The A-level exams were cancelled in March in response to the spread of COVID-19. Subject grades in the UK were originally awarded according to a teacher-assessed ranking of students at each centre and the expected grade distribution of the centre (e.g. school). The expected centre grade distribution has been based on the past performance of […]
“I don’t love the idea of being a house cat, but what’s the solution?” When you are looking for someone to blame remember this: The Market is not stupid. Participants are. When Fed heads and economists are warning of more pain still to come, when investors believe the US needs another $1 trillion stimulus, and […]
He may be one of only a handful of senior-ranking Ministers in Downing Street to have avoided catching Covid-19 but the pandemic has left the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a fiscal headache. The last time the UK debt was bigger than the output of the economy itself was in the second world war. It […]
The dividend has continued to increase without interruption, up from 65c to 70c. That’s 11 years of increase, and compares with 5.966c in 2006. Funds from operations (FFO) in the first half alone have increased by 4.1%, from 87c to 91c – this effectively finances the dividend. Consolidated net income rose 16% to €29.1m. Net […]
Inflation came in much stronger than economists anticipated across the major western economies in July, highlighting that the effects of the pandemic are not purely deflationary. In the UK, CPI inflation jumped up from +0.6% in June to +1.0% in July, whereas the consensus was for it to hold steady. Some of the increase was […]
This morning there will have been scenes at the Bank of England. Indeed there will have been jostling amongst the staff as they rush to be the one who presents the morning meeting. Whoever grabbed the gig will be facing a Governor who has a wide beaming smile as his mind anticipates raiding the well-stocked […]
On changing clocks, Folkestone and the future of agriculture. […]
What’s the solution to the great pandemic debt pile-up? Tax Britain’s housing wealth. According to James Kirkup, head of the Social Market Foundation think tank, writing in the Times, higher property taxes are both sensible and inevitable – and if the Tories don’t bring them in, then Labour definitely will. Now James is a friend […]
THE CORRELATION between being overweight and being in ICU with Covid-19 is so well known outside of Downing Street, that there is already at least one published Covid Diet. Like all diets it suggests that you eat plenty of protein, fresh vegetables and wholegrains (and cut out refined carbohydrates). However, while the Government is trying to […]
After a roller coaster first half of 2020, now seems like a good time to review the CAPE ratio for the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and, for US-focused investors, the S&P 500. FTSE 100 CAPE ratio review The FTSE 100 has had a tough time over the last few years, largely thanks to the eurozone […]
