Four reasons to be optimistic about energy transition equities February 14, 2022 After achieving remarkable gains in 2020, energy transition equities endured a more turbulent and challenging time in 2021. Shares within the sector struggled to achieve gains as supply chain pressures and higher inflation weakened profits from many companies in the sector and investors were less enthusiastic about the energy transition theme. However, despite the uncertainties [...]
Play by the rules: Making free trade a level playing field February 14, 2022 Two years ago in Greenwich, the Prime Minister spoke eloquently of Britain’s “re-emergence after decades of hibernation as a campaigner for global free trade”. Trade – which he described as “God’s diplomacy” – has done more than any other economic idea to raise global living standards and lift billions out of poverty. If there is [...]
Redcentric looks forward after FCA prosecutes former finance chief for misleading investors February 14, 2022 IT services provider Redcentric has said it hopes to move on following the prosecution of a former top dog for misleading investors. A case led by the financial regulator culminated in the company’s former chief financial officer, Timothy Coleman, being found guilty of four charges relating to the making of false and misleading statements to [...]
Uncertain week ahead: Nervous markets hold their breath as Ukraine-Russia tensions reach boiling point February 14, 2022 Despite Friday’s weakness European markets still managed to finish the week higher, with the FTSE100 finishing higher for the second week in a row. For US markets it was a week of two halves, with a decent first half undermined by two days of sharp losses, which were prompted by an unexpectedly hot January CPI [...]
Stall in tax-free childcare spells danger for closing gender pay gap February 14, 2022 Government spend on Tax-Free Childcare rose by just two per cent to £240.5m in the past year, despite enhanced take-up by parents, and rocketing prices further straining the return to the office. There are fears that the sharp slowdown in government spending in this area could make childcare unaffordable for some parents, especially as the [...]
Labour squeeze and national insurance hike to throttle UK SMEs’ growth plans February 14, 2022 A tight labour squeeze and soaring hiring costs are throttling small and medium-sized British firms’ recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, reveals a fresh survey published yesterday. British businesses are intending on launching a hiring spree this year to boost growth and restore revenues to pre-pandemic levels, but fear a lack of talent could throw their [...]
Exclusive: Energy crunch to squeeze UK industry February 14, 2022 UK manufacturing is set to swallow a £20bn-plus bill from soaring energy costs this year, heaping further pressure on Britain’s weakening economic recovery, reveals exclusive research shared with City A.M. Surging oil and gas prices will pile an extra £8.7bn on to factories’ energy costs in 2022, crimping their already squeezed margins. Swelling energy bills [...]
Week ahead: City’s gaze turns to fresh inflation figures February 13, 2022 All eyes in the City this week will be on fresh inflation figures as investors brace for another shocker of a print. Most economists expect inflation to firm even further, jumping to 5.5 per cent in January from 5.4 per cent in December. That would still leave the cost of living at around a 30-year [...]
US Fed to embark on fastest tightening cycle in recent history, warns Goldman Sachs February 13, 2022 The US Federal Reserve will embark on the fastest tightening of monetary policy in recent history this year to tame runaway stateside inflation, Wall Street analysts are betting. Chair Jerome Powell and co will lead the charge against the soaring cost of living across the pond by hiking interest rates seven times in 2022, according [...]
Morrisons’ owners look to ease fears of a shift away from traditional business model February 13, 2022 The private equity owners of Morrisons have looked to ease investors’ fears that they would renege on commitments to the firm’s traditional business model, as they face a mounting interest bill from loans.