has been warned to row back from his pledge to take the UK out of the European Union with or without a deal during his visit to Dublin. The Prime Minister arrived for talks with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this morning, with Westminster still in turmoil. Read more: Parliament will be prorogued tonight [...]
Going Dutch: UK investment in Netherlands soars since Brexit referendum September 9, 2019 UK investments in the Netherlands have jumped more than four-fold to €80bn (£72bn) since the Brexit referendum in 2016, the Dutch statistics office said today. In the same period, Dutch investments in the UK fell from €50bn to negative €11bn as Brexit uncertainty led to capital outflows. Read more: Netherlands in talks with 325 companies [...]
Only an election can sail the ship of state through the Brexit storms September 9, 2019 “The world is not interested in the storms you encountered, but did you bring in the ship?” So wrote the twentieth-century writer of sea stories, William McFee. While the quote has some of the barnacles of age, it’s a good challenge to those seeking to steer the ship of state. For the briefly-abated Brexit hurricane [...]
HMRC at risk of not delivering on prosecution targets as Brexit slows tax evasion enforcement September 9, 2019 Lawyers it is “disappointing” that HMRC is on track to miss targets for cracking down on tax evasion and avoidance. The tax authority had set itself a target of increasing the number of criminal investigations that it undertakes into serious and complex tax crime to 100 a year by the end of parliament. However, in [...]
Service sector confidence falls as UK nears recession September 9, 2019 Optimism about the economy in the services sector fell sharply in August to levels not seen since 2013, according to a report from accountants BDO. BDO’s services optimism index dropped 3.89 points in August to 95.49 per cent, only just above the 95 level that indicates a recessionary mindset has taken hold. Read more: Business [...]
London’s private sector growth outperforms rest of country in August September 9, 2019 Growth in London’s private sector slowed in August, but the capital outperformed the UK as a whole as new business, activity and employment all expanded. Read more: UK economy close to recession after stagnant services sector data Despite the expansion, companies’ overall confidence fell to a five-month low in August as Brexit uncertainty weighed on [...]
Retail footfall drops again in August as economy slows September 9, 2019 The number of Britons venturing out to visit shops fell again in August, bringing yet more problems for a retail sector that has suffered a number of casualties this year. Read more: Hot weather fails to heat up retail sales in August Footfall fell by 1.3 per cent in August year on year, compared to [...]
Tax radicalism would give the economy a boost September 9, 2019 While keeping a close eye on Westminster (again) today, traders will also be aware of a number emerging mid-morning from the Office for National Statistics. To little fanfare, ONS wonks will reveal the first official evidence of whether or not the UK is already suffering from a technical recession. July’s GDP reading must be taken [...]
Pubs cash in on bank holiday heatwave but fears grow for restaurant sector September 9, 2019 A sunny spell through the August bank holiday helped London watering holes increase their late-summer sales, according to a closely-followed industry measure. Thirsty punters gravitated to drink-led pubs in the capital, which enjoyed a five per cent like-for-like boost in sales compared to the same period last year. Read more: Wetherspoons toasts no-deal Brexit by [...]