Monday newspaper round-up: Brexit, Migrants, Steel industry
Investment by large British companies has slowed dramatically because of rising fears among finance directors about the potential turmoil caused by a vote for Brexit in June. The possibility of Britain leaving the European Union is now regarded as the biggest threat to business by finance directors, eclipsing long-standing concerns such as weak demand in the euro area. - The Times
An EU deal to return tens of thousands of migrants from Greece to Turkey is in chaos amid protests in refugee detention centres and shortages of officials to carry out the deportations. EU sources admitted that the number of migrants, including Syrian refugees, returned from the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios today would be nothing like the planned figure of 500. - The Times
Britain's exit from the European Union would lead to the “implosion” of the continental bloc and force the United States to intervene to put “Humpty Dumpty back together again”, the boss of the London Stock Exchange has claimed. Xavier Rolet added that the “UK leaving the European Union is the end of the European Union”. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Mr Rolet, one of 200 business leaders to sign a high-profile letter in February supporting the campaign for the UK to remain in Europe, said such a prospect would be “devastating.” - The Daily Telegraph
Britain’s steel industry is set to be saved from collapse by two little-known financiers who hope to revive the "British Steel" name, The Telegraph can disclose. Marc and Nathaniel Meyohas, two brothers behind investment firm Greybull, are putting the finishing touches to buy the Scunthorpe steelworks from Tata, pumping £400m into the struggling plant and saving a total of around 9,000 local jobs. - The Daily Tepegraph
Beijing’s growing confidence in its plans to help build new reactors at Hinkley in Somerset and Bradwell in Essex has been underlined by the recent incorporation of seven new Chinese nuclear-related firms in London. It appears, however, that an agreement between China and its partner EDF of France to develop the first new reactors in Britain for 20 years has still not been signed. - The Guardian
Christine Lagarde insists it is "simply nonsense" that the International Monetary Fund is pushing for a credit crisis to force economic reforms in Greece, responding to a leaked conversation that has sparked fury among the country's politicians.
On Saturday, WikiLeaks made public a transcript of IMF decision-makers stating that an "event" could prompt Greece to implement financial reforms. - The Daily Telegraph