Outlook 2022: Global economy December 7, 2021 2022 is set to be another good year for growth, albeit the recovery is likely to remain unbalanced. Anticipated withdrawal of emergency levels of support will play important role in shaping outlook. Risks include higher-than-expected inflation and weaker growth. The emergence of the Omicron Covid variant has reminded us of the uncertainties which remain around [...]
London markets boosted by bullish Omicron outlook December 7, 2021 Investors continue to be bullish about the Omicron variant posing little threat to the global recovery from the pandemic, lifting London markets today. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index shot up 1.13 per cent to 7,314.33 points during the first hour of trading. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned to the health [...]
West End landlord points to new signings as proof of post-lockdown recovery December 6, 2021 West End landlord Shaftesbury has signed over 60 new retail and leisure brands since October 2020, in a vote of confidence for central London’s post-lockdown recovery Bosses said this interest highlights the speed of the West End’s recovery following the lifting of pandemic restrictions. Some 33 retail brands including American Eagle and Aerie have set [...]
Experian exclusive: Businesses’ credit scores stabilise as recovery is in full swing December 6, 2021 Businesses’ credit scores are recovering well from the impact of Covid-19, according to industry giant Experian, sharing some of its findings exclusively with City A.M. this afternoon. Business credit score levels were back up to the pre-pandemic average of 44 by September 2021, compared to a score of 40 throughout most of lockdown. Looking at [...]
PA Awards 2021: The Finalists December 6, 2021 The City A.M. PA Awards was founded in 2019 as a celebration for the too often unsung heroes, who so frequently go above and beyond in their field, helping their companies to achieve the impossible. After this most challenging of years we will be celebrating those men and women who have proven themselves to be an [...]
BitcoinPoint becomes UK’s first FCA registered crypto asset firm with ATM cash-out facility December 3, 2021 London-based fintech firm BitcoinPoint has secured approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), obtaining a Registered Cryptoasset Firm Licence
Learn the right lessons from Australia’s barmy shutdown December 3, 2021 It is hard to say whether history will look warmly, or otherwise, on Australia’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. When the virus first emerged, the country shut down – and shut down hard. It is only in recent weeks that even Aussies, of whom there are so many in London, were even able to contemplate [...]
Ministers postpone rail fare increase following HS2 cuts backlash December 2, 2021 A UK Government announcement regarding a 3.8 per cent increase in rail fares from March was postponed last week following the backlash caused by the slashing of rail investments in the north. Rail fares in England and Wales will see the biggest increase in nine years, the Guardian reported exclusively after seeing leaked documents. A [...]
Abrdn ramps up digital push and seals the £1.5bn deal for Interactive Investor December 2, 2021 FTSE 100 asset manager abrdn has finalised its £1.5bn takeover of Interactive Investor, the UK’s second-largest fund supermarket, in its third major digital investment this year. In a deal that adds Interactive Investor’s over 400,000 customers and assets under administration of around £55bn to its portfolio, abdrn will acquire 100 per cent of the platform’s [...]
British icon Selfridges becomes Thai: Weston family agrees £4bn sale December 2, 2021 Selfridges’ owner the Weston family has agreed to sell the iconic high-end department store chain to Thai private conglomerate Central Group for £4bn. The Canadian billionaires have reached an agreement with Central Group in the last few days, hoping to close the deal by the end of the month, the Times reported. Founded by American [...]