“Fantastic Four” prepare to face off against the tax avoiders in new multinational initiative – so we don’t have to April 19, 2016 Four of the world’s foremost international bodies are to team up to launch a fresh fight against tax avoidance in the wake of the Panama Papers. The revelations have claimed the scalp of one global leader so far, embroiled hundreds of others and left a trail of metaphorical destruction in their path. Now, the multinational [...]
Why has business confidence fallen to its lowest level since 2012? Brexit, of course April 19, 2016 The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has become the latest organisation to warn that the prospect of Brexit has put UK businesses on the back foot, in a new report out this morning. In its global economic outlook, ACCA said that confidence among UK businesses sank from minus 5.7 at the end of 2015 [...]
Brexit and China fears weigh on German investors as confidence edges back up April 19, 2016 German investors are feeling a little more cheerful than they were this time last month, according to the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) indicator of economic sentiment, which climbed for the second month in a row. The barometer, widely watched by financial markets, came in at a reading of 11.2, up from 4.3 in March, where [...]
What to expect Mark Carney to be grilled about by the House of Lords today – from Brexit to current account, inflation and Panama Papers April 19, 2016 The most watched man in Threadneedle Street will trundle over to SW1 today to face his annual grilling from the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee. That’s right, the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, will be up against 13 of the Lords’ sharpest minds, all desperate to peer into the soul of [...]
Lending standards dip in the Eurozone as banks open up their coffers in response to the European Central Bank’s negative interest rates April 19, 2016 Businesses across the Eurozone are finding it easier to secure bank loans, according to the European Central Bank (ECB)’s quarterly lending survey, released this morning, which also shows that negative interest rates are encouraging banks to lend more. Banks across the single currency bloc said they were loosening their standards for businesses applying for loans [...]
Brazil’s economic woes won’t end with Rousseff April 18, 2016 Brazil's stock market, the Bovespa, remained relatively unchanged in early trading, despite expectations it would rally following Sunday's congressional vote to impeach beleaguered president Dilma Rousseff. The surprise reaction may have signalled a balancing out of two conflicting influences affecting the oil-dependent country. News of Rousseff's impeachment had been expected to buoy markets, but the [...]
Successive governments accused of being “wildly reckless” as report finds public sector pensions and unpaid student loans add up to create £1.85 trillion liabilities “timebomb” April 18, 2016 Successive governments have been accused of being "wildly reckless" as new research today warned state liabilities add up to a £1.85 trillion "timebomb". The UK national liability figure, compiling "debts waiting to happen", brings the nation's total debt to £3.45 trillion, according to the Adam Smith Institute. The report warned the liability, which includes £1.3 trillion in public [...]
Economic think tank EY Item Club warns over UK’s single engine consumer spending economy April 18, 2016 Consumer spending will continue to be the main driver of the economy this year, though if business investment fails to return in 2017 growth could falter, the EY Item Club think tank has warned. Consumer spending is expected to grow by 2.5 per cent in 2016, but slow to 2.1 per cent in 2017 as [...]
Top economist Howard Archer warns over labour market as economic pressures begin to bite April 17, 2016 The UK labour market is expected to have lost momentum due to heightened domestic and global economic uncertainties, according to IHS chief economist Howard Archer. The challenges, magnified by June’s referendum on UK membership of the European Union, include lacklustre UK economic activity early on in 2016, and the National Living Wage – a 50p [...]
Doha oil production freeze talks end with no agreement, investors watch for movement in the oil price April 17, 2016 Talks between oil cartel Opec and non-Opec countries in Doha to try and reach a deal on an oil production freeze have ended without agreement, potentially risking a renewed price rout. Ministers have confirmed to reporters in the Qatar capital that more time and consultation is needed before a production freeze can be enacted. Officials from Opec (the Organization of the [...]