What does Meggitt’s bid premium tell us about UK shares? August 25, 2021 Have you ever wondered why there has been such a marked pick-up in the amount of UK businesses that have been bid for in recent years? This year is no exception, and has been an extremely active one, with a record number of deals in the first half of 2021. And there is no sign [...]
Relx snaps up Leeds software firm TruNarrative in £130m deal August 25, 2021 Relx has snapped up Leeds-based software group TruNarrative as the FTSE media giant continues to beef up its business through a string of acquisitions. TruNarrative, which was founded in 2016 and offers software that helps customers reduce risk and financial crime, will merge with the company’s LexisNexis Risk Solutions division. The company did not disclose [...]
E-naira: Digitising Nigeria, improving lives, and advancing national infrastructure August 25, 2021 Nigeria is more amazing than the world realises, and the nation deserves far more attention, says Alex Lightman.
Retail sales soar at fastest pace in nearly seven years August 24, 2021 Retail sales in the UK surged at their fastest pace in nearly seven years this month highlighting that the wave of consumer spending unleashed since the initial Covid unlocking still has legs, according to fresh figures released today. New data from the Confederation of British Industry shows retail sales swung to their highest growth rate [...]
Strangling capacity constraints chokes US economic growth August 23, 2021 The US economic rebound from the Covid crisis slowed sharply this month as severe constraints on capacity led to businesses struggling to scale production, according to a closely watched survey released today. IHS Markit’s latest flash composite output index for the US slid to 55.4 in August, down from 59.9 in July, hitting a fresh [...]
Eurozone post-Covid economic rebound marches on at rapid clip August 23, 2021 The economic recovery from the Covid crisis in the Eurozone continued to progress at a rapid clip this month, driven by a ramping up of the bloc’s vaccination programme allowing a further easing of pandemic restrictions, according to a closely watched survey released today. IHS Markit’s latest flash Eurozone purchasing managers’ composite output index hit [...]
CMA to probe S&P Global’s £33bn takeover of IHS August 23, 2021 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has just announced the launch of an inquiry into S&P Global’s £33bn takeover of IHS Markit Ltd. The CMA gave notice today that it plans to investigate the anticipated merger between credit ratings giant S&P Global and IHS Markit. The deadline for its decision on whether the merger is [...]
PMI: Post-Covid bounce-back slows in August as pingdemic struck August 23, 2021 The UK economy’s post-lockdown boom stalled this month as firms continued to struggle with staff shortages, as a result of the so-called ‘pingdemic’, but strong inflation pressures eased slightly. The IHS Markit/CIPS flash composite PMI dropped for the third consecutive month, sinking to 55.3 from 59.2 in July – its lowest since February- according to the latest [...]
Workers of the world unite! How the post-pandemic recovery is increasing the bargaining power of labour August 23, 2021 More than 114 million people lost their jobs over 2020, according to the International Labor Organization. Even more saw their working hours and wages cut. The worst affected industries were accommodation and food services where global employment declined by over 20%, followed by retail. These sectors were particularly hard hit by lockdowns, forced closures and plummeting tourism. Women and younger workers were badly affected. You could be [...]
Government urged to cut National Insurance costs for small firms August 23, 2021 Small businesses have called on the Government to slash employer National Insurance contributions as firms face rising costs and labour shortage challenges. Just under two thirds (64 per cent) of respondents to the quarterly Full Small Business Index (SBI) report, said their operating costs had risen over the past year. The Federation of Small Businesses [...]