PMI data picks up the pound February 21, 2020 | City Talk Manufacturing output grew at its fastest pace for 10 months, giving sterling a boost against other major currencies this morning. Recovering losses against EUR & USD, the latest flash Purchasing Manufacturing Index (PMI) data today announced that UK output rose 51.9, up from 50.0 in January. The question for many investors is whether the post-election [...]
DEBATE: Should the government intervene to stop cash disappearing? February 21, 2020 Should the government intervene to stop cash disappearing, as the Access To Cash panel has urged? YES, says Andrew Martin, chief executive of Retail Financial Consulting. It’s essential that cash remains a staple of British society in order to maintain social inclusion and economic stability. One need only look at Sweden, which is on the [...]
The end of cash cannot come at the expense of the unbanked February 20, 2020 Today marks the launch of the new £20 note. With so much of the financial services sector switching to digital, could this be the last new £20 we get? In the future, financial services will be entirely digital — and we are already well on the way towards that reality. A quarter of us in [...]
How will the pound perform in 2020? February 19, 2020 | City Talk Brexit cast a long shadow over the pound in 2019, but what will 2020 have in store for sterling? Caution from the Bank of England and faltering economic results were all seen through the lens of Brexit. Now while the focus may move slightly from the challenges of uncertainty due to a political impasse, the [...]
Seven reasons why London will thrive regardless of Brexit February 17, 2020 | City Talk In the three-and-a-half years since the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU) much has been written about how London’s status as a global leader in financial services could be weakened. However, with a diverse economy, highly skilled workforce, wide tourist demand, world-class universities and cultural appeal, London will not only survive Brexit, but [...]
US private equity snaps up UK companies on the cheap February 17, 2020 The total value of acquisitions of UK companies by US private equity funds jumped 53 per cent last year to £19.9bn. According to a report by law firm Mayer Brown, the depressed valuations of UK companies versus their European peers has made them look to be good value for funds. The period of Brexit uncertainty, [...]
Stockholm enters Global Cities top 30 for the first time February 14, 2020 | City Talk With a strong economy and commitment to reducing its environmental impact, Stockholm is the first Scandinavian city to make the top 30 of Schroders’ Global Cities Index. Stockholm has become the first Scandinavian city to enter the top 30 of the Schroders Global Cities Index. This is because of its robust economy and committment to reducing [...]
Expecting a bonus from overseas? February 13, 2020 | City Talk Hedging against risk in currency remuneration If you are currently working overseas, then you may be in receipt of a salary in currency. If you send all or part of that salary back to the UK, you may have found that the amount varies month to month due to fluctuations in the currency market. Over [...]
Put your money where your morals are: ethical ideas for ESG investing February 12, 2020 Whether or not you agree with activists like Greta Thunberg or campaign groups like Extinction Rebellion, there’s been a clear societal shift in recent years to recognise the need to tackle problems like climate change or global poverty. One aspect of that shift is the increasing trend for savers to consider the environmental, social, and governance [...]
The clock is ticking: Why it’s time to address IR35 February 5, 2020 There has been a lot of noise around IR35, the updated government intermediaries legislation. Generally, it seems to be leaving a bad taste in people’s mouths. And that’s the trouble with some taxation changes: their interpretation and intent can be tarnished with a negative brush. Instead of fuelling the current conversation, is it time to [...]