Don’t rely on downsizing to make up for your insufficient pension October 27, 2016 After years of runaway house prices, few will be surprised that a sizeable proportion of the UK’s net wealth is tied up in property. The latest ONS statistics show that dwellings make up a massive 62 per cent, or £5.5 trillion, of the country’s £8.8 trillion total. So it is also unsurprising that many see [...]
Spirit of the financial age – 30 years after the City’s Big Bang October 27, 2016 The Big Bang City revolution of 1986 — exactly thirty years ago — was a game-changer that allowed the City to become not only de-regulated but a brave new world of graduate opportunity. Today, it is very different: with much tightened regulation, tough new ‘ring fencing’ of the old casino banking system (separating investment banking [...]
Accio investors: Bloomsbury shares up as Harry Potter enchantment continues October 27, 2016 Harry Potter continues to be the boy who lives (up to expectations) for Bloomsbury Publishing. Nearly 20 years after the company first published JK Rowling’s Philosopher’s Stone, the series continues to do the business for Bloomsbury. Total revenues in the six months to 31 August were up 19 per cent year-on-year, from £52.7m to £62.7m. [...]
£3bn student economy is key to attracting future investment October 27, 2016 In considering what drives modern economies and shapes the best and most successful cities, Richard Florida now advocates ‘quality of place’ as the benchmark to replace quality of life. As one of the leading theorists on modern life, and author of several books about the 'creative class', his opinion counts. Investors are already used to [...]
What the new government should do to pensions: Scrap the £1m lifetime allowance and nudge young people to save more October 27, 2016 Philip Hammond has a lot on his plate. As the Autumn Statement approaches, shielding the UK economy from Brexit’s slings and arrows will be higher up his agenda than fiddling with a pensions system which was tinkered with year after year under the last government. Some of the changes (many at the exit end of [...]
Get ready for a more mature Autumn Statement – which might mean you get ignored October 27, 2016 All Autumn Statements are political, but some Autumn Statements are more political than others. Under George Osborne, we have become used to very political Budgets and Autumn Statements. The former chancellor consistently engaged the media with policy tweaks – from pensioner bonds to corporate tax cuts. The changes were generally small, but their appeal to [...]
Manchester United 1, Manchester City 0: Derby victory eases pain of Chelsea debacle, insists Jose Mourinho October 27, 2016 Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho believes his side’s EFL Cup victory over rivals Manchester City will go some way to exorcising the ghost of their harrowing Premier League thrashing by Chelsea at the weekend. Former Stamford Bridge playmaker Juan Mata proved the match-winner in the second half as the hosts set up a home tie with [...]
Start with a blank canvas: How to invest in the art market October 26, 2016 For years the idea of purchasing art as an investment was frowned upon by purists in the art world – the two should be separate, like church and state. Art as investment is certainly not for everyone: the market is quite illiquid, prices can be volatile, and storage costs can outweigh profits. But as investors [...]
UK missing out on £45bn millennials dividend October 26, 2016 The UK could be £45bn richer if more young people were in work or education, a new report has claimed. Consultants at PwC also found the UK lags most of the world’s major economies in terms of the opportunities available to young people, which could be stifling economic growth. Britain comes in 21st out of [...]
Britain must deploy its vast soft power reserves to prove to the world it remains globally engaged October 26, 2016 The precise ramifications of the Brexit vote will take a while to shake out, but many people overseas have interpreted it as the UK pulling up the drawbridge and retreating from its international role. This is both unfortunate and troubling. We must show everyone that we are more committed than ever to international cooperation economically, militarily [...]