Tax black hole

Tax Reforms Increase in VAT: Adjusting the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate could generate substantial revenue. Pension Tax Relief: Limiting pension tax relief to the basic rate of income tax could raise around £15 billion per year. Pension tax relief raid. Windfall Tax: Increasing the windfall tax on the profitsRead More →

China stocks up

Chinese stocks continued to rise following state media reports that China’s top leaders have endorsed the government’s recent measures to bolster their economy. The CSI 300 index in Mainland China continued its rally for a seventh consecutive day, reaching its highest point in about four months, subsequent to a meetingRead More →

Critical data centres UK

UK data centres are set to be classified as critical national infrastructure (CNI), aligning them with sectors such as emergency services, finance, healthcare, and utilities This classification will ensure they receive additional government support during major incidents like cyber-attacks, IT outages, or severe weather, to reduce disruption. Data centres, largeRead More →

U.S. chip rules

The Biden administration is reportedly implementing new export controls on essential technologies, such as quantum computing and semiconductor materials, in response to China’s progress in the global chip market These controls encompass quantum computers and their components, sophisticated chipmaking tools, semiconductor technologies, certain metal and metal alloy components and software,Read More →

U.S> jobs data revision

Job growth in the US last year was weaker than previously believed, according to a statement from the Labor Department on Wednesday 21st August 2024. This revelation has intensified the ongoing debate regarding the health of the U.S. economy. The department’s updated figures indicate that there were approximately 818,000 fewerRead More →

Tungsten rare Earth metal

Tungsten is a critically important rare earth metal, renowned for its unique and valuable properties. Tungsten has the highest melting point among all metals, which makes it exceptionally suitable for high-temperature applications. Key aspects of its importance Industrial and technological applications Tungsten is used in many industries where hardness, high density, high wearRead More →

UK election

On 22nd May 2024, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a snap general election for 4th July 2024 This decision caught many by surprise, as the election was called more than around six months earlier than legally required. Election Date: 4th July 2024 – let the fireworks begin The Conservative Party, led by Rishi Sunak, isRead More →

AI Kill Switch!

Leading technology companies, such as Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI, have united under a significant international accord for artificial intelligence (AI) safety measures, established at the Seoul AI Safety Summit on Tuesday 21st May 2024. Following the agreement, firms from various nations, including the UK, China, Canada, the U.S., France, SouthRead More →

U.S. & China trade tensions

Tensions between Washington and Beijing have intensified, with the U.S. ramping up trade restrictions and sanctions on China due to national security concerns. Since Ukraine’s invasion, there has been a roughly 12% drop in trade between the blocs, and foreign direct investments have decreased by 20% compared to those withinRead More →

Inflation has become a persistent challenge for the Fed The battle against inflation persists, gradually impacting the U.S. economy and presenting substantial challenges for the Federal Reserve. Despite concerted efforts to control it, inflation remains stubbornly remains, leaving policymakers in a dilemma – to stimulate economic growth or to curbRead More →

UK floods

Record-breaking rain has inundated the United Kingdom over the past few months, leaving fields submerged and livestock at risk. The relentless downpours, likely exacerbated by climate change, are now threatening the very foundation of UK food production. Challenges faced by farmers UK farmers are facing the repercussions of extreme weatherRead More →

Gas

The world’s energy landscape is experiencing an unexpected twist: an oversupply of natural gas. As economies grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic, the gas market finds itself in a paradoxical situation. The Glut Unveiled Demand Dilemma Price Plunge Environmental Implications Conclusion The global gas glut is a paradox: abundantRead More →

U.S. China trade microchip trade battle

China has reportedly prohibited the use of U.S. processors from both AMD and Intel in government computers and servers. The directive is designed to encourage the use of domestic alternatives. Chinese government agencies are now required to choose ‘safe and reliable’ domestic alternatives for these chips. The sanctioned list featuresRead More →

U.S. interest rates

In his Capitol Hill testimony on 6th March 2024, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated that was not yet time to begin cutting interest rates. To fight inflation, which reached a rate of 9% in the summer of 2022, the central bank has significantly increased interest rates in recent times. However, prices are still stubborn, especiallyRead More →

Deflation

Deflation is an economic phenomenon characterized by a general decline in prices for goods and services. It occurs when the inflation rate falls below 0%, resulting in a negative inflation rate.  This means that the purchasing power of currency increases over time, allowing you to buy more with the same amount of money. ItRead More →