Archive for December 2020
Renewable energy is not always green
In recent years, there have been significant steps made away from fossil fuels and towards a sustainable future. According to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), unsubsidised renewable energy is now most frequently the cheapest source of energy generation. Since the early 2000’s IRENA has reported that the worldwide weighted average…
Read MoreGreen Gilts: An empty gesture or a catalyst for decarbonisation?
Earlier this month Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the issuance of the UK’s first green bonds, following a trend first set by Poland in 2016 and subsequently adopted by European nations such as Germany and Sweden. The announcement follows sustained pressure from Columbia Threadneedle, a 352 billion EUR investment group, citing an appetite from pension funds…
Read MoreBanks versus Big Tech and their Digital Challengers
Amidst the low interest rate environment and economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, banks are facing additional competition on two fronts: digital banking start-ups and big technology companies including Google, Apple and Facebook. Whilst new operating models backed by technological advancement are challenging the status quo, a number of factors are limiting rapid structural…
Read MoreHow Will Removing the RPI Change the UK?
On 25th November, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the UK will stop using the retail price index (RPI) as of 2030. The RPI is an inflation measure that on average reads 1% higher than the UK’s official inflation measure, the consumer price index adjusted to include housing cost (CPIH). This decision is set to impact…
Read MoreDow Jones Industrial Average Tops 30,000
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) traded above 30,000 points on 24th November, an increase of 1.42% compared to the previous day. This is a significant milestone for the Dow, which measures the performance of 30 large companies listed on various stock exchanges in the US. The record high marks significant growth in the US…
Read MoreWhy was Tesla’s inclusion in the S&P 500 delayed?
The anticipation around Tesla’s inclusion in the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 index has been building recently and the announcement that the company will finally be included on 21st December, has caused some critics to voice their concerns that the company was not included sooner. Tesla’s 464 billion USD market cap will make it…
Read MoreHyundai Motor Company and INEOS behind the acceleration of the Hydrogen Economy
An understanding has been reached between Hyundai Motor Company and INEOS which signals the formation of a mutualistic relationship between them as they both look to explore opportunities for the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies. It is believed that said establishment will benefit INEOS’ audacious move into the electric vehicle (EV) market as…
Read MoreThe inTUItion behind the future of travel stocks
The global tourism industry has been one of the most affected industries by the COVID-19 pandemic as hopeful travellers have been prevented from travelling overseas for the majority of the past 6 months. TUI Group has not been immune to the effects of the pandemic despite having catered to holidaymakers for nearly a century and…
Read MoreThe Future of Chinese Consumer Electronics in the Global Market
Chinese technology firms have seen great success in the global market recently, with its top two smartphone companies, Huawei and Xiaomi, shipping almost 100 million handsets worldwide in Q3 2020. However, China’s biggest telecommunication, Huawei, company is facing widespread sanctions globally. Therefore, the future of Chinese technology in the global market may be under threat.…
Read MoreTime to say good-‘Buy to Let’?
COVID-19 continues to catalyse myriad problems for residential property owners. Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday for the first 500,000 GBP of a property purchase encouraged droves of established landlords and first-time buyers to flock towards the property market, triggering a housing bubble. Buy-to-let (BTL) investments are historically renowned…
Read More