The UK Economy

The British economy is off to a “shaky start” in 2013 as businesses around the country became even more pessimistic of the plight of the economy in the next six months, according to a survey conducted by accountancy firm BDO. In a report published earlier today, BDO Optimistic Index continued to fall and reached a […]

Sterling rises as Mark Carney answers questions to UK Parliament. Incoming Bank of England Governor Mark Carney says “flexible inflation targeting” has “proven itself to be the most effective monetary policy”. Answering questions from the UK’s Parliamentary Treasury Select committee Mr Carney said “In my view, flexible inflation targeting, as practiced in both Canada and […]

CEO Ian Gorham explained that investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown has benefited, at least in part, from the dubious schemes of the London banks.  He boldly said that the company’s six month results “demonstrate that a reputable company can, even in this climate, add genuine benefit to the UK economy and public, whilst paying its taxes […]

Option to issue RBS sharesto UK citizens remains “open”. Vince Cable, the UK’s Business Secretary, has argued that government-held Royal Bank of Scotland shares could be divided amongst UK citizens. Speaking in an interview with the BBC Dr Cable said whilst there was “no immediate prospect” of the troubled bank returning to the private sector […]

Centrica has pulled out of plans to build the first in a new wave of UK nuclear power plants. The UK government’s energy plans have been put into doubt following a decision by energy giant Centrica to pull out of plans to build the first in a new wave of nuclear power plants. Arguing that […]

A week before it releases its full year results for 2012, Barclays plc (LSE:BARC) announced it has set aside an additional £1 billion to cover for the bank’s redress over mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) and interest rate hedging products sold to small and medium-size enterprises, UK’s second largest bank said on Tuesday. The bank, […]

Chancellor George Osborne introduced his Banking Reform Bill to Parliament today, but not before giving the public a good look at it in a speech this morning at JP Morgan in Bournemouth. In this writers opinion, the changes put forth can come none too soon.  We often refer to the 2007 banking crisis. It’s been […]

UK Chancellor supports measures to break-up banks that don’t reform Banks that fail to comply with new regulations to protect investment operations from high-street banking will risk being broken up, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has announced. By calling for “open markets with clear rules, properly policed” the Chancellor accepted a recommendation by […]

This article first appeared in my bi-weekly Tomograph newsletter just overa  week ago, but perhaps merits a wider audience. To receive this weekly newsletter with exclusive articles on hot shares, investment and economics plus links to all my articles on 10 US and UK websites click HERE The London Mayor wants to be the next leader of […]

By now you know the story about the HMV job cuts at the home office and the tweets that told about the firings direct from the HR office via mobile phone.  One of the first tweets referred to the “mass execution of loyal employees who love the brand.” Nearly everyone, employees, investors and outsiders know, […]