Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins talks pipes, politics and £1m election bets February 22, 2015 I don't know much in life, but I know how to run a plumbing company,” says Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, matter-of-factly. Mullins is entitled to his own opinions (and he’s got his fair share) but he’s probably wrong on this one. The self-made multi-millionaire is unerringly humble – he’s not just any managing [...]
Federal Reserve remains wary of interest rate hike February 18, 2015 GOLD, PLATINUM and emerging currencies were buoyed last night after minutes of January’s Federal Reserve meeting revealed the majority of the committee remain wary of hiking rates too soon and hampering growth in the US economy. The minutes revealed the group was less unified on its strategy for when it will eventually raise interest rates [...]
Fed helps to moderate fall – New York Report February 18, 2015 The Dow and S&P 500 ended barely lower yesterday after a drop in energy shares. However, declines were limited by minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting, which showed policymakers are concerned about raising interest rates too soon. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 17.73 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 18,029.85, the S&P 500 [...]
Federal Reserve cautious of raising interest rates against backdrop of economic growth February 18, 2015 The Federal Reserve’s policy committee reaffirmed its cautious approach to raising interest rates after voting in unison against the measure in January. Minutes from the January meeting reveal that the majority of the committee were wary of hiking rates too soon and hampering growth in the US economy. However, the group was less unified [...]
Optimism over Greece raises S&P to record – New York Report February 17, 2015 THE S&P 500 ended above 2,100 at another record high yesterday as optimism grew that a debt deal would be reached with Greece and as bond prices sold off. In a possible sign of progress for Greece, a source told Reuters the country intended to ask for an extension of a loan agreement today. The [...]
Street food in the City? Street Kitchen co-founder Mark Jankel on his locally sourced alternative to Pret February 17, 2015 We were professional chefs and we thought it would be good fun to set up a street food kitchen, just to see how it worked. We did it as a bit of a laugh for two weeks, and loved it so much we decided to pursue it as a business. I left an executive job [...]
The free trade deals that could turbo-charge the UK economy by £10bn February 11, 2015 Few know it, but you are all paying a secret tax. Trade tariffs and other protectionist barriers are a hidden part of the price you pay for almost everything you buy. Consider this: if we could do a trade deal between America and the EU, at one stroke we could create up to 2m jobs, [...]
European markets fall as Greek bond yields soar on Grexit fears February 9, 2015 European markets dropped while yields on Greek bonds leapt this morning, as investors showed their concerns over the possibility of a Greek exit from the euro. The FTSE 100 fell more than one per cent, while Germany's Dax lost almost two per cent and the French Cac 40 fell 1.5 per cent, after Greek prime [...]
Mark Carney’s struggle to master his words – CNBC Comment February 2, 2015 Once upon a time, you needed to be Alice in Wonderland to vanish down a rabbit hole. Nowadays, we are all falling in head first – thanks to a bunch of central bankers. But as we’re down here in this inverted QE world, Bank of England governor Mark Carney should probably heed the words of [...]
Fed up with London’s insane property market? A houseboat could be the answer to your prayers January 29, 2015 Young couples faced with the daunting task of establishing a foothold on the property ladder can be forgiven for wanting to jump on a boat and sail as far as they can from the glittering circus of estate agents, sky-rocketing prices and penury caused by endless saving. Anyone who follows through with this escapist urge [...]