Sterling to tumble further as no-deal Brexit worries intensify August 8, 2019 Sterling will continue its losing streak and tumble further as a no-deal Brexit becomes increasingly likely, a Reuters poll of foreign exchange analysts has found. Read more: Sterling resumes fall as Brexit debate takes bizarre turn The pound will slide beyond recent two-year lows against the dollar to trade between $1.17 and $1.20. It slumped [...]
Rics: UK house prices ‘flatlining’ over no-deal Brexit concerns August 8, 2019 UK house prices are “flatlining” in a weak housing market, according to an influential group of chartered surveyors. A headline price indicator slipped deeper into negative territory in July, according to the latest survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). Read more: UK house prices ‘tread water’ as they slip for another month [...]
Property investment plummets in first half as Brexit uncertainty hampers market August 8, 2019 British commercial property investment plunged by a third in the first half of the year because of Brexit-related uncertainty, while residential transactions were at their lowest since the global financial crisis, according to real estate giant Savills. Investment activity in greater London commercial property fell 31 per cent in the first half of 2019, while [...]
Dominic Cummings is behind Number 10’s new startup-mindset August 8, 2019 “What we want to hear is their conquer the world strategy,” said Scott Kupor, managing partner of American venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Kupor was talking about wannabe entrepreneurs knocking on the company’s Sand Hill Road door in California and looking to become the next Twitter, Lyft, or Airbnb. If Boris Johnson’s right-hand man Dominic [...]
The Conservative case for foreign aid August 8, 2019 Now that the Conservative party leadership contest is over, a raft of new ideas have entered the mainstream policy agenda. Many of these are liberal, exciting, and exactly what is needed to boost the British economy ahead of Brexit – but the very concept of international aid has taken something of a beating. Contenders for [...]
Why Britain needs a minister for AI August 8, 2019 With the nation in a state of economic and political uncertainty, Britain’s newly appointed Prime Minister looks to technology to rejuvenate and refocus the country. He announces “a major national effort to bring advanced technology and new processes into industry”, launching the government’s first ministry of technology. Tech experts across the country rejoice as policymakers [...]
Is it irresponsible for parliament to be on recess at such a crucial time? August 8, 2019 Is it irresponsible for parliament to be on recess at such a crucial time? Dr Stuart Thomson, head of public affairs at BDB Pitmans, says YES. With a hard no-deal Brexit looming, now is not the time for a parliamentary break. There is too much to do, but only if the government allows it. Allowing [...]
Travellers brace for chaos as Ryanair pilots vote to strike August 7, 2019 Airline woes are set to be compounded later this month as Ryanair pilots become the latest to go out on strike over pensions and a host of other issues. Pilots’ union Balpa said this evening it was taking its pilots out on strike on 22 August and 2-3 September. Read more: Heathrow and Unite locked [...]
Sterling resumes fall as Brexit debate takes bizarre turn August 7, 2019 Sterling has resumed its fall against the dollar on no-deal Brexit fears as the Queen was dragged into the acrimonious debate about Britain crashing out of the European Union. Read more: Dominic Cummings squares off over Dominic Grieve’s Brexit threat The pound had fallen 0.2 per cent against the dollar by 12.50pm UK time to [...]
Recruitment firm Pagegroup boosts profit despite challenging market August 7, 2019 Recruitment company Pagegroup reported an increase in profit in the first half of the year despite challenging markets in the UK and China. The figures. Revenue increased 9.2 per cent to £820.5m in the first half of the year from £751.6m in 2018, the FTSE 250 firm said. Gross profit was up 9.5 per cent [...]