US inflation rises to 0.2 per cent in October as energy prices halt their decline as core inflation stays at 1.9 per cent November 17, 2015 Annual inflation in the US climbed to 0.2 per cent in October from zero per cent in September as energy prices rebounded and medical costs climbed. Compared with September, the consumer price index – the basket of goods and services used to measure inflation – climbed 0.2 per cent, lifting the annual figure. Energy prices [...]
Japan recession: Has Abenomics failed? not quite November 17, 2015 The latest data from Japan revealed that the world’s third largest economy slipped back into recession in the past quarter, at least technically. Has Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “three arrows” plan to revive the Japanese economy – Abenomics – failed in spectacular fashion? Well, yes and no. MIXED PICTURE Let’s start with the economy. [...]
Melting Arctic is like the “new Africa” for precious resources November 12, 2015 The Arctic's ice is rapidly melting away, leaving behind sea passages that offer much easier access to the resource-rich area than ever before. The result, according to Iceland's President Olafur Grimsso, is an Arctic that is like the “new Africa”. Rare metals, minerals, oil and gas are among the many resources being eyed up by governments [...]
IEA: Oil prices won’t breach $100 mark until 2040 November 10, 2015 Due to the supply glut it will be another 25 years before oil prices break through the crucial $100 mark, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). And the black stuff is unlikely to hit $80 a barrel before the end of the next decade, as annual global demand growth rises by 900,000 barrels per day to [...]
We need a campaign for Living Costs – not for a Living Wage – to really help the poorest November 2, 2015 It's “Living Wage Week”. For seven days, the Living Wage Foundation’s campaign for employers to pay workers at least £8.25 per hour (or £9.40 in London) receives almost wall-to-wall coverage. Campaigners line up to tell us raising pay to this level is good for business as well as employees. Many large firms, most of [...]
Company prospects pick up as insolvencies fall in third quarter October 29, 2015 Prospects for business are looking brighter after industry statistics revealed a drop in the number of companies collapsing into administration in the third quarter of the year. An estimated 363 companies entered administration in the last three months, a decrease of 2.4 per cent compared with the previous quarter and 5.5 per cent lower than [...]
Meggitt share price tumbles as it warns on full-year profits and considers 300 job cuts amid slow sales October 28, 2015 Shares in Meggitt tumbled as much as 22.9 per cent this morning after the engineering company warned on its full-year profits amid challenging market conditions, which could lead to 300 jobs cuts. The FTSE 100-listed firm said challenging trading conditions would lead to full-year underlying operating profit coming in "meaningfully below" its current estimate of £369m. In response, Meggitt could axe 300 jobs globally [...]
Professional and financial recruiting up eight per cent in 2015 as salaries jump too – APSCo October 26, 2015 Good news for job hunters: professional and financial recruiting is up eight per cent this year, with average salaries increasing by 4.6 per cent since 2014. The number of finance and accounting roles has risen 17 per cent from last year, according to data from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo). This is in [...]
UK steel crisis: Industry leaders to be grilled by MPs after Tata Steel and SSI closures October 25, 2015 The extent of the crisis that has engulfed Britain’s steel industry will be laid bare tomorrow when business ministers and industry figures are questioned by a committee of MPs. The Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) select committee hearing, set for tomorrow afternoon, will address the problems of cheap steel from China, rising energy costs, and [...]
The 10 places to live in the UK for the best quality of life (and the 10 with the worst) and how London compares October 22, 2015 If you've ever considered escaping the London rat race in search of a better life, you'll do no better than settling in Edinburgh. The city has been crowned the best place in the country for quality of life, based on 26 different factors such as working hours, life expectancy, disposable income and even the number of [...]