Tagged: douglas grant

Conister Bank MD Says Labour Must Incentivize Investors Supporting SMEs

Douglas Grant, Managing Director at Conister Bank, says the new Labour government must incentivize investors to support UK SMEs. The UK already has several programs in place to provide significant tax incentives to support early-stage and private firms. These include the popular EIS/SEIS program and… Read More

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget Delivers Mixed Responses from Fintech Insiders

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, delivered the Spring Budget today, and once again, there was something for everyone to like or dislike. The budget is being described as a “Budget for long-term growth,” highlighting the expectation that inflation will move lower. Hunt said the… Read More

After Fed Holds Steady, the Bank of England Does the Same

Yesterday, the US Federal Reserve decided it was prudent to hold rates where they are for the time being, and today, the Bank of England decided to do the same. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has a similar target with inflation as… Read More

UK Inflation Remains Elevated, Far Above 2% Target

The UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 6.7% in the 12 months to September 2023, the same rate as in August, according to the UK Office for National Statistics. The CPI rose by 0.5% in September 2023, the same rate as in September 2022…. Read More

Bank of England Matches US 25 BPS Rate Increase

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has increased its Bank Rate by 25 basis points, echoing the move by the US Federal Reserve, which did the same yesterday. Unlike the Fed, the vote was not unanimous in a 7-2 majority decision. The MPC said… Read More

UK Inflation Ticks Down, But Still Not Out of the Woods

Earlier today the UK government announced its monthly inflation data which indicated the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 10.1% in the 12 months to January 2023, down from 10.5% in December 2022 – a slight improvement. On a monthly basis, CPI fell by 0.6% in… Read More

Bank of England Increases Interest Rates by 50 Basis Points, Experts Comment

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 7 to 2 to increase its benchmark rate by 50 basis points to 4.0%. The bank said that two members preferred to hold rates steady for now. The issues remain the same; stubborn inflation and geopolitical… Read More

Bank of England Follows Fed with 50 bps Interest Rate Increase

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has increased its Bank Rate by 50 basis points to 3.5%. According to a statement by the Bank, the MPC vote was 6 to 3, with one member advocating for a 75 basis point increase and two… Read More

Bank of England Raises Rates by 50 bps, Biggest Hike in 33 Years

The Bank of England has raised interest rates by 50 basis points – the biggest leap in many years. The move by the BoE follows the US Federal Reserve’s anticipated 75 bps rate increase. The Bank of England said it maintains resolve to fight inflation… Read More

Covid Born Recovery Loan Scheme Extended to Aid UK SMEs

Today, the UK government has announced that the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS), launched in April 2021 to help businesses counter the COVID crippled economy, will be extended for a further two years. Originally set to end last December, during the Autumn Budget the government extended… Read More

Bank of England Raises Rates by 25 Basis Points Following Feds 50 BPS Increase

The Bank of England, Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), has announced a 25 basis point increase bringing its Bank Rate to 1%. According to a statement by the BoE, the MPC voted by 6-3 to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points. Those members in the… Read More

Fintechs Comment on Spring Statement by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak

Last week, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered the Spring Statement outlining the challenges facing the economy and at least some of the government’s plans to alleviate some of the pain. A combination of COVID and then Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has helped… Read More

4.5 Per Cent Unemployment a Good Sign, But UK Businesses Still Need Help

While the recent drop in the United Kingdom’s unemployment rate to 4.5 per cent is reflective of a strengthening economy, there are still vulnerabilities, financial industry representatives believe. Conister director Douglas Grant said while the data suggests a strong and recovering UK workforce, attention needs… Read More

UK Budget Includes Support for Tech, Special Economic Zones and More. Government Seeks to Attract Scientific Superstars

Earlier today, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak presented the budget for 2021. Obviously, the government policy on spending comes at a difficult time as COVID-19 is still very much with us yet glimmers of relief are showing as the vaccine takes hold. The Chancellor… Read More

Resolution Foundation Warns UK Government on Creating Zombie Firms, Conister Responds Saying BBLS and CBILS Kept Firms Alive

Earlier today, the Resolution Foundation published a report called On firm ground? The impact of Covid-19 on firms and what policymakers should do in response. The report seeks to assess the current state of corporates while setting out priorities for policymakers to allow enable firms… Read More

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