This tiny London garage sold for more than the price of the average house May 10, 2016 A tiny garage in west London is the latest sign of the ridiculous scramble for prime property locations in the capital, after being bought up for more than the price of the average home in the UK. The 18ft by 35ft spot in Hammersmith and Fulham smashed the already rather steep £250,00 guide price, the Guardian reports. It went for [...]
The UK trade deficit hits a post-crisis high despite a slight improvement in March May 10, 2016 The UK's trade deficit narrowed slightly in March, but it was not enough to prevent the UK from clocking its largest shortfall for the first quarter of the year since before the economic crisis. In March, the UK bought £3.8bn more goods and services from abroad than it sold to the rest of the world, a [...]
Germany’s current account just hit a record high – but not everybody is celebrating May 10, 2016 Germany recorded its largest ever monthly current account surplus in March, as exports of Germany goods held steady in the face of global turmoil and imports dipped. Mo money … Firms sold a total of €107bn (£85bn) during the month – down just 0.5 per cent on March last year. Imports came in at €81bn, down four per [...]
The UK economy is in desperate need of a productivity roadmap to give it a much needed boost May 10, 2016 It’s no secret poor productivity is partly to blame for the slowing of GDP growth. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics illustrate labour productivity fell by 1.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015 from the third quarter, the biggest drop since the financial crisis in 2008. The latest ICAEW Economic Forecast [...]
China’s balancing act is the biggest risk to the world economy as inflation data shows prices still off target May 10, 2016 China’s economic rebalancing is the biggest threat to the global economy, the ratings agency Fitch has said, warning that a “hard landing” would trigger ripple effects around the world. The difficulties associated with shifting the world’s second largest economy from a reliance on investment towards consumption are “sharpening” according to Fitch, as authorities face the [...]
Greek debt relief deal OK’ed after German backdown to IMF May 9, 2016 Greece’s battered economy received some good news yesterday after Eurozone finance ministers agreed to debt relief measures if new reforms come to fruition. The Mediterranean state will be granted longer grace periods and bond maturities from 2018 if it upholds the reforms agreed to in its most recent bailout package. The move is a concession [...]
Here’s what 300 top economists told the UK about tax havens May 9, 2016 So-called rock star economist Thomas Piketty and Nobel prize-winner Angus Deaton are among 300 top economists from around the world calling for an end to tax havens, ahead of a meeting of world leaders this week. Economists from several of the world's elite universities, including Oxford, the London School of Economics, Harvard and the Sorbonne are among [...]
Here’s how the UK’s business leaders really feel about Brexit May 9, 2016 From makers of scotch whisky to the nation's bank bosses, by now there aren't many groups who haven't let their views on the UK's membership of the European Union be known. But now the leaders of 1,224 businesses have added their voices to the chorus – after the Institute of Directors asked its members how they [...]
Week ahead: Bank of England rate decision and China data in focus May 9, 2016 Economic data will once again be in focus this week with the Bank of England (BoE) interest rate decision and its inflation report due on Thursday. Expectations for an interest rate hike are almost non-existant though the tone of governor Mark Carney’s remarks will be closely scrutinised for any clues on the current economic landscape. On [...]
UK companies are increasingly worried about the economy – but want to do lots of M&A deals May 9, 2016 UK businesses are increasingly pessimistic about the economy – but hungry to complete deals. A new EY study found confidence in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market has eased back on levels seen at the end of 2015, a record year for announced deals. But the 14th Global Capital Confidence Barometer found UK executives' M&A appetite [...]