Déjà vu… US crude is under $30 again as industry leaders predict the supply glut will continue February 8, 2016 The US oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), has once again dipped under the $30 per barrel mark, having hovered over the psychological barrier for a week. Brent crude was trading around $33.29 when WTI fell under $30. The latest drop comes as world’s largest independent oil-trading house warns the oil prices could stay low for as long as [...]
India overtakes China as world’s fastest growing large economy in 2015 February 8, 2016 India's economy has overtaken China's to become the world's fastest growing large economy. Figures published by the country's Central Statistics office today showed the economy grew 7.3 per cent in the final three months of the year compared with the same period in 2014. It marks a slight slowdown from the three months to September when the economy [...]
UK financial services touted worldwide, but Yorkshire and the Northern Powerhouse oust London as stars of the show February 8, 2016 Canada may be known for its financial prowess but, as government gears up to promote the financial services sector worldwide, it's Yorkshire, not the capital, that is taking the starring role. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is adding Yorkshire to its Financial Centres of Excellence initiative, which is designed to promote UK financial services to [...]
Brent crude and WTI: Low oil prices aren’t a death knell for the global economy February 8, 2016 At times like these it is easy to caught up in the rhetoric, particularly as there seems to be a race to go to press with the most unnerving and doom-laden headline. We acknowledge that downside economic risks have risen: There's generally weak data, fears of a destabilising Chinese currency devaluation and speculation that the [...]
EU referendum, slowdown in China, volatility in global markets and turmoil in the Middle East to rock UK growth in 2016 – BDO report February 8, 2016 Global economic fears and uncertainty over the EU referendum have pushed business confidence to a three-year low. The economic slowdown in China, volatility in global markets and turmoil in the Middle East are all starting to take their toll on the previously resilient UK economy, accountancy firm BDO has warned this morning. The impending EU [...]
Consulting giants, including PwC, Accenture and IBM, club together to figure out why so many women are fleeing the profession and not returning February 8, 2016 Some of the biggest names in consulting have today joined together to figure out how they can prevent high-flying women from quitting their profession. The firms – PwC, Accenture, IBM, KPMG and PA Consulting – are collaborating with the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) and She’s Back to identify why experienced women are leaving the workplace and not [...]
Infrastructure to lift construction sector but risks are intensifying February 8, 2016 The UK's construction sector is forecast to have a strong year, but experts are warning of risks to the rosy outlook. The Construction Products Association (CPA) said today it expects construction output to climb 3.6 per cent this year and 4.1 per cent next year. Private house building is projected to rise five per cent in [...]
Manufacturing trade body EEF warns Britain risks falling behind on internet capability February 8, 2016 Britain's digital infrastructure will hold the country back during the fourth industrial revolution, a manufacturing trade body has warned today. Internet access is as essential as electricity and water, according to 91 per cent of companies surveyed. The survey from EEF also found that connection costs had gone up for half of manufacturers in the last [...]
EU referendum: Tory MP Michael Fabricant discusses leaving the EU, in-fighting and the way forward for the splintered Brexit groups February 8, 2016 “The UK may be 25 miles off the coast of Calais, but culturally it’s 25 miles off the coast of Boston, Massachusetts, or Brisbane, Australia,” says Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield and former Conservative Party vice-chairman. Fabricant, who readers may know from his wryly written tweets that get him into occasional trouble, is a man [...]
UK weather: Rising levels of surface water flooding put success of Flood Re insurance scheme at risk, warn academics February 8, 2016 The success of a reinsurance scheme designed to cut insurance costs for households with a high risk of flooding is in jeopardy thanks to rising levels of surface water flooding, academics have warned. According to a paper published today by Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the ESRC Centre for Climate Change [...]
