Boom time in the City as Brexit gives a boost to professional advisers October 24, 2016 The UK's vote for Brexit has delivered a big boost for City advisers as firms scramble to find out how they should respond to a period of unprecedented uncertainty. Insolvency firm Begbies Traynor found the number of professional services firms in "significant financial distress" had dropped by 10 per cent since the EU referendum, as new [...]
No deal: Belgium shuts down EU-Canada trade agreement over Wallonia concerns October 24, 2016 A landmark EU-Canada trade pact was thrown into chaos last night after Belgium failed to strike a deal with its rogue Wallonia region, prompting one of the country’s leading politicians to brand it a “laughing stock”. The impasse left the EU scrambling to save the ambitious trade agreement which had been seven years in the making. Last [...]
Manufacturing exports surge on weak sterling but higher costs are on the horizon October 24, 2016 Manufacturing exports have jumped to their highest level in two and a half years in a Brexit boost for the sector following the dramatic slide in the value of sterling. The CBI's Industrial Trends survey also found UK firms were the most competitive they have ever been up against their European counterparts since the introduction [...]
Banks, law firms and accountants to be ranked on social mobility success October 24, 2016 Top City employers will be ranked on their progress in boosting social mobility and recruiting candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds, in a new government-backed scheme. The Social Mobility Commission, a government body, and the Social Mobility Foundation, a charity, have teamed up to produce a new index of the country's biggest employers to assess their efforts [...]
Spanish stock market surges as political deadlock set to end October 24, 2016 Financial markets in Spain have rallied this morning on news that the country is set to exit more than 300 days of political gridlock. After yesterday's landmark concession by the socialist PSOE party, which paved the way for centre-right Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to form a new minority government, the Ibex 35, Spain's bluechip shares index, leapt [...]
Businesses unsure of Theresa May’s threat to cut corporation tax to 10 per cent October 23, 2016 Businesses have given a lukewarm reception to the idea that Theresa May could slash corporation tax if she does not secure a good exit deal with the EU. Both the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and the Institute of Directors (IoD) said cutting corporation tax would not be top of their wish-list if the government is [...]
PSOE agree to end Spanish political deadlock after 10-month impasse October 23, 2016 Spain is on course to emerge from 10 months of political deadlock after the opposition socialist party agreed it would not block the centre-right Popular Party from forming a minority government. Mariano Rajoy has governed as head of a weak and interim government since the end of last year when the PP lost their majority in parliament. After elections [...]
Belgium told to sort out Wallonia rift over EU-Canada trade deal by Monday October 23, 2016 The European Union has given Belgium until Monday evening to sort out its dispute over whether to approve the EU-Canada trade deal or risk another disappointing setback for EU trade policy. The new deadline comes after talks between the Belgian government and representatives from the region of Wallonia broke down on Friday, raising fears the entire Comprehensive Economic [...]
Official GDP figures to show UK economy defying Brexit recession warnings October 23, 2016 The UK economy is set show by just how much it outperformed pre-referendum forecasts later this week, when official growth figures for the crucial third quarter are published. Economists expect the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to find the UK grew by a robust 0.3 per cent between the end of June and the end of September. [...]
