Preparing For Brexit

In the week’s since the Volkswagen’s emission scandal broke there has not been a day when they haven’t been in the paper. Next week will be no different. The carmaker’s UK managing director Paul Willis will go in front of two committees next week to face a grilling from MPs about how much he knew and what is being done about it? Can people trust what VW is saying? What should you be doing if you own a diesel VW car? Robert Lea, our industrial editor, discusses the scandal. Also grabbing the headlines is Anheuser-Busch InBev’s attempt to takeover its smaller rival SABMiller. In recent days the war of words has been cranked up and we are fast approaching the takeover deadline when AB InBev will either have to table a formal bid or walk away for another six months. Will there be a deal? What price does AB InBev need to pay to get what it wants? Dom Walsh takes a closer look at the deal, and explains why the biggest loser could be the consumer. Finally, there will be a lot of economic data for the...

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Next week 144 countries' top finance chief will meet in Peru for the IMF and World Bank conference. Philip Aldrick, The Times Economics Editor, will be there and expects conversations to be centred on an imminent US rate rise, problems in China alongside satellite issues such as Greece and Ukraine. But will anything actually be achieved with so many people in the conversation? And why are we expecting bad news to kick it all off? Phil explains. Back in the UK, Tesco is reporting it's latest interim results. There was already a lot of pressure on Dave Lewis, chief executive of Britain's largest supermarket, but that has now been turned up after Sainsbury's recently upgraded its prfit guidance. The City will be hoping for an update on his strategy but are they going to get it? Deirdre Hipwell is not convinced. Finally, we get the latest SMMT car sales figures. September is a key month as it accounts for one fifth of annual sales due to the changing registration plates. But could this be the month the...

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Could Britain’s rate of productivity be better than initially thought? Philip Aldrick, The Times Economics Editor, says the upcoming third revision to second-quarter GDP should be able to tell us. The third GDP estimate will come with a series of revisions to previous growth figures over several years. If these are revised upwards, that suggests our productivity is not as bad as it first appears.But it’s a different story in the US, where a decision by the Fed not to raise interest rates have left investors clearly spooked by China, says Alexandra Frean, US Business Editor. “People are really nervous and are reigning in their spending” she explains.In fact, no one knows what’s going to happen to China’s economy, and that’s scaring global policy makers, Philip Aldrick argues.He asks whether we are about to hit a third cycle of the global financial crisis. First there was financial the crisis of 2007-08, then the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, now some people are warning that it’s China’s turn to...

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Are we finally fixing the roof while the sun shines? Is the deficit coming under control? Philip Aldrick, The Times Economics Editor, thinks things are looking rosy for the UK's public finances. There also some good news for the Eurozone, where consumer confidence is picking up. But is the recovery just being fueled by the central bank? And what next for Japan? Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, claims to be half way through his turnaround programme,, known as 'Abenomics', but is it actually working? The doubters are increasingly made their voices heard. On the corporate front, there is no end to the M&A activity. Next week we'll find out if Zurich is snapping up RSA and all the cards will be on the table for Betfair and Paddy Power. But are M&S deals destructive? Are there just a way for the City to earn their fees? Deirdre Hipwell, The Times M&A Correspondent, remembers the AOL/Time Warner merger which is now regarded as the worst deal in history. And there is even an apology from Richard Fletcher...

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Within a week the US could have its first interest rate rise in nine years. The US Federal Reserve is meeting to discuss whether or not to pull the trigger and start tightening its monetary policy. In this week's podcast, we take a look at whether or not the Fed will raise rates and whether or not it should. Alexandra Frean, The Times US Business Editor, Philip Aldrick, The Times Economics Editor and Patrick Hosking, The Times Financial Editor are divided on what the Fed's next move will be but are united in what they think the central bank should do. If the Fed does raise rates, what will it mean for markets and what does it mean for a UK rate rise? And if they don't raise them this month, when will they make the move? There is never going to be a perfect moment, so should they just do?The team join guest presenter Richard Fletcher, The Times Business Editor, to give their views on the next step for the world's largest economy.You can find out all the news and reaction on our Business Now live...

