Preparing For Brexit

The US Federal Reserve has drawn a line under the financial crisis by raising interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade, but what lies ahead for the US economy, and in turn, the UK?Alexandra Frean, The Times US Business Editor, says traders are now cautiously hoping for a late Santa rally on the stock market in the run up to Christmas, but American consumers themselves are feeling less positive.“People are still very jumpy and don’t quite trust the numbers” she explains, arguing that despite job growth and low oil prices, Americans don’t feel the financial crisis is fully over.The Fed will need to carry on reassuring Americans that things are back to normal, Alexandra argues.But why does she think Janet Yellen is the closest thing the US has to the Queen?And if the Yellen is the queen, does that make Mark Carney the king? Simon English, The Times Deputy Business Editor, thinks so. “He’s the right man in the right job,” he says of the Bank of England governor. But what does an US...

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It's only two weeks to Christmas and the delivery companies are out in full force. This time last year, City Link was just weeks away from going bust, so how are parcel delivery faring this December?

Robert Lea, the Times Industrial Editor, explains why being busy over Christmas is not always a good thing for a delivery company and discusses whether the roads can cope with the pressure of so many delivery vans.

Meanwhile, Alex Ralph, markets reporter for the Times, tells us how Royal Mail, the big beast of the British delivery sector, has been performing on the stock market. Alex also discusses the sharp falls recently on the FTSE 100 as commodity stocks take a hammering.

Nic Fildes, Technology and Communications Editor at The Times, looks ahead to the half year results of Dixons Carphone (released on Thursday) and how we can expect the retailer to do over the vital Christmas period.

He also reveals why the company was named Dixons Carphone after the merger, and not the other way round.

They all join...

 

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This week we discuss interest rates, printing money and what a rise in rates could mean for your investments.In Europe, German policymakers are “furious” that the European Central Bank are extending their quantitative easing by a further six months, says David Charter, our Times correspondent in Berlin. But he tells us that the power of the ECB is beginning to be limited by the lack of action of national governments to fix the economy.Phil Aldrick, Economics Editor of The Times, explains why ECB president Mario Draghi has merely kicked the can further down the road in terms of fixing the problem of weak inflation in the Eurozone.Meanwhile Alex Frean, US Business Editor of The Times, tells us why Janet Yellen is the kind of person who arrives three hours early for her flight and what this says about the potential for the US Fed to raise interest rates.But what about here in the UK? Is there pressure on the Bank of England to change interest rates from their record lows? And should investors be...

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In this week's podcast, we discuss the fallout from George Osborne's autumn statement and spending review and ask what businesses, investors and the markets made of the chancellor's new measures. Callum Jones, political correspondent for The Times, gives an insight into what the mood is like in the corridors of Westminster. Did Labour miss their chance to successfully challenge the chancellor? Is George Osborne's now likely to be the next prime minister? And did the chancellor pass the test for businesses and investors? Only if you believe the numbers about steady growth, says Patrick Hosking, Financial Editor and columnist of The Times. He asks whether the UK economy can carry on "sailing serenely" when there is so much turmoil in global markets.Meanwhile, Kathryn Hopkins, economics and property correspondent of The Times, claims that George Osborne has put another nail in the coffin of the buy-to-let sector with his 3 per cent extra stamp duty charge for those with second homes. She warns there is...

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This week's podcast is all about George Obsorne's Autumn Statement and what further cuts we can expect from the chancellor.The Times' Economics Editor Philip Aldrick argues that being dogmatic over cutting £19 billion from unprotected departments could inflict enormous damage on public services and thwart George Osborne’s leadership ambitions, as the full impact of the cuts becomes apparent just as rivals mount their charge.But are these dramatic cuts driven by necessity or ideology? Times' columnist and leader writer Oliver Kamm says its all about politics and explains why. Richard Fletcher, Business Editor and presenter of the podcast, asks whether it is a mistake of the chancellor's to ringfence spending in certain government departments and discusses whether the controversial cuts to working tax credits will be amended. Finally, find out what it's like to be in the Treasury on the night before the Autumn Statement from Kathryn Hopkins, once a spokeswoman for the Treasury and now economics...

