Rapid responses September 23, 2012 Good regulation [Re: Regulator: I’ll shoot first, ask questions later, Wednesday] I am disappointed by your paper’s coverage of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) likely new stance. Your coverage seems to confuse two quite different things: first, the expected new approach to dealing with any retail products that are likely to cause significant consumer detriment; [...]
Britain needs to embrace the global shale gas revolution September 21, 2012 BRITAIN is missing a trick. We are sitting on a massive amount of untapped energy, in the form of shale gas trapped deep in sedimentary rocks, and yet are failing to make use of this semi-secret treasure trove. To add insult to injury, politicians have imposed ever higher energy costs on the public thanks to [...]
Britain needs to embrace the global shale gas revolution September 20, 2012 BRITAIN is missing a trick. We are sitting on a massive amount of untapped energy, in the form of shale gas trapped deep in sedimentary rocks, and yet are failing to make use of this semi-secret treasure trove. To add insult to injury, politicians have imposed ever higher energy costs on the public thanks to [...]
FTSE drifts lower as fears over UK’s economic outlook leads to caution September 20, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index wilted yesterday after economic data painted a bleak picture of prospects for a rebound in activity in the United States, Europe and China, heightening concerns over company earnings and valuations. The UK’s FTSE 100 closed down 33.84 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 5,854.64, continuing to edge away from 6-month highs [...]
What the other papers say this morning September 18, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Greening orders probe into DfiD Justine Greening, the new international development secretary, has commissioned an investigation into her department’s use of consultants, despite assurances from Downing Street that the coalition has already done its best to “bear down” on wasteful aid spending. D&D London receives sales boost London’s fine diners have helped boost [...]
As SSE raises its energy prices by 9 per cent, is the firm right to blame UK green policies? August 23, 2012 YES Matthew Sinclair So long as the government sticks to radical EU targets for the energy sector – particularly for a drastic increase in the use of renewable energy – domestic and industrial consumers will continue to face punishing increases in prices. Attempts to reassure investors with expensive commitments like the carbon price floor will [...]
Consumers hit by energy and mortgage price hikes August 22, 2012 CONSUMERS are facing up to an autumn of painful price rises after one of the country’s biggest energy suppliers yesterday hiked its charges, just hours after Santander confirmed that it would increase the interest rate on many of its mortgages. SSE, formerly Scottish and Southern Energy, said a nine per cent jump in tariffs from [...]
Ferrexpo profit dented by rising costs and falling iron ore prices August 21, 2012 UKRAINIAN iron ore producer Ferrexpo said yesterday its core profit fell 40 per cent in the first half, hurt by a rise in the cost of extracting the metal and lower global iron ore prices. Ferrexpo said higher energy costs and domestic inflation in Ukraine pushed up the cost of extracting each tonne by 25 [...]
Is the Bank of England’s Adam Posen right to suggest expanding QE beyond gilt purchases? August 13, 2012 YES Will Straw Last year, Adam Posen stood alone on the Monetary Policy Committee in predicting that Britain’s recovery was faltering. Now we’re back in recession, his advice on unconventional quantitative easing (QE) should be heeded. QE has been a modest success in preventing the economy from slipping into a depression. And, despite siren warnings, [...]
EDF to open up UK nuclear projects for partners July 31, 2012 French state-controlled utility EDF is considering looking for more partners for its nuclear projects in Britain to help it share costs and limit its debt burden, its chief financial officer said on Thursday. EDF, along with junior partner Centrica, plans to build four new 1,600-megawatt European pressurised water reactors as Britain looks to reform its [...]