Boris Johnson: The UK is not a nation hauling up the drawbridge December 2, 2016 Boris Johnson has signalled the government's intention to ensure Britain remains a powerful force in global politics after Brexit, saying the UK is "not a nation hauling up the drawbridge". In one of his most forward-looking speeches since the Brexit vote, Johnson said Brexit "emphatically does not mean that Britain turns in on itself". "There [...]
The league table of countries with the most ‘caring’ investors December 2, 2016 Europeans are less concerned about environmental issues when it comes to selecting investments than Asians or Americans, according to a major study of attitudes in 28 countries. Investors in Asia were far more likely to consider environmental concerns, particularly those in Indonesia and Thailand. Investors in China and India also ranked the importance of these [...]
Donald Trump’s unhappy fate is to oversee a financial crisis far worse than the last December 2, 2016 An earthquake doesn’t care if you’re progressive or populist. It destroys your house all the same. Likewise a financial crisis is indifferent to a politician’s policy mix. Systemic crises proceed according to their own dynamic based on the array of agents in a system, and systemic scale. The tempo of recent crises in 1994, 1998, and [...]
New England manager Gareth Southgate tells players too much partying will hold them back December 1, 2016 New England manager Gareth Southgate warned his players that they will fail to beat the best in the world if their focus is swayed by too much partying. Although the 46-year-old insisted Wayne Rooney would remain captain after the striker was pictured appearing to be drunk late at night while on international duty last month, he [...]
Gareth Southgate: FA will back new England manager even if he flops at Russia 2018, says chief exec Martin Glenn December 1, 2016 New England manager Gareth Southgate will be backed by the Football Association even if his side flop at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, according to chief executive Martin Glenn. The FA chief said he did not include a break clause in Southgate’s four-year contract, believed to be worth £6m, because he wants the manager to [...]
Opening a new passage to India for UK SMEs December 1, 2016 It wasn't so long ago that the future foundations of global trade were going to be built by Brics – that is, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. These expansive developing countries, with huge populations and emerging economies, looked set to dominate the new century. But it hasn’t happened, and presently won’t. Brazil is in [...]
Oil prices shoot up as Opec agrees its first production cut since 2008 November 30, 2016 Investors piled into oil futures and related stocks yesterday evening after Opec defied expectations and revealed a deal to cut production by 1.2m barrels a day. Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices soared as the Saudi Arabia-led cartel announced its first agreement since 2008. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will reduce [...]
Investment trust winners of 2016 November 29, 2016 Investment trusts focused on Asia are on course to deliver some of the best returns in 2016, according to data for trust sectors. Investment trusts are an alternative to more commonly held open-ended funds or unit trusts, offering some advantages. This is explained here: investment trust v open-ended funds Here, we look at the [...]
Oil prices fall as investors see Opec production cut possibility slipping away November 29, 2016 Oil markets recorded heavy falls on Tuesday as a long-mooted supply cut by Opec looks increasingly unlikely. The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the North American benchmark, fell as low as $45.63 per barrel at the time of writing – more than 2.8 per cent in the day. Meanwhile Brent crude, the North Sea benchmark, [...]
The UK is a massive digital loser in business, apparently November 28, 2016 Just one per cent of businesses in the UK are considered "digital winners", with the majority failing to embrace its transformational effects. The UK lags behind the rest of the world and is considerably less digital than several of its European counterparts, according to a new study of more than 4,000 executives and employees in more than 21 [...]