How to get more women in STEM: Celebrate female talent and role models to change young girls’ perceptions December 22, 2015 There has never been a better time to be a woman in STEM. Indeed, women now make up a record number of FTSE 100 board positions and they are increasingly represented in high profile STEM roles. The current presidents of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Engineering and Technology, for example, [...]
Bad news for George Osborne as UK borrowing rises again, missing expectations December 22, 2015 Public sector borrowing rose to £14.2bn in November, missing expectations of £11.8bn and rising higher than this time last year, when the UK borrowed £12.9bn. The figure suggests the Treasury is likely to miss a full-year target of £73.5bn set by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), analysts suggested. "Barring a dramatic improvement in the [...]
Warning shot to the City as trader Tom Hayes’ conviction over Libor scandal upheld December 22, 2015 The City was sent a stark warning yesterday that authorities will continue to crack down on financial crime as Court of Appeal judges upheld Tom Hayes’ conviction for Libor rigging. Hayes, who was found guilty on eight charges of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to 14 years in August for his role in the manipulation [...]
UK consumer confidence ends 2015 on a high December 22, 2015 UK consumer confidence rose in December, rounding off a strong year for shoppers. The monthly consumer confidence index published today by market researchers GfK hit a score of two this month from one in November. Between 2008 and 2014, the index spent most of its time in negative territory. “This is the first time since [...]
London house prices to climb five per cent in 2016, says Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors December 22, 2015 London house prices will climb five per cent next year as the shortage of homes coming to the market and rising demand lifts prices, according to a new forecast. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said prices were forecast to go up despite the launch of government initiatives to boost homebuilding. However, London price growth is [...]
Prime London residential rental growth slows to 17-month low as bank job cuts hit demand December 21, 2015 Job cuts and declining optimism at European banks has dragged rental price growth in London’s prime property market to its lowest level in 17 months, according to Knight Frank. The estate agency’s latest prime central London rental index fell by 0.4 per cent in December from the previous month, on the back of falling demand [...]
EU extends Russia economic sanctions by six months December 21, 2015 The EU is extending economic sanctions against Russia by six months, it announced today. The sanctions, which were introduced in the July last year in response to Russia’s involvement in the annexation of Crimea in Ukraine, will stay in place until 31 July 2016. EU leaders linked the duration of the sanctions to the completion [...]
Fitch: Inconclusive Spain vote increases fiscal and reform risks December 21, 2015 Spain could be at risk of having its credit rating downgraded after elections yesterday left the country facing a period of political uncertainty. Spanish party leaders will negotiate over the coming weeks with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s People’s Party (PP) securing only 123 seats – the highest of any party but short of a majority. If [...]
Eurozone consumer confidence edges up in December December 21, 2015 Consumer confidence in the Eurozone ticked up this month, according to figures released today. The flash consumer confidence indicator compiled by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, climbed 0.2 points to a score of minus 5.7. Flash data is an estimate based on a The rise builds on November's surge and shows consumers are more confident [...]
Turmoil: Oil price rebounds slightly from 11 year lows recorded earlier in the day December 21, 2015 The price of oil has recovered somewhat from its 11 year lows earlier on today, continuing the sell off that was sparked by oil cartel Opec’s decision not to curb production earlier this month. Early this morning the price of Brent crude hit $36.05 before bouncing back to around $36.35. In the US, the price [...]