UK companies issue lowest number of profit warnings in over two decades July 19, 2021 British listed companies issued the fewest number of profit warnings in over two decades in the second quarter of this year, according to new figures released today. Research by EY shows UK listed businesses issued 32 profit warnings in the second quarter of 2021, the lowest quarterly total the firm has recorded. The low levels [...]
Surging inflation to add £10bn to government’s debt burden July 19, 2021 Surging inflation is likely to add £10bn to the government’s debt burden, putting further pressure on the UK’s public finances. Around a quarter of the government’s stock of debt is linked to the retail price index, meaning the Treasury needs to increase interest payments to savers if prices rise. Read more: UK inflation hits 2.5 [...]
Diversity drive? EY offers senior female staff golf lessons in bid to catch up with peers July 19, 2021 Diversity in senior positions is a problem all City leaders face, but one firm has taken the term “diversity drive” to new lengths. Female consultants at a London division of EY have reportedly been offered golf lessons so they don’t miss out on networking around the tee. Staff at leading professional service firms have identified [...]
PwC to ramp up partner pay packages to record highs after Covid profit rush July 17, 2021 The UK’s largest accountancy firm has done so well out of the pandemic that average partner pay at the firm has surged to a record £868,000. Demand for PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) consulting services has weathered Covid extremely well, and the firm is set to publish record-high revenues later in the year, according to reports in Sky [...]
London records strongest half year IPO performance since 2014 July 15, 2021 The UK retained its dominance as the most attractive European IPO venue by funds raised, continuing the deal momentum witnessed in the previous two quarters. Both the main market and Alternative Investment Market (AIM) have built on the resurgence of activity seen in the last two quarters, with 10 IPOS raising £3.1bn on the main [...]
Job vacancies rise above pre-pandemic levels after lockdown measures eased July 15, 2021 UK job vacancies rose to above pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 15 months, as average wages showed signs of growth. New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed 862,000 job vacancies in April to June this year. The figure is almost 10 per cent higher than January to March before the [...]
Fancy a Covid jab? Here are all the free walk-in vaccine sites open in London this month July 14, 2021 If you haven’t had a chance to book your Covid-19 vaccination, there are a number of sites accepting walk-ins this July. Anyone over 18 can get their Covid-19 jab in England and those attending sites won’t be required to provide identification, proof of address, or be registered with a GP. If you’re lucky enough to [...]
Fees rise as Big Four still dominate FTSE 100 audits market July 14, 2021 Long-standing plans to increase competition in the auditing market appear to have been delayed slightly longer, as the Big Four accounting firms continue to dominate. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the regulator for auditors, said that KPMG, EY, Deloitte and PwC audited all FTSE 100 companies in a roughly even four-way split. Government-backed reviews had [...]
Exclusive: Financial services deal making climbing back up after subdued 2020 July 13, 2021 Deals in the UK financial services sector more than doubled in the first half of 2021, compared to the first six months of last year. Professional services giant Ernst & Young told City A.M. today that the UK financial services industry saw 121 deals in the first half of this year compared with 57 during [...]
UK economy grows 0.8 per cent in May July 9, 2021 The UK economy expanded in May, but at a much slower pace than in recent months as growth stalled in retail, manufacturing and construction, new figures released today show. GDP rose 0.8 per cent in May 2021, the fourth consecutive month of growth, according to the ONS. The expansion was driven by a resurgence in [...]