Doveish Mario Draghi sends Euro tumbling to lowest level since 2010, as dollar rises January 2, 2015 The dollar index rose 0.6 per cent to 90.84 this morning, its highest level since 2006. The index, which measures how the dollar is performing against its trading partners, was nudged up as comments from European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi pushed the euro to a four-year low. Draghi hinted this morning [...]
Black Friday hits John Lewis’ Christmas sales January 2, 2015 He may have been a runaway hit, but not even Monty the Penguin could help John Lewis emulate the success of its Black Friday deals during the Christmas period. Sales at the retailer fell 1.4 per cent during the week of Christmas, with sales of electrical goods falling 14.7 per cent compared with the same [...]
Eurozone manufacturing growth up slightly, but Italy hits 19-month low as France struggles January 2, 2015 After Draghi was doveish, manufacturing data was bearish. The rate of growth for the Eurozone's manufacturing sector was 50.6 compared to the Markit purchasing managers’ index score, where anything above 50 represents growth. The score brings the rate of growth for the quarter to 50.4, bumping along the line between growth and contraction [...]
UK manufacturing slows to three-month low January 2, 2015 UK manufacturing has hit an unexpected blip, slowing to a three-month low in December. The UK purchasing managers' index (PMI), from Markit/CIPS, slowed to 52.5, below the 53.7 score expected by economists polled by Reuters and lower too than the 53.3 recorded in October and November. Any score above 50 points indicates growth. [...]
George Osborne takes a swipe at Vince Cable on Twitter January 2, 2015 As we approach the general election expect the rift between the Conservatives and their Lib Dem coalition partners to widen ever further as they prepare to tear each other to shreds over the coming months. Rarely a week goes by without a Lib Dem MP or minister warning the nation of the dire prospect of [...]
Plane forced to make emergency landing at Southend Airport after blaze January 2, 2015 A plane has been forced to make an emergency landing at Southend airport after a reported engine fire. According to the BBC, fire crews were called to put out flames on a plane carrying 28 passengers, but the fire was out by the time the plane landed and no one was injured. https://twitter.com/BBCLookEast/status/550967133149356033 [...]
Keeping chocolate prices down: A huge greenhouse in Reading could save the world’s cocoa supply through new genetic material January 2, 2015 With demand for chocolate outstripping supply at an unprecedented rate, its price is set to soar in 2015. But a giant greenhouse in Reading has come to the rescue, and could stop chocolate from becoming the preserve of the very wealthy. The International Cocoa Quarantine Centre has been in operation for one month and [...]
Bank of England: Mortgage approvals fall to 17-month low January 2, 2015 The number of mortgages rubber-stamped by banks dropped again in November, although by less than analysts had expected. Nevertheless, the figure is a 17-month low, underlining the trajectory of the market. During the month, banks approved 59,029 mortgages, down from 59,511 in October, but above the 58,500 analyst consensus. The fall has been a [...]
Tesla founder Elon Musk divorces his British wife – for the second time January 2, 2015 It can't be easy living with a multi-billionaire with so many ideas that he has to offer some of them to other people because he doesn't have time to take advantage of them all. But you'd have thought that's a lesson Tesla founder Elon Musk's soon-to-be ex-wife, British actress Talulah Riley, might have learned the [...]
Plane blown off Stornoway airport runway on Scotland’s Isle of Lewis January 2, 2015 A plane has been blown off the runway Stornoway airport, according to reports. The airport is located on the Isle of Lewis which is the northern most part of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. The area is notorious for storms and severe weather. Reports indicate that the plane experienced troubles with its wheels thanks to [...]