Oil production freeze: Iran rebuffs Opec petition for an output cut February 17, 2016 Iran has reportedly rejected requests from oil cartel Opec to cut its production, shortly after oil ministers from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, and Venezuela landed in the country to carry out talks. Iranian oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said Iran would resist any plan to rein in its oil output, Reuters reported. Venezuelan's Eulogio Del Pino, Iraq's [...]
Morgan Stanley: Negative interest rates are a dangerous experiment that will hit bank lending February 17, 2016 Negative interest rates are a “dangerous experiment” that will punish banks and cause lending to contract, Morgan Stanley has warned today. Analysts at the investment bank warned the pressure on lending margins could make borrowing more expensive. "With rates set to remain lower for longer, margin pressure is set to be one of the biggest [...]
Eurozone construction falls one per cent over 2015 February 17, 2016 Construction activity in the Eurozone fell sharply in December, confirming the sector shrank over 2015. Output in the construction sector dropped 0.6 per cent from November to December, according to figures released this morning by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. The amount of construction undertaken in the Eurozone throughout 2015 was one per cent lower [...]
US recession risks are rising, so where does that leave the Federal Reserve? February 17, 2016 Since the Federal Reserve in the United States raised interest rates in December (albeit by a very modest 0.25 per cent), concerns have been mounting that the momentum of the US economy is fading, and that the US is in fact facing recession in 2016. What is clear from recent data releases is that the [...]
London house prices: Chelsea garage sells at auction for £360,000 – the price of a three-bedroom flat in Camberwell February 17, 2016 It's cosy and well-located – but doesn't come with a lot of natural light. Still, such is the madness for property in London that a 146 sq ft garage in Chelsea has just sold at auction for £360,000 – just shy of the price of a three-bedroom flat in Camberwell. The garage, just off Brompton Road, [...]
Oil production freeze deal: All eyes of Iran as Opec members try for its participation February 17, 2016 International attention will fall on Iran today, as Opec members try to secure its participation in what will be the first global oil deal in 15 years, potentially by offering its special terms. Today’s outcome is crucial because Saudi Arabia and Russia have said that the agreement to freeze production at January levels is contingent [...]
Employment rises to highest since 1971 – but UK wage growth continued to be subdued in December February 17, 2016 Some 74.1 per cent of the UK population were in employment between October and December 2015 – the highest since records began, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. The figures, published this morning, showed there were 31.42m people in work during the period, over half a million more than the same time in 2014. But [...]
Brent crude and WTI: Oil prices waver as Iran casts doubt on production freeze deal February 17, 2016 Oil prices wavered this morning, dipping in and out of the red, as speculation swirled around oil markets over the consequences of a deal between Saudi Arabia and Russia to freeze output at January levels. Brent crude, the global benchmark, reversed earlier losses, rising 1.12 per cent to $32.54 per barrel. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, [...]
Investor pessimism soars to three-year high as gold becomes second favourite asset class February 17, 2016 Investors are at their most pessimistic for nearly three years, according to survey data released today. Lloyds Bank Private Banking’s investor sentiment index dropped to a score of 2.98 per cent this month. The score is compiled from the views of nearly 5,000 adults including 1,123 investors. The index is at its lowest level since May [...]
Local governments demand more control over starter homes after warning they will be unaffordable February 17, 2016 Local governments have today warned Westminster that discounted starter homes will be unaffordable to the majority that need them unless the scheme is given more flexibility. First-time buyers will be able to buy 200,000 new starter homes over the next five years at a discount of at least 20 per cent to market value. Research by [...]