So much for talk of a 2014 rate hike: Mark Carney says he “expects spring 2015 interest rate rise” at TUC speech September 9, 2014 Mark Carney has all but ruled out an interest rate hike this year. In a speech to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) this morning, the Bank of England governor said inflation lower than the Bank's two per cent target, slack in the labour market and downward pressure from strong sterling mean the current inflation environment [...]
Independent Scotland “will have to re-apply for Nato membership” – and will have a £500m defence shortfall September 9, 2014 As the debate over Scottish independence rages and the latest polls show the two sides neck and neck, Scotland's future place in world affairs is becoming an increasingly popular talking point. The most recent comment on the issue has come from a Nato official, who told Reuters Scotland will have to reapply for its membership [...]
Hungry for a sweet property deal? Lord Sugar puts City of London property on market September 9, 2014 Hungry for a sweet property deal? Lord Sugar has fired the starting gun on bids to lease his 40,000 sq ft property The Sugar Building and he is open for tempting offers from a single occupier. Looking at the accompanying image, the building is still under wraps – but interested parties should get [...]
Amazon slashes the price of its Fire smartphone to 99 cents – weeks before its UK launch September 9, 2014 Amazon has slashed the price of its less-than-popular smartphone to 99 cents just a month and a bit after it launched in the US, and weeks before its UK launch. Alas, the deal (99 cents with a two-year contract from AT&T) is only available in the US, but still – it suggests quite how disappointing [...]
Mark Carney to discuss wages in speech at Trades Union Congress September 9, 2014 Mark Carney will discuss his plans for real wages in an address to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) later today. The prospect of an interest rate rise continues to shadow the governor, and members of the TUC are expected to tell Carney to reject a hike until real wages show signs of strengthening. The Canadian [...]
iPhone 6 launch: Five things you need to know about new Apple designer Marc Newson September 9, 2014 As fanboys and investors alike get the popcorn in for tonight's big Apple launch, the rumour-mill has gone into overdrive about what exactly is going to be announced tonight. We're 99 per cent sure the iPhone 6 is going to be part of it – the phone is expected to come in two sizes (with [...]
Strong pound pushes trade deficit wider as industrial output grows 0.5pc September 9, 2014 The impact of the strong pound continued to be felt in July by businesses with fingers in pies abroad, figures by the Office for National Statistics published this morning showed, with the UK's trade deficit widening to £3.3bn, up from £2.5bn the month before, despite the fact imports to the UK rose. The deficit on [...]
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was pierced by “high energy objects” from outside the plane September 9, 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was hit by numerous “high-energy objects” that “pierced the plane at high speed”, according to a report published by the Dutch Safety Board this morning. The Boeing 777-200 broke up in the air as a result of the objects which “penetrated the aircraft from outside”, the report said. There were [...]
Scottish independence: Pound continues to slide as Brown enters the fray September 9, 2014 More pain for the pound. After falling by almost 1.4 per cent yesterday, sterling looks to be continuing its slide against the dollar today, as the markets stare the possibility of an independent Scotland in the face. With polls so close, the No campaign has brought a former political hitman out of his cosy retirement: Gordon [...]
Dixons Carphone reports “good start” but mobile sales drop September 9, 2014 Dixons Carphone will breeze into the FTSE 100 on 22 September, the newly formed company announced today. The £3.6bn merger of Dixons Retail and Carphone Warehouse was completed on 7 August, and the company says it has made a "good start" in the period since. Dixons Retail recorded a four per cent increase in like-for-like [...]