Will the Bank of England cut interest rates? December 18, 2019 UK inflation data came out today, leaving economists to ponder whether the Bank of England would consider cutting or raising interest rates before the end of 2019 or even early into 2020. The Consumer Prices Index stood at 1.5 per cent in November, flat on October and half a per cent below the Bank of [...]
The best and worst ads of 2019 December 16, 2019 It has been a year of highs and lows for adland. PRs, creative agencies, and brands will be examining their advertising efforts this month, and while some will be pleased with their work, others will be looking to improve next year. To help with this process, I asked members of the marketing industry and other [...]
Accounting watchdog ‘plots sweeping rule changes’ for company executives December 15, 2019 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is lining up significant changes to corporate governance rules after a string of scandals at Patisserie Valerie, M&C Saatchi and Ted Baker. It is understood the accounting regulator is writing a British version of an American law passed in 2002 after Worldcom and Enron collapsed. Read more: FRC watchdog probes [...]
Growth in business lending set to hit five-year low December 5, 2019 Bank lending to firms is expected to creep up at its weakest rate since 2015 next year, with experts blaming dampened appetite for business investment. Growth in business lending will likely climb by 2.1 per cent in 2020, according to research out this morning by the EY ITEM Club. Read more: Moody’s downgrades outlook for [...]
CBI: UK economy set to slow despite Brexit deal December 2, 2019 The economy will slow next year even if Britain leaves the European Union with a Brexit deal, a new report has predicted, as business investment fails to significantly pick up. The CBI’s economic forecast is the latest report to suggest that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal will do little to help the economy in [...]
Big Four client numbers fall but FTSE 100 stranglehold remains December 2, 2019 The number of clients audited by the Big Four accountancy firms has fallen but they retain an iron grip on the FTSE 100, figures published today show. Figures from Adviser Rankings for the quarter to 6 November showed the number of stock market clients audited by PwC (353), KPMG (312) and Deloitte (225) all fell [...]
Big Four firm PwC cracks down on drinking alcohol in the office December 1, 2019 Big Four accountancy firm PwC has cracked down on drinking alcohol in the office. Under new rules introduced this year, alcohol can only be drunk on PwC premises when it has been supplied by the firm’s in-house catering team at specially designated events. A spokesperson for the firm said: “As part of the regular review [...]
UK house prices: Growth hits seven-month high November 28, 2019 UK house price growth ticked up this month, showing the strongest annual rise since April. However, annual house price growth remained below one per cent for the 12th month in a row at 0.8 per cent, reaching an average price of £215.734. House prices were up 0.5 per cent month-on-month, according to the latest Nationwide [...]
Government’s halted Brexit ad campaign cost taxpayers £5m November 27, 2019 Boris Johnson’s ad campaign urging people and businesses to prepare for leaving the EU on 31 October cost taxpayers almost £5m in just a month. The government unveiled a £100m “Get Ready for Brexit” campaign at the end of August, promising an advertising blitz across billboards, TV and radio, as well as a revamped website. [...]
Sir Richard Branson to make a third bid for the National Lottery November 24, 2019 Sir Richard Branson will make a third attempt to wrest control of the National Lottery from incumbent Camelot, almost twenty years on from the last of his past efforts. The decision to enter the running to displace the Canadian company as the lottery operator reignites a rivalry that in the past led to a High [...]