Is central bank independence even a thing? November 13, 2018 Parents often find it tough to let go of the control they have on their children’s lives, no matter how old they are. While children usually tend to wriggle out of these constraints, the constant jostling between two often opposing opinions is a worldwide phenomenon. And such is the relationship between the government and the [...]
European markets fall after Federal Reserve hints at rate hike November 9, 2018 European markets have fallen this morning after the US central bank hinted at an interest rate hike next month. The Federal Reserve decided to leave interest rates unchanged yesterday but the US central bank said it saw “further gradual increases” ahead. The Euro Stoxx 600, made up of markets in 17 countries, was down 0.7 [...]
Fed keeps US interest rates stable ahead of next month’s anticipated hike November 8, 2018 US stocks ticked upwards as the Federal Reserve said it would keep its interest rate benchmark stable for at least another month. The S&P 500, which had been trading down 0.30 per cent ahead of the announcement, clawed back some of its losses, closing down 0.25 per cent to 2,807. The Fed said it would keep [...]
Is a ball pit in the office more of a hindrance than a help? Designers are calling time on tech playgrounds and creating offices that make you more efficient November 2, 2018 As the tech giants of Silicon Valley scrabble over the world’s best programmers, they’ve been inventing increasingly excessive office perks. We’ve all heard of them; Facebook’s ball pit, Google’s unlimited free food and on-demand masseuses, Reebok’s fitness classes. But while free concerts, haircuts and therapy puppies may get the talent to sign a contract, are [...]
We owe it to our City to take a stand against homelessness October 24, 2018 For the past six months, my daily entry to work has involved passing a young man who is rapidly decaying beside my office. I have seen his decline from reasonable togetherness to life in his own ordure. This, bear in mind, was through the warm summer months. As winter is coming and the weather starts [...]
Reading week picks: Will these two books make me a better investor? October 18, 2018 For one whole week this summer, the value investment team I lead at Schroders held its inaugural Reading Week – all heading to our respective homes to read books. To be very clear, great care was taken to ensure no portfolios were left unattended and we could always be contacted. Nor, just in case you [...]
Chomping at the bit: The race is on to be the next Tory leader October 17, 2018 There will be no deal this week. It was intended, then hoped for, but a Brexit deal is now as far away as it has ever been. The longer this goes on, the more likely it is that there will be a late capitulation, the mother-of-all-compromises by Downing Street, presented as a victory for all [...]
Global equity bloodbath plunges FTSE 100 to six-month low October 11, 2018 A GLOBAL equity bloodbath plunged the FTSE 100 to its lowest level in six months on a “gut-churning” day for investors. The sell-off began in the US on Wednesday before spreading to Europe, Asia, and trading floors across the world on Thursday. Global growth concerns, the prospect of higher US interest rates, as well as [...]
Getting into the flow of it: Cuadrilla’s CEO on safety, earthquakes and political hypocrisy as the company gears up to start onshore fracking October 8, 2018 Not since the debate about nuclear power has an energy issue proven as controversial as fracking. Hydraulic fracturing, the process of blasting a mix of water, sand and chemicals deep into the earth to extract shale oil and gas, has riled parliament, rallied campaigners and grabbed headlines. But ask the boss of the first company [...]
Fed hikes interest rates, signalling an end to ‘accommodative’ monetary policy September 26, 2018 The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates again tonight, in an expected move which reaffirmed steady economic growth and rising employment. Policymakers have now lifted the benchmark to a range of two to 2.25 per cent, an increase of a quarter of a percentage point from its last rate hike in early August. In a [...]