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Ahead of next week's Bank of England interest rate decision (at which no change is expected), Philip Aldrick, The Times Economics Editor, as whether or not Mark Carney, the Bank's governor, is losing credibility? Nearly 18 months ago he was warning households to prepare for a rate rise, but lift off is still not expected for at least another six months. Are there signs that the UK recovery is coming off a bit?

On the corporate front there is a smorgasbord of retail results out. Deirdre Hipwell says the one to watch will be Morrisons. Has the new(ish) chief executive David Potts got everything under control? And what of Next? Often seen as a bellweather of the high street, how will it be affected by the weather?

And then there is Sports Direct updating the market. While Mike Ashley is a great retailer, says Richard Fletcher, The Times Business Editor, should he be running a listed company?

You can find out all the news and reaction on our Business Now live blog: thetimes.co.uk/tto/business

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After a turbulent week in markets, that many have compared to 2008, we take a special look at what is going on in global equities. Is it all because China devalued its currency?Or are we just seeing some tamper tantrums, as the time nears for the US to raise its interest rates? Patrick Hosking, The Times Financial Editor, thinks we could be. In the US, Alexandra Frean, The Times Business Editor, argues that China is just the straw that broke the camel's back, while Alex Ralph, Market Reporter at The Times, says the volatile week of trading could be because the boss is away. But what does it mean for you, the consumer? What should you be doing with yours ISAs and pensions? And what have chicken feet got to do with it? All that is discussed, and more, in the podcast this week which is a special look at markets, presented by Robert Miller. You can find out all of the market moves and reaction on our Business Now live blog: thetimes.co.uk/tto/businessyou can follow all the journalists on the...

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The week's podcast is a special look at the oil industry.The price of oil has plunged from highs of $115 last summer and now hovers around the $50 mark, and is heading towards six-and-a-half year lows. What is pushing the price lower and what does it all mean?Robin Pagnamenta, The Times Energy Editor and Marcus Leroux, The Times Industrial Correspondent, discuss the main issues, including what it means for you, the consumer. Marcus also takes a punt at guessing how much lower the oil price could go and argues that the next couple of years could be a "watershed" moment for the North Sea oil industry. So is fracking a viable alternative? Robin says that with the oil price so low (which he thinks will remain the case for at least the next year), the controversial industry could find itself in economic trouble. So why do it? You can find out and follow the developments from the oil industry and all other financial news, as it breaks every week day on our Business Now live blog:...

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Is the Federal Reserve waiting for a “perfect moment” that will never materialise to raise interest rates? That’s the view of Alexandra Frean, The Times US Business Editor, who says the Fed is in danger of missing their moment.She tells us why the upcoming Fed meeting on interest rates is seen as so important to investors and also explains the effect China has on the possibility of a rate rise. Do US voters care that much about the economy though? Not if the Republican nominations is anything to go by, she argues.Meanwhile Kathryn Hopkins, The Times property correspondent, tells us why she has started to sound like a broken record when it comes to housing supply and demand in the UK.Safe as houses? Think again. Richard Fletcher, The Times Business Editor, quizzes Kathryn on whether changes made by the Chancellor to buy-to-let mortgages means trust is ebbing away from brick and mortar as a safe investment.They all join presenter Robert Miller in this week’s podcast from The Times’ Business team....

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Are demanding shareholders behind the billion-dollar boom in mergers and acquisitions? Deirdre Hipwell, The Times M&A correspondent, explains why a change of mood among shareholders is helping drive what is being called a “golden era” for the dealmakers.One company that was vulnerable to a take-over last year was Balfour Beatty, which is about to reveal its interim results. The construction giant has issued a string of profit warnings recently but Robert Lea, The Times industrial editor, tells us why any sign of good news at the troubled company will have others firms running to make a take-over bid.He also talks us through the upcoming results for Serco and G4S. Will Serco’s new chief executive Rupert Soames give investors more details on his turn-around plan for the embattled outsourcing giant?And Alexandra Frean, US economics editor, explains why British companies trying to break America shouldn't get hung up about where they come from.They all join presenter Robert Miller in this week’s podcast...

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