Collecting ethnicity data for the pandemic taught City diversity chiefs hard lessons February 27, 2023 During the pandemic, Covid-19 was believed to have higher mortality rates for people from ethnic minorities, but a lack of accurate data meant we couldn't fully understand how deep the problem went. We face the same problems in the corporate work, writes Sophie White.
Week ahead: Bank of England speak to dominate agenda as investors look for clues on interest rate path February 26, 2023 Investors will be parsing over a string of speeches from top Bank of England rate setters this week for clues on whether the central bank is close to ending its aggressive campaign to tame inflation. Ben Broadbent, a deputy governor at the Bank, kicks off a busy week of central banker speech at Threadneedle Street’s [...]
Warren Buffett turns record profit – despite lashings of global headwinds February 25, 2023 Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Saturday reported its highest-ever annual operating profit, even as foreign currency losses and lower gains from investments caused fourth-quarter profit to fall. Buffett called 2022 a “good year” for Berkshire in his annual shareholder letter after the conglomerate’s dozens of businesses generated $30.8 billion of profit despite rising inflation and [...]
Sunak faces criticism over plans for European Union chief to ‘meet the King’ February 25, 2023 The Prime Minister’s political judgement has been criticised after a meeting between the King and the leader of the European Union was cancelled. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen had been expected to travel to Britain on Saturday amid speculation a deal to fix issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol is near. The German [...]
Priti Patel calls on Jeremy Hunt to stop planned corporation tax rise February 25, 2023 Former home secretary Priti Patel has urged the Chancellor to use his Budget next month to halt the planned corporation tax rise. The senior Conservative has argued that “now is not the time” for an increase in the tax on big business. In plans agreed while she served in Boris Johnson’s cabinet, corporation tax is [...]
Klarna: Late fees are in the interests of consumers taking on too much debt February 24, 2023 A banker will lend you his umbrella but only on a sunny day, as the maxim goes. When it rains, he’ll want it back. Well, it’s pouring outside and consumers are seeking shelter from the rising cost of heating, electricity, petrol, food and mortgages. Credit card borrowing is at its highest since 2004 and credit [...]
The debacle over a Kensington cycle lane shows us how badly we need good infrastructure February 24, 2023 What a local war over a cycle lane on High Street Kensington told us about Britain’s infrastructure.
Accessibility, Customer Focus and Inclusivity: Refreshing disability strategies February 23, 2023 DiverCity® Podcast · Accessibility, Customer Focus and Inclusivity: Refreshing disability strategies In this episode, host Julia Streets is joined by Toby Mildon, Diversity & Inclusion Architect and founder of Mildon, a consultancy and advisory business, and Johnny Timpson OBE, principal of Johnny Timpson Consulting and Non-Executive Chair of specialist military insurance brokerage Absolute Military. Together they [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown chief on spats with the founder, his time at the top and the power of retail investors February 23, 2023 At times of turbulence, retail investors are entirely rational creatures. At least, that’s the view of Chris Hill, the outgoing boss of Britain’s largest retail investment and savings platform, Hargreaves Lansdown. Hill – who has been at the helm of the retail giant since 2016 and is preparing to step down in November – was [...]
Bank of England Mann warns interest rates need to keep rising to squash inflation February 23, 2023 Interest rates in the UK will have to keep rising to prevent inflation sticking around for too long, a member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC) warned today. Catherine Mann, who joined the rate setting group in September 2021 as an external member, said at an event hosted by the Resolution Foundation [...]