S&P and Fitch downgrade UK after “seminal” Brexit vote June 27, 2016 Standard and Poor's and Fitch downgraded the UK's credit rating on Monday evening after last week's Brexit vote. S&P downgraded the UK's rating by two notches, from AAA to AA, with a negative outlook, describing the Brexit vote as "a seminal event". Fitch also downgraded the UK, from AA+ to AA with a negative outlook. "The UK vote to leave the [...]
At the close: Markets take a clobbering as sterling slides and uncertainty reigns June 27, 2016 Traders and investors were left bloodied by a volatile session on the markets today. The FTSE has closed down 2.55 per cent at 5,982.20, with a fifth of FTSE 100 companies racking up double digit price falls. The internationally focused blue-chip index outperformed mid-caps however as the FTSE 250 – mostly made up of companies that trade in the [...]
UK bond yields fall to a new record low, despite looming debt downgrades June 27, 2016 Borrowing costs for the UK government have dropped to their lowest on record as investors flock to the safe haven of government debt in the midst of Brexit uncertainty. Yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bonds plunged to 0.94 per cent, down an unprecedented 0.14 percentage points – or 14 basis points – since yesterday. It is [...]
Markets are pricing in a “significant chance” of the Bank of England introducing negative interest rates June 27, 2016 Markets are pricing in a 15 per cent chance of the Bank of England slashing interest rates below zero as financial markets continue to wobble after the UK's historic vote to leave the EU last week. As trading was suspended on banking shares after another day of double-digit falls, the market outlook on the future path [...]
EU referendum: Depending on your calculations, the UK economy could be smaller than France’s June 27, 2016 The UK economy isn't looking in too fine a shape right about now, with the financial markets reeling in the aftermath of the vote to Leave the European Union. One notion that seems to have gained a bit of traction is that the UK's economy is no longer the world's fifth largest, having been overtaken by [...]
Virgin founder Richard Branson is urging voters to sign a petition calling for a second referendum into the UK’s EU membership June 27, 2016 Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson is urging Brits to sign a petition calling for a second referendum into EU membership. Branson, who campaigned for a Remain vote, said many voters had been misled by the Leave campaign which won on Friday morning, and should sign the controversial petition, which demands a new vote. Writing on [...]
Britain needs a liberal post-referendum plan June 27, 2016 Does the country feel different to you? Do you feel it stands a little taller in the world or has it already shrunk in status? Whatever your perspective on the referendum result, Britain now finds itself at an historic and unprecedented juncture. First and foremost, the outcome of this vote must be accepted as the democratic [...]
Week ahead: Markets set to feel the Brexit burn as uncertainty reigns June 27, 2016 The spotlight will this week continue to be firmly on the implications of the UK’s shock decision to quit the European Union. Markets are expected to be on post-Brexit watch, with twitchy traders nervous over potential volatility. After the vote on Thursday the FTSE 100 dived more than eight per cent at the open on Friday [...]
EU referendum: London Chamber of Commerce renews calls for London business visa June 26, 2016 London needs to make it easier for foreign skilled workers to come to the capital, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned. Last week’s vote for the UK to quit the European Union means London will struggle to remain competitive with European cities, the business group’s chief executive Colin Stanbridge told City A.M. The [...]
The Bank of England could cut its rates after vote for Brexit, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch as it warns of imminent recession June 26, 2016 The Bank of England could be about to cut interest rates following the vote for the UK to quit the European Union. Experts at some of the world’s biggest banks have lined up say they’re expecting the Bank to ease further over rates at its next monetary policy meeting in July, and potentially restart quantitative easing [...]