Uber’s race to the bottom: The wheels will come off this controversial business July 31, 2015 Uber causes a storm wherever it goes. First, there’s the storm of applause as passengers initially embrace what looks like an exciting, disruptive new technology. Then, there’s the storm of protest as people start to understand what the business model is really all about. Treating taxis as just another tech challenge raises all sorts [...]
FTSE stumbles over corporate results and commodity falls – London Report July 21, 2015 BRITAIN’S top share index edged lower yesterday as a mixed set of corporate results and lingering concern over commodity price falls outweighed a rebound for gold-mining companies and a rally in car insurers. The FTSE 100 index closed down 0.29 per cent at 6,769.07p after gaining 0.2 per cent in the previous session. EasyJet was [...]
Comparison site results steadied by car insurance July 15, 2015 COMPARISON site Moneysupermarket said rising car insurance premiums are keeping the company steady after a slow six month growth period. Moneysupermarket’s trading update, released yesterday, claimed the company noted “a marginal increase in car insurance premiums.” Revenue since January saw an overall growth of 18 per cent, with insurance revenues rising by eight per cent [...]
Sergei Pugachev shows: You just do not mess with the Kremlin July 14, 2015 Sergei Pugachev was once a trusted and close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But not anymore. His case, as much as any of the string of mysterious deaths of people who have upset the Kremlin, go to show how Putin has carved out power in Russia for some time to come, despite economic hardship [...]
July Budget 2015 at a glance: From a new tax-free dividend allowance to the raid on buy-to-let landlords and new inheritance tax rules July 8, 2015 The chancellor outlined £12bn of welfare cuts, introduced new inheritance tax rules & vowed to crack down on tax avoidance. UK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ● The UK is expected to be the fastest-growing advanced economy again this year. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expects the economy to grow by 2.4 per cent in [...]
July Budget 2015: Are you an entrepreneur, an apprentice or a single parent? What does George Osborne’s statement mean for you? July 8, 2015 THE SINGLE PARENT Catherine Gannon, 51Managing partner at law firm Gannons Gannons Commercial Law continues to do well, with profits and earnings up on last year. Catherine is commercially savvy and has restructured the business from an LLP to a limited company, illustrating that she is a smart operator in a segmented legal [...]
July Budget 2015: Every key policy announced today July 8, 2015 George Osborne revealed the first Budget of the government, including policy changes on everything from pensions and inheritance tax to bank levies and the Northern Powerhouse. Here we round up all the essential points from the Red Box. 1. A surplus will be reached by 2019 Osborne pledged to reduce the deficit by [...]
Insurers’ rugby sponsorship puts a premium on giving staff kicks July 6, 2015 Admiral’s deal with Welsh Rugby Union breaks mould by putting employees first A recurring theme for the businesses sponsoring teams at this year’s Rugby World Cup is the increased exposure their brand can expect to receive from the international tournament. Yet directors at car insurance specialist Admiral will be just as concerned with [...]
My vision as City minister: I want UK finance to be the world’s most competitive June 30, 2015 During my two decades in the financial services industry, I always enjoyed the important annual events that bring the industry together. It was great to be back at The City UK’s conference yesterday, speaking this time in my new job as the government minister responsible for financial services policy. I’m proud of the [...]
The parking permit postcode lottery – and why Birmingham and Manchester trump London by £300 June 11, 2015 Living in a city and owning a car was always going to be an expensive pursuit – but it turns out the gap between what councils charge residents to park varies wildly. A study by Churchill Car Insurance has found that while some districts charge nothing for their residents to park, in other areas, it [...]