Spring budget: Defence and foreign aid set to miss out on rise as war rages in Ukraine March 21, 2022 Britain’s defence and foreign aid budgets are set to miss out on an increase in the Spring budget, despite Russia’s war in Ukraine putting pressure on the UK’s responsibilities abroad. Chancellor Rishi Sunak sidestepped suggestions the conflict could lead to a rise in cash for defence, pointing to £24bn spent last year. This comes after [...]
Shoppers turn to buy-now pay-later amid cost of living crunch March 21, 2022 Consumers are increasingly turning to buy-now pay-later (BNPL) products to manage their finances amid a cost of living crunch, fresh research has revealed.
Extra 125,000 workers will pay National Insurance in ‘stealth tax’ hike March 20, 2022 An extra 125,000 people will have to pay National Insurance under Rishi Sunak’s current tax plans, new research has revealed. Research compiled by the Liberal Democrats, using figures from the House of Commons library, suggest that employees face an extra £1.1bn hit through a “stealth tax” if Sunak does not increase the current threshold by [...]
Hospitality chiefs call on Sunak to reverse VAT hike or leave London businesses ‘unviable overnight’ March 20, 2022 Hospitality heads have said the government’s plans to increase VAT from current rates of 12.5 per cent to highs of 20 per cent at the start of next month will see some London businesses “become unviable overnight.” Industry chiefs warned that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s plans to hike consumer taxes on food, soft drinks, accommodation, and [...]
Soaring inflation is UK’s main financial concern March 20, 2022 Soaring inflation is the top financial concern for UK adults, in both the long and short term, according to new research from M&G Wealth. A quarter (25 per cent) of UK adults cited soaring inflation as their main financial concern over the coming year, according to a survey of 2,000 people. A further 18 per [...]
Exclusive: Marshalls reaps the rewards from a home improvement boom March 20, 2022 City A.M. speaks with Martin Coffey, chief executive at Marshalls, as the stone and concrete specialists show signs of post-Covid recovery.
Nuclear energy leaders to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson next week, as UK continues to wean itself off Russian fuel March 18, 2022 Nuclear industry leaders are set to hold talks with the prime minister next week, as Britain continues its bid to wean itself on dependence on Russian energy. It has been reported that executives from companies such as EDF and Rolls-Royce will meet Boris Johnson on Monday, alongside US industrial giant Westinghouse, according to Sky News’ [...]
Lazard eyeing up US equities after Ukraine invasion causes markets to plunge March 18, 2022 Asset management giant Lazard is readying to scoop up underpriced US equities after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused stocks to plunge in value.
Bitcoin shows signs of maturing as world economies look likely to worsen further March 18, 2022 Jason Deane digs through an avalanche of news narratives to decipher what's affecting the price of Bitcoin this week.
Has the Ukraine war sped up the clean energy revolution? March 18, 2022 As energy security rises up the political agenda, we look at what Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means for climate change investing. Russia’s shocking invasion of Ukraine is having horrendous consequences, and our thoughts are with the millions of people affected. As climate change investors, we also have to consider the impact of the conflict on [...]