Soaring house prices and stock markets push wealth per adult to record £57,598 June 22, 2021 Despite the pandemic impact on economies around the world, global household wealth hit a new record last year, primarily due to soaring house prices and rebounding stock markets. The latest global wealth report by investment giant Credit Suisse showed today that wealth per adult rose 6 per cent last year, to hit a record £57,598. [...]
T-Shaped Teams and the Three Stages of AI Adoption June 22, 2021 | City Talk AI and data science will probably bring about the most significant changes to the financial services industry that the industry has witnessed in its short history. Yet, today, many financial institutions are still struggling to find their way to start the AI journey1. We propose a concept called T-shaped teams (See Exhibit 1) as the [...]
Analysts warn Rishi Sunak: Treasury’s pensions raid could be ‘hugely risky’ June 21, 2021 The Treasury is eyeing pensions taxation as one way to pay for the cost of the pandemic, it was reported this morning. Although there are no plans to make changes to the triple lock, the Treasury is looking at three ways to change the ways in which pension contributions are taxed, which some analysts have [...]
Treasury planning ‘pensions raid’ to pay for pandemic costs June 21, 2021 The Treasury is looking at pensions taxation as one way to pay for the cost of the pandemic, although there are no plans to make changes to the triple lock. The Treasury is looking at three ways to change the ways in which pension contributions are taxed, the Telegraph first reported. Government is reportedly looking [...]
Are we now on the road to net-zero? June 18, 2021 | City Talk We spoke to climate change specialists Simon Webber and Isabella Hervey-Bathurst for their views on the IEA’s latest report. Climate change and the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy is arguably the most pressing issue facing the world today. Addressing the issue of how the world produces and consumes energy, and the measures that [...]
Sunak says pensions triple lock remains government policy as he faces £4bn bill June 17, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the triple lock on pensions remains government policy after it emerged that he may have to spend £4bn more on pensioners from next year if he sticks to the pledge. Sunak was grilled on the issue in an interview with GB News, after ONS data published earlier in the week [...]
Q&A: the end of big oil? June 16, 2021 | City Talk 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 [...]
Crypto assets: you can doubt, but you can’t hide June 15, 2021 | City Talk It is no longer prudent to ignore the potential of crypto assets. The investment industry can be sceptical about crypto assets. Investors can certainly choose not allocate to them, but few can afford to ignore them. Why? Not just because Bitcoin’s dizzying ascent has captured the popular imagination but the more persuasive reasons why the [...]
To notify or not to notify? The potential perils of uncertain tax treatments June 15, 2021 | City Talk The Government is proposing that large businesses should be required to notify uncertain tax treatments to HMRC. ICAS has responded to the second HMRC consultation on the proposals – the fundamental flaw in the original proposals has not been addressed. They remain poorly targeted, so will potentially impose a burden on all large businesses. Why [...]
Executive pay gap: Men get paid 23 per cent more than women at director level June 14, 2021 Senior men get paid up to 23 per cent more than women, according to new research shared with Morning Wire this evening. The gender pay gap is particularly substantial in senior positions and can be as high as 23 per cent for directors, while the associate level stands at 9 per cent, according to data [...]