How the climate change revolution has lit a fire under the heating industry June 22, 2021 Climate policy over the last few years has seen the rise and rise of “net zero” targets, to the extent that around 70% of global emissions are now covered by a net zero policy. Converting these long-term ambitions into a clear plan of action is the next step, and the recent publication of a net [...]
UK inflation jumps to 2.1 per cent in May as clothing and fuel prices rise June 16, 2021 UK inflation jumped in May due to rising clothing and fuel prices, pushing it ahead of the Bank of England’s target, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said this morning. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose to 2.1 per cent in May, up from 1.5 per cent in April, beating economists’ forecast of a rise [...]
Q&A: the end of big oil? June 16, 2021 Our “in the news” series focuses on recent dramatic events in the energy industry as oil majors were held to account over climate change. We explain what’s happened and how Schroders acted on behalf of clients. The oil industry last week faced a “paradigm shift” after climate activists and asset managers led revolts at the [...]
What does a €50 carbon price mean for European companies? June 3, 2021 Earlier this month, the EU carbon price moved above €50 per tonne for the first time ever. The price is now more than double its level prior to the pandemic, with a sharp rise in recent months. What is the EU carbon price? The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is designed to put a price [...]
Wall Street creeps higher as investors bide time until key economic reports June 2, 2021 Wall Street’s main indexes edged higher today as cautious investors awaited key economic data later in the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2 per cent at the open, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.1 per cent. The S&P 500 also added 0.1 per cent as it continued to recover its losses following a [...]
UK manufacturing expansion hits record high in May June 1, 2021 Manufacturing activity expanded at an unprecedented rate in May according to the closely watched IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index. The sector saw an index reading of 65.6 in May, a record high for the month-on-month measure. That topped April’s 60.9 and July 1994’s 61.0, the previous peak. An index reading of 50 indicates no change [...]
Getting the housing industry to net zero will cost at least £5bn, industry leaders say May 28, 2021 In the push for a low-carbon future in the housing sector, renovating the UK’s draughty homes would cost the government £5bn over the next four years and create 100,000 jobs, industry leaders have estimated. The revamps would also cut people’s energy bills and lift tax revenue, leaders have written to ministers today, the Guardian reported [...]
SSE profit rises as energy giant ramps up net zero push May 26, 2021 SSE today posted a rise in profit for the full year as the energy giant pushes ahead with its strategy of reaching net zero carbon emissions. The FTSE 100 firm posted adjusted profit before tax of £1.06bn in the year to the end of March, up four per cent on the previous 12 months. This [...]
Over half of financial services professionals claim ‘greenwashing’ is rife in the industry, study says May 25, 2021 More than half of financial services professionals believe ‘greenwashing’ is rife within the industry, according to a study released today, as employees fear competitors intentionally inflate their sustainable practices. The study by data agency iResearch Services, which polled 550 decision-makers at financial institutions, also found that 38 per cent believe every business is operating ‘unethically’ [...]
National Grid cuts Covid-19 losses with ‘solid’ year May 20, 2021 National Grid this morning said it had limited the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic to £296m, well ahead of the £400m hit it had previously predicted. The FTSE 100 firm this morning revealed that its underlying pre-tax profit had slipped just three per cent over the full year, falling from £2.5bn to £2.4bn. The [...]