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Retailers across the UK are bracing themselves for Black Friday but are any of them are actually looking forward to this mad whirlwind of bargains?Asda said it will “step back” from the Black Friday brink after camera crews invited into its Wembley store last year captured unsavoury scenes, as bargain hunters scrapped (literally) for cut-price televisions.And it is far from alone.In this week’s podcast Richard Fletcher, Business Editor, asks whether this American import will be a bit of a turkey or a Christmas cracker for the UK high street.Deirdre Hipwell will share some of the lessons learned from last year’s chaos whilst Alistair Osborne concludes it is, “one of the stupidest things retailers have imported from anywhere”.They are joined by Alexandra Frean, US business editor, who will dial in from New York before she braves the bargain hunters to report on how Black Friday is faring in its spiritual home.

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Has the rout in commodity prices finally found a bottom? Is the crisis over? Don't bet on it, argues our experts in this Times Business podcast special on commodities. A decade ago, commodities were at their strength, with a large upward shift in demand that was powered by China’s emergence as a manufacturing superpower. Companies – most especially the miners – signed off huge investments, buying assets and expanding output. But now China's growth is slowing, so what's that done to the commodities sector?Marcus Leroux, Industrial Editor, explains why such enormous expansion projects have had a disastrous effect on the mining companies that will take years to reverse. Find out why he thinks it will be a "long, long time" before the likes of iron ore reach their peak prices of £189 a tonne again.Meanwhile, Robin Pagnamenta, Energy Editor, explains why we are unlikely to see the price of oil bouncing back to their former highs of over $100 a barrel any time soon. And what effect is the high output from...

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Marks & Spencer reports its half year results next week. Richard Fletcher, Business Editor of The Times, talks to Deidre Hipwell, retail correspondent, about what to expect from the retailer that she says the British people are “obsessed” with. Will M&S have managed to find the fashion pulse of the nation, especially in their womens’ clothing range? And why has their food always done so consistently well, even during the recession?There are also full year results from the owners of Primark. Deirdre discusses how the retailer is doing abroad and also gives tips on the best to find a quiet Primark to shop in.Meanwhile, BT has been given the green light by the competition watchdog for its takeover of EE. Nic Fildes, Technology & Communications Editor, explains why BT’s chief executive, Gavin Patterson, will now fight “tooth and nail” to make sure Ofcom does not try to split off its Openreach division. And have they got some unlikely defenders in the form of bankers?Finally, Kathryn Hopkins, Economics...

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After China announced a £6 billion investment in Britain’s nuclear capability, it looks like the deal to build Hinkley nuclear power station is about to be signed. But what does this mean for Britain?Robin Pagnamenta, The Times Energy Editor, says there will be a lot more wrangling over the small print before construction in Somerset even begins. But what’s the timeline over the next decade? Robin also discusses whether most of the top-level work will go to France or Britain and if the UK security services are likely to relax about the deal. Don’t bet on it, he argues.Alongside him, Robert Lea, The Times Industrial Editor, looks ahead to the upcoming third quarter results from Volkswagen. Will investors get more information on the financial implications of the emissions scandal? Bob argues that not even Volkswagen knows how much the scandal will cost “This is huge. This isn’t like BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster; this is a BP plus an Enron,” he tells listeners. Can it survive? Listen in to find...

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With the City winning a major victory, the corridors of next week’s banking conference will doubtless be filled with conversations about the Treasury’s U-turn on applying guilt to senior managers, as well as amendments to ring-fencing rules. There will also be much discussion on the appointment of Barclays’ new chief executive, Jes Staley, a 34-year veteran of JPMorgan. So, will the Barclays shift its focus back to investment banking, as it did under Bob Diamond? After HSBC ordered contract workers to take a 10 per cent pay cut and two weeks unpaid leave, what next for Britain’s biggest bank? Katherine Griffiths, The Times banking editor, discusses the banking sector. Alongside her, Philip Aldrick, The Times economics editor, analyses the Bank of England. Who is guarding the guardians? A question that will no doubt be put to George Osborne next week when he appears in front of the Treasury select committee to discuss the Bank of England bill. Does the Bank have too much power? Finally, Deirdre Hipwell...

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