Brexit doom-mongers are wrong: London house prices aren’t going to crash August 2, 2016 On the morning of 24 June, as Britain woke up to the reality that as a nation we’d voted to leave the EU, it may have seemed like the world was turning on its head. The pound was crashing, stock markets see-sawed, and the political landscape of the UK was irrevocably changed. Just over a month [...]
Why the economic picture tends to be rosier than the initial estimates suggest August 2, 2016 One of the surprises of last week was the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate of economic growth in the second quarter of 2016, the period from April to the end of June. In the run up to Brexit, the economy expanded by 0.6 per cent on the first quarter of the year. This was [...]
The RMT must cancel its self-indulgent and self-harming Southern Rail strike August 2, 2016 After the vote for Brexit, it is more important than ever that London does all it can to reassure people from around the globe that it remains the best city in the world in which to do business. Part of this is ensuring that London remains a city that works, including that employees and visitors [...]
With controversy surrounding the Rio Games, was it a mistake to hold the Olympics in an emerging market? August 2, 2016 Sam Dumitriu, head of projects at the Adam Smith Institute, says Yes. It’s bad enough when wealthy countries are plunged into debt to fund sporting events that offer, at best, a short-term boost to tourism. It’s much, much worse when those countries are grappling with high levels of poverty and a public health crisis. Supposed economic [...]
Banks risk a visit from the ghosts of the past August 2, 2016 In the wake of the financial crisis, the public wanted to see banking bosses held to account and a regulatory system introduced which would ensure the banks' near collapse could not happen again. As part of this overhaul, banks have had to bolster their capital buffers and undergo stress tests. Last Friday, the European Banking Authority [...]
Dentsu Aegis UK boss explains why the diversity debate is not over, the movement is just beginning August 2, 2016 In a digital economy where innovation drives growth, the biggest driver of innovation is diversity. When you bring people from different backgrounds, experiences and skills together, who look, think and act like your consumers, you’ll always find the best solutions, design the most relevant products and deliver truly personal service. In an interview last week [...]
We’re dangerously close to an energy crunch but Hinkley isn’t the solution August 1, 2016 "I want to see an energy policy that emphasises the reliability of supply and lower costs for users.” Just two days before becoming Prime Minister, this key extract from Theresa May’s first major campaign speech in Birmingham was welcomed by the energy industry and consumers alike. But what would it mean in practice and in [...]
In defence of Kevin Roberts: The Saatchi chief dared to be honest about gender diversity August 1, 2016 Saatchi & Saatchi chairman Kevin Roberts was placed on an immediate leave of absence at the weekend for supposedly ill-judged and uninformed comments on gender diversity. But those who have jumped on Roberts for saying (among other things) that the debate on gender bias within the advertising industry was “over” have got it wrong. I [...]
Ros Altmann is right: It’s time to scrap the state pension triple-lock August 1, 2016 As with many contemporary policy debates, the furore over the state pension triple-lock has its roots with Gordon Brown. Back in 1999, when Brown was chancellor, the state pension was increased by 75p per week. “Derisory”, claimed pensioner groups. Only “enough to buy a packet of peanuts”, bemoaned national newspapers. Scarred by the backlash, political [...]
The state of Europe’s banks is far from steady August 1, 2016 Bank investors rejoice! The European Banking Authority (EBA) has declared stress tests should no longer be about pushing fresh capital into the system or drilling down into asset quality. No. The good news is that “steady-state monitoring” is what’s needed. So will this provide the assurance investors need? I’m not convinced. Even if stock prices [...]