Parliament to debate gender pricing and why there seems to be a premium on being female, as goods marketed towards women cost more February 2, 2016 MPs are set to debate an apparent tax on colouring things pink this evening, after research unveiled that the price tag on items marketed towards the fairer sex is routinely hiked up. The debate on gender pricing, which is set to take place in Westminster Hall at 4:30pm today, was raised by Paula Sherriff, the Labour MP for Dewsbury. [...]
Made In Taiwan: As China’s growth slows, promising stocks lie across the Formosa Strait February 2, 2016 As China's earthquake rumbles on, the regional trading partners which have depended on its double digit growth for three decades are feeling the shocks. The Malaysian and Indonesian economies have suffered, but the manufacturing sectors in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are also inextricably tied to that of Asia’s largest economy. Exports account for 70 per [...]
Companies not doing enough to protect themselves from cybersecurity risks, believing their business will not be a target for attacks January 27, 2016 Despite business leaders' concerns about cybersecurity, companies are failing to protect themselves against risks, believing the worst will not happen to them. Research released today by insurer Aviva has found that two in five (44 per cent) small- and medium-sized businesses in the UK think the odds are unlikely of them being the target of a cyberattack [...]
Immigration powers the City’s competitiveness: Don’t cut off the supply in the pursuit of an arbitrary migration target January 25, 2016 For centuries, the City has thrived on being open – open to those who want to come to a leading financial and business centre, work hard and contribute to the growth of the economy. And this openness is not limited to people from fellow European countries, but also to those spread across the globe. This [...]
Harlequins boss Conor O’Shea announces plan to leave Stoop sparking Italy head coach speculation January 20, 2016 Harlequins' director of rugby Conor O'Shea has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season after six years in charge. O'Shea's contract expires at the end of the current campaign and the 45-year-old is expected to succeed Jacques Brunel as Italy head coach. "I will have been very fortunate to have had [...]
Insurers including Direct Line, Aviva and Admiral band together to examine future of driverless cars January 18, 2016 Some of Britain's largest motor insurers, including Direct Line, Aviva and Admiral, have banded together to plan for a future when driverless cars are the norm. The Automated Driving Insurance Group, which will be led by trade body the Association of British Insurers (ABI), is assessing the insurance implications of the rise of driverless technology. The group [...]
City Moves for 18 January 2016 | Who’s switching jobs January 18, 2016 Ardian Olivier Piani (pictured) has joined the real estate arm of independent private investment company Ardian as senior adviser and chairman of its investment committee. He joins from Allianz Real Estate where he was chief executive since 2008. Olivier has also been chief exec at GE Capital Real Estate Europe, chief exec of UIC-Sofal and [...]
Family debt jumped 42 per cent to more than £13,500 in six months January 13, 2016 With growth in the economy looking shaky, it seems the amount people are borrowing has increased: new figures showed family household debt rose a whopping 42 per cent to £13,520 in the final six months of last year. The figure, which excludes mortgages, is up from £9,520 in summer 2015, and £9,050 last winter. It's also [...]
City Moves for 13 January 2016 | Who’s switching jobs January 13, 2016 Mount Anvil Mount Anvil, a residential-led central London developer has announced the appointment of Hilary Wells as its first people director. Hilary joins from wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, a family-owned business dating back to 1698 with a turnover of more than £200m, where she led the transformation of the company’s approach [...]
Treating death as taboo is leaving many Londoners poorly prepared, and capital dwellers are more likely to think they don’t want or need a will January 13, 2016 Londoners' taboos about mortality have left them inadequately prepared for the financial impact of death. According to a report released today by Aviva, six out of ten of London adults said that they felt death was still a taboo subject and just less than half (49 per cent) said that they do not want to [...]