A confluence of events and policy shifts has coalesced into a unique opportunity for the U.K. government and U.K. firms to make long-term strategic investments. The cost of new debt – when taken on at today's extremely low interest rates and then adjusted for inflation – will be negative over the life ... READ MORE >
coronavirus
Hanging on: Five ways that hotels can survive the pandemic economy
(This is the last of three articles examining how the pandemic is affecting the hospitality industry. Read the first and second.) Even the most basic financial strategist knows that there are two ways to improve a company’s bottom line — cut costs or drive revenues. In a time of Depression-like ... READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Feb. 8
In this week’s roundup, we look at the impact of new COVID-19 variants on existing vaccines for the disease; South Africa made the difficult decision to stop using its most readily available vaccine after it showed limited effectiveness against the variant most common there. This is an important ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Apparel companies’ new discipline on pricing
Consumer prices for apparel continued to rise in January, demonstrating that apparel companies are focused on profitability amid a volatile environment for supply and demand. The prices that consumers paid for apparel rose 2.2% in January compared to the core index, which remained relatively flat with ... READ MORE >
Second wave of the pandemic devastates the Canadian labor market
The surge in coronavirus infections in Canada this winter has taken a heavy toll on the economy, which has only added to the urgency for a vaccine to be widely distributed. Another 213,000 jobs were lost in January, an acceleration over December’s decline, according to data recently released by ... READ MORE >
Hotels face a long road to recovery emerging from the pandemic
(This is the second of three articles examining how the pandemic is affecting the hospitality industry. Read the first here, about how the industry is struggling to adapt.) Even as the American economy continues to emerge from the shock of the coronavirus pandemic and economists predict strong growth ... READ MORE >
Global fiscal policy: Reflation led by fiscal firepower
Despite efforts over the past four years to tear down the underpinnings of the global economy, pandemic economics has reinforced that this is indeed a global economy. Every one of the major-currency economies suffered through a health crisis and negative economic growth last year, according to the most ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: The bond market’s assessment of governance and economic risk
The yield on 10-year Treasury bonds continues to move above 1%, reaching 1.15% last week for the first time since the end of last February, when the severity of the coronavirus outbreak was becoming apparent. The increase in long-term interest rates can be interpreted as an encouraging sign of ... READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Feb. 1
In this week’s roundup, we examine why more drug manufacturers are not stepping in to help produce mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. While some may think drug manufacturing facilities should be able to easily pivot to produce these vaccines, the reality is much more complicated. We also look at investment ... READ MORE >
RSM UK Financial Conditions Index reaches neutral – a platform for growth
Despite the dark winter caused by the global pandemic, financial conditions in England have moved in a constructive direction that can support a near-term economic recovery and expansion in 2022. Volatility in the U.K. financial markets is subsiding, and performance among the markets appears to ... READ MORE >