City of London Corporation hits out at China for breaching its UK treaty September 10, 2020 The City of London Corporation has accused China of breaching the Sino-British treaty, after imposing draconian national security laws on Hong Kong. The local authority’s Court of Common Council – which comprises all of its elected officials – voted in favour of the motion, which accused Beijing of denying Hong Kongers the right to enjoy [...]
Mairead McGuinness: Meet the EU’s future finance boss September 10, 2020 Mairead McGuinness was this week nominated as the new EU financial services commissioner following the recent resignation of her Irish counterpart and EU trade chief Phil Hogan. Mr Hogan departs having found himself in the centre of a “golfgate” scandal, breaking lockdown rules by attending a dinner in County Galway, Ireland, with more than 80 [...]
S4 Capital plots further expansion despite Covid-19 profit hit September 9, 2020 Advertising firm S4 Capital today said it was plotting further aggressive expansion despite taking a hit to its first-half profit due to the coronavirus outbreak. The figures S4 Capital’s revenue increased 6.9 per cent on a like-for-like basis to £141.3m in the six months to the end of June. Adjusted pre-tax profit was £13.9m, down [...]
How does an asset manager like Schroders actively influence the companies it invests in? September 9, 2020 Elly Irving, Schroders’ Head of Engagement, answers questions on why investors engage and how they influence firms’ practices. In the debate over whether investors can encourage a more sustainable recovery, the role of active ownership is key. There is a growing momentum behind ESG investing – investing which considers environmental, social and governance factors. [...]
On coronavirus, governments have been the most irrational of us all September 9, 2020 Decisions, whether by individuals, companies or governments, are often made with imperfect and incomplete information. This is so obvious as to hardly seem worth stating. But for well over a century economic theory assumed that decisions were made with complete information. Economists knew full well that this was not always the case. The problem was [...]
Earthquake measuring 3.3 magnitude felt in southern England September 8, 2020 A small earthquake hit south-east England this morning, the British Geological Survey has confirmed. Reports suggest a 3.3 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 10km occurred in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire around 8.45am. “We are getting reports of an earthquake in the Bedfordshire area,” the British Geological Survey wrote in a tweet. “We are currently investigating this event [...]
Let’s hope tough new rules on children’s online data collection deliver, and give parents peace of mind September 8, 2020 From today, our children’s online privacy is protected by default. Literally. New rules will force companies to give children and young people automatic specific privacy protections. That’s 76 days, according to research, that neither you or they have to spend reading all those terms and conditions. Thankfully, from now on, the so-called Age Appropriate Design [...]
‘No time for a show of virility’: Sadiq Khan on getting London moving again September 7, 2020 One of the largest criticisms of Sadiq Khan over his first mayoral term has been that he is more concerned about his personal PR and with making political gestures than with his job of running the nation’s capital. The mayor of London has been beset by attacks that he has increased spending on City Hall [...]
Exclusive: Central London will not be busy any time soon, says Sadiq Khan September 6, 2020 Sadiq Khan has admitted central London will not be “anywhere near” pre-Covid levels for months to come as he prepares to survey businesses about their back to office plans. The London mayor told City A.M. in an exclusive interview – released tomorrow in full – that office and public transport social distancing rules meant central [...]
Government needs clearer ‘back to work’ message, says senior Tory MP September 3, 2020 The government has to give clearer and more consistent advice on people going back to their workplaces, according to a prominent Tory backbencher. Sir Graham Brady, who is chair of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, said the message coming from ministers was unclear and that people needed “common sense advice”. The government was due [...]