NIESR top economist: Bank of England has tools to fight inflation May 30, 2022 The UK economy is in a bit of a bind. Households are being squeezed by historic rises in their living costs, while businesses’ margins are thinning due to expenses soaring. A much higher than expected inflation crunch – primarily the result of Russia’s unforeseen invasion of Ukraine – is forecast to trigger a spending pull [...]
Jubilee boom for small business amid inflation worries May 30, 2022 THE EXTENDED Bank Holiday to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee will give Britain’s small firms a much needed revenue boost. The closely-watched Barclays SME Barometer suggests three in five small business owners are expecting to see revenues higher this year than last, helped by an anticipated spending spree over the coming week. But around three [...]
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust: buying opportunity? May 27, 2022 Scottish Mortgage (LON: SMT) shares are still up 77% over the past five years, despite recent falls. And as central banks make increasingly hawkish noises, its share price is now trading at a 12.7% discount to net asset value. However, this could represent a FTSE 100 buying opportunity. Scottish Mortgage Manager Tom Slater recently told investors that ‘in retrospect, it [...]
BBC Four and CBBC shutting down as beleaguered broadcaster makes fresh cuts May 27, 2022 Around 1,000 jobs will be lost and BBC Four and CBBC will end as linear TV channels as part of the broadcaster’s plans to become “digital-first”. Director-general Tim Davie announced to staff on Thursday that 1,000 jobs will be cut across the public-funded part of the corporation. BBC World News and BBC News Channel will [...]
Windfall tax is a big risk and Rishi Sunak’s policies may lead to recession, warns former minister May 27, 2022 FORMER Tory leadership candidate Sir John Redwood has warned that the Government’s windfall tax on energy firms is risky and its economic policies may be leading us towards a recession. He said he was opposed to a windfall tax on energy firms as it would affect future investment. “Why don’t I want a windfall tax on the energy [...]
Sunak denies using £21bn support package to deflect from No 10 lockdown parties May 27, 2022 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has rejected the notion that the timing of handing out £21bn worth of cost-of-living support to deflect from the controversy over Downing Street lockdown parties. The Chancellor bowed to demands for the UK Government to step in and help households to deal with ballooning energy bills and rising shop prices, which are [...]
Retail therapy gives markets a lift as battle to contain inflation genie starts in earnest May 27, 2022 European markets spent most of yesterday edging cautiously higher, with the FTSE100 shrugging off the UK government’s decision to impose a 25 per cent windfall tax on the oil and gas sector, while at the same time unveiling a fiscal stimulus package. The decision to impose the controversial tax appears to have prompted a review [...]
It’s time to recognise our businesses would benefit from devil’s advocates May 27, 2022 As corporate speeches go, it was eventful. Last week, Stuart Kirk, head of responsible investing at HSBC’s asset management division, delivered a provocative speech entitled “why investors need not worry about climate risk.” One week and a media storm later, Mr Kirk is no longer a head of responsible investing. Instead, he has been suspended, [...]
End of EU research funding will choke off UK deeptech, top professor warns May 27, 2022 An end to European research funding for UK universities could choke off a stream of so-called deeptech startups from attracting investment and making it to market, an expert has told City A.M.
The City View: Victoria Scholar on Sunak’s windfall tax and Cowgill exit May 26, 2022 Today Andy Silvester talks to Victoria Scholar, Head of Investment at Interactive Investor. They go through Rishi Sunak’s unveiling of a windfall tax today, the Fed’s plans to hike rates by 50 basis points in June and July, Elon Musk’s painfully slow acquisition of Twitter, and JD Sports founder and CEO Peter Cowgill’s shock departure [...]