Errors must be punished – but US justice is becoming arbitrary November 19, 2013 IMAGINE the following scenario. It’s 2024 and we are in the middle of a major banking crisis caused by a political implosion in China. Banks are going bust left, right and centre, with the regulators trying to offload failed institutions to stronger ones to contain the chaos. If you were in charge of one of [...]
UK’s zombie firms taking a bite out of productivity November 18, 2013 THOUSANDS of heavily indebted firms are holding back the UK’s recovery, kept above water by historically low interest rates, according to a new report published today. According to research by the Adam Smith Institute, a Westminster think tank, 108,000 so-called zombie businesses across the country are only able to service the interest on their debt, [...]
Communicator and Rhombus in perfect shape for November Handicap November 7, 2013 RICHARD Hughes will be doused with champagne by his fellow jockeys for the second year running at Doncaster tomorrow afternoon after another fantastic season. He takes the ride on Hughie Morrison’s Nearly Caught in the November Handicap (3.35pm), but he has plenty of weight for a three-year-old and I’m inclined to look elsewhere. John Gosden [...]
Competition and Markets Authority appoints host of new directors November 6, 2013 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has appointed seven new directors, following on from earlier appointments to the CMA board and senior team. The CMA is a non-ministerial government department which seeks to reduce anti-competitive practices. The body was launched on 1 October of this year to replace the competition commission, and the office of [...]
Fears for London as listing regulations are tightened November 5, 2013 THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) yesterday strengthened its listing rules to protect minority shareholders in the wake of the scandals surrounding ENRC and Bumi, two companies that floated in London and became mired in controversies over corporate governance. The new rules, which will eventually affect already listed companies with large shareholders such as Sports Direct, [...]
Against the Grain: It’s time to fight the claim that consumer choice doesn’t improve public services November 5, 2013 DO CHOICE and competition between suppliers improve the quality of outcomes for consumers? The answer may seem so obvious to City A.M. readers that it’s hardly worth asking. But a powerful strand of political opinion is building up to an attack on the concept. The new Labour shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said last week [...]
Competition watchdog set to double cartel investigations October 30, 2013 THE NEW competition authorities should be able to double the number of anti-trust investigations carried out thanks to better resources, a leading law firm has forecast. The Competition and Markets Authority will begin work next year, replacing the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission. And according to analysis from Pinsent Masons, a 31 per cent hike [...]
Energy bills cut by £131 through collective switching October 30, 2013 More than 21,000 people saved an average of £131 on their electricity bills, according to a report released today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Consumers used collective switching – where they organise together to negotiate with their electricity providers, usually facilitated by a third party. The report, "Helping Consumers Switch: Collective Switching [...]
Kickstart institutional investment to build new homes for generation rent October 29, 2013 INVESTORS have long enjoyed a love/hate relationship with property. An asset class dominated by commercial real estate, it delivers diversification and a reasonable yield in the good times. But in difficult times, upward-only rent reviews vanish, and fund managers are left wrestling with high voids and bad debts. Residential real estate, meanwhile, has largely been [...]
London house prices to keep rising due to chronic undersupply October 28, 2013 The London housing market will continue to experience significant undersupply in the coming years and will retain its robust stance, according to research by Deutsche Bank. The bank expects UK listed house builders with scale and history in the region to see strong returns in their London divisions. It also expects new entrants such as [...]