Worrying slip in standards and popularity of science subjects on GCSE results day August 22, 2013 It's GCSE results day today, and an initial look at the statistics suggests there could be more disappointment this year, as the proportion of GCSE exam entries awarded top grades in the UK falls for the second year running – including a dramatic drop in science grades (release). The proportion of exam entries graded between [...]
Accountant RSM Tenon enters administration as part of sale to Baker Tilly August 22, 2013 Accountant RSM Tenon has entered administration as Baker Tilly is soon to acquire the firm's trading entitites (release) Given the scale of its debt the firm has had little choice but to declare itself insolvent, with three insolvency practitioners at Deloitte LLP appointed as joint administrators to the firm this morning. Immediately following their appointment, [...]
Output from UK car manufacturing industry accelerates in July August 22, 2013 UK car manufacturing grew by seven per cent in July, with sites across the country making 128,873 units, according to data form the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) (release). Of this figure, some 77.6 per cent were exported – down 4.8 percentage points from July 2012. For the year-to-date, manufacturing volumes have increased [...]
Fall in number of young people not in work, education or training in the UK flatlines August 22, 2013 The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) was 1.09m in the three months to June 2013, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. This was virtually unchanged from the period January to March 2013, but down by 104,000 from the same period the year before. NEETs accounted for [...]
Eurozone recovery accelerates with fastest output growth in over two years August 22, 2013 Eurozone August figures are looking good in August, as Markit's composite purchasing manager's index (PMI) jumps from 50.5 to 51.7. Economists had predicted a rise to 50.9. The euro rose against the dollar on the news. Manufacturing PMI came in at 51.1 from 50.3 (50.6 expected) and services outperformed estimates too, 51.0 returning to growth [...]
IMI reports profit boost and expects better conditions in second half August 22, 2013 Global engineering group IMI – which makes valves and other equipment for controlling liquids and gas flows – has reported a four per cent increase in pre-tax profits in the first half of the year and an eight per cent boost in basic earnings per share. Pre-tax profits rose to £150.1m from £145.0m in the [...]
Euro bounces back as German manufacturing growth hits two year high August 22, 2013 German August purchasing manager's index (PMI) flash estimates have performed well, with services and manufacturing both beating expectations. Manufacturing PMI was expected to rise from 50.7 to 51.1, instead it jumped to 52.0. The service sector was predicted up from 51.3 to 51.7, and also outperformed estimates, at 52.4. The euro has snapped back up [...]
SABMiller doubles brewing capacity in Uganda August 22, 2013 SABMiller has announced the official opening of its second brewery in Uganda following a $90m (£57.7m) investment (release). Construction of the brewery in Mbarara, western Uganda began in February 2012 and has been operational since April this year. The new facility will double the potential brewing capacity of SABMiller’s Ugandan subsidiary Nile Breweries to 3.6m [...]
Euro sinks as French data misses expectations August 22, 2013 Despite expectations of an improvement, French purchasing manager's index (PMI) flash estimates have worsened in July. That's set the euro down against the dollar. It looks like $EURUSD was knocked back about 25 pips from 1.3350 by the French PMI preliminary release. — DailyFXTeamMember (@DailyFXTeam) August 22, 2013 The manufacturing number stays steady at 49.7, [...]
Bank of England rebel Martin Weale concerned by high inflation August 22, 2013 The rebel on the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) – hawk Martin Weale – has managed to sound both hawkish and dovish in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. At the last MPC meeting Weale voted against the introduction of forward guidance. Here's what the analysts had to say then. Rob Wood, chief [...]