How London’s housing crisis threatens City businesses May 12, 2014 The high cost of London housing is affecting the capital's competitiveness, according to a new report from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Soaring house price increases have outstripped wage increases, and so make "living in London unaffordable for many, affecting both employees and employers." 42 per cent of London businesses feel that their [...]
Market authority set to greenlight Sky Europe deal May 11, 2014 THE UK’s newly established Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) yesterday said it would likely greenlight a deal by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox to consolidate its pay-TV European holdings were it to be approved by the EC. In 2010, European authorities approved News Corp’s bid to take full control of BSkyB. Murdoch is said to [...]
Centrica slides after surprise profit warning May 8, 2014 CENTRICA’S share price dropped yesterday, after the energy giant issued its second profit morning in six months. The FTSE 100 firm, which owns big six supplier British Gas, said lower energy consumption due to mild winter weather in the UK and losses from its UK gas-fired power stations had caused the company to lower its [...]
Why making it easier to volunteer would narrow Britain’s gender pay gap May 1, 2014 WILL the Conservatives’ flagship initiative, the Big Society, again occupy a prominent position in the upcoming elections? In deciding, the Tories might like to consult the surprising results of our recent research on volunteer work. We asked the following question: when you work for free to help others in society, does it also increase your [...]
How to narrow the gender pay gap by encouraging volunteering May 1, 2014 WILL the Conservatives’ flagship initiative, the Big Society, again occupy a prominent position in the upcoming elections? In deciding, the Tories might like to consult the surprising results of our recent research on volunteer work. We asked the following question: when you work for free to help others in society, does it also increase your [...]
Why Britain shouldn’t fear a stronger pound April 30, 2014 THE RISING pound is causing some concern. “City squeezed by stronger pound” proclaimed the headline in Monday’s City A.M. – reporting the impact of sterling’s rise on the translation of overseas profits. There have also been worries that a rising pound could stifle the recovery of manufacturing output and exports. So what are the facts? [...]
Watchdog hires two city veterans April 23, 2014 THE CITY watchdog has hired veteran investment banker Gunner Burkhart (left) as an adviser on wholesale and markets issues. Burkhart has worked at Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Asset Management, Lehman Brothers and most recently Nomura. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has also hired ex-Competition Commission boss David Saunders to study competition.
How Britain can fix its Nimby problem April 22, 2014 THE COALITION is considering plans to loosen the rules governing the development of new infrastructure, fracking sites, and potentially housing, to facilitate investment. The specifics are not yet clear, but they seem to be on the right track. The potential of UK shale, for example, is huge – if it can be realised. New research [...]
We’re resetting the energy market to make it simpler and smarter April 16, 2014 WHEN energy consumers open the next bill, letter or email from their supplier, they should notice some major changes. On every energy bill, they will now receive personalised information about the cheapest tariff their supplier can offer. They will also receive an accurate projection of how much they will pay if they stay on their [...]
Most still don’t switch account April 15, 2014 CONSUMER watchdog Which? is calling for an investigation into competition in the current account market, after it emerged that just two per cent of people have switched accounts since new guarantees came into effect in September last year. Research found the seven day switching promise is failing to persuade consumers. The Competition and Markets Authority [...]