National Living Wage: More than half of employers to feel rising wages’ impact, causing a third to vow to improve productivity levels November 18, 2015 More than half (54 per cent) of employers predict the introduction of National Living Wage will affect their staffing bill, according to research released today by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and think tank the Resolution Foundation. In the survey of 1,037 employers, nearly one in five (18 per cent) said the [...]
2030: A British space odyssey November 18, 2015 THE VALUE of the British space industry has the potential to rocket to £40bn in 15 years, creating 100,000 new jobs in the process, but the government risks holding the sector back with restrictive regulations and insufficient investment, a report out today has warned. The UK's booming space sector is currently growing by around nine [...]
Payroll mishaps cost FTSE 100 companies up to £30m a year November 17, 2015 Payroll slip-ups are costing the average FTSE 100 company between £10m and £30m a year. According to a PwC study of 193 global organisations, which was released today, the increasingly international nature of today’s workforces in particular is creating issues for payroll, as individuals’ statuses need to be tracked across a variety of different tax regimes. [...]
Chinese economy stopped decelerating this month, World Economics business survey shows November 17, 2015 China’s economy is stabilising, according to business survey figures published today, with the manufacturing and services maintaining their growth rates in November after months of deceleration. World Economics’ sales managers’ index posted a score of 51.6, the same score as in October. Any score above 50 signifies expansion, with higher scores marking faster growth. “The [...]
Greece and Eurogroup strike deal on €12bn slice of bailout cash November 17, 2015 Greece has struck a deal with its creditors to unlock €12bn (£8.4bn) to the country, its finance minister announced today. “We have reached agreement on everything, including the 48 additional measures,” finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos told reporters. The funds are expected to paid out on Friday. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president of the group of Eurozone finance [...]
US inflation rises to 0.2 per cent in October as energy prices halt their decline as core inflation stays at 1.9 per cent November 17, 2015 Annual inflation in the US climbed to 0.2 per cent in October from zero per cent in September as energy prices rebounded and medical costs climbed. Compared with September, the consumer price index – the basket of goods and services used to measure inflation – climbed 0.2 per cent, lifting the annual figure. Energy prices [...]
Investors bet on 2015 Federal Reserve interest rate hike as they pile cash into stocks and real estate – Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s fund manager survey November 17, 2015 Investors are gearing up for an imminent US interest hike and are piling cash into stocks, real estate and alternative investments, according to new survey figures. Four fifths of the 201 panelists – who have $576bn (£379bn) under management – said they expected a Federal Reserve interest rate hike before the end of the year, [...]
London house prices: Buyers in the capital now have £100k income for first time ever November 17, 2015 The average income of London's homebuyers has shot up in the past three months, putting the figure at a six-digit sum for the first time since records began. Buyers' income now stands at £104,000, a rise of six per cent on the previous three months, according to the latest official figures on house prices from the Office [...]
Copper price hits new six-year low as Paris attacks continue to take their toll November 17, 2015 The price of copper has plunged to a new six-year low, as investors continue to shy away from the risky commodity in light of the Paris attacks. On Tuesday morning, it dropped to below $4,600 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange for the first time since 2009. This followed on from a huge sell-off [...]
France to be given budget leeway by European Commission after Paris attacks November 17, 2015 The European Commission (EC) said it will reassess France’s budget needs once its security budget plans are made clear. Commissioner Pierre Moscovici also said an agreement had been reached with Greece paving the way for the disbursement of bailout cash – a deal will release €2bn to Greece and a €10bn bank recapitalisation package. It [...]
