EU referendum: UK financial chiefs’ favour for staying in the EU falls, and many feeling wary about 2016 January 4, 2016 The proportion of UK finance chiefs supporting the country’s stay in the EU has fallen, and many are approaching the new year with a great deal of caution. According to professional services firm Deloitte’s most recent chief financial officer (CFO) survey, less than two-thirds (62 per cent) said they were in favour of the UK [...]
Business services drive rebound in private sector growth January 4, 2016 The private sector gained momentum toward the end of the year, according to survey figures released this morning. The Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) growth indicator strengthened in the final three months of 2015, with growth driven by the services sector. Manufacturers continued to struggle, the CBI said. The difference between the percentage of firms reporting [...]
Ukraine gears up for London legal battle: Russia is taking its neighbour to court over an old political loan January 4, 2016 The tense standoff between Ukraine and Russia over a $3bn loan will enter its next stages in London as we head into 2016. Russia said at the end of last week that it will be taking Ukraine to an English court after the country failed to repay a $3bn bond due last month. The countries’ debt [...]
Alexis Tsipras defiant ahead of crunch negotiations on pension reform January 4, 2016 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said he will not give in to “unreasonable” demands as he braces for negotiations with creditors over pension cuts. The country is aiming to pass the bill through parliament by January 15. The pension reforms form part of an €86bn (£63bn) bailout package agreed to in August, of which [...]
City A.M.’s journalists take a look at what 2016 has in store for the world of finance and business January 4, 2016 BANKING Strengthening outlook despite more regulatory bumps ahead Bank of England governor Mark Carney may have declared the banking crisis officially over at the end of last year, but 2016 looks to be far from a challenge-free year for Britain’s biggest banks. To be sure, all seven of the UK’s leading lenders passed the Bank’s [...]
Business confidence dips as the City braces itself for a challenging 2016 January 4, 2016 The City is bracing itself for a tough 2016, with data out today showing that business confidence has taken a knock and finance chiefs are approaching the new year with caution. Lloyds Bank’s business confidence index – a gauge of expected sales, orders and profits – declined to a score of 38 per cent this [...]
Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons diesel prices lowered to 99.7p falling under £1 for first time since 2009 amid falling oil prices January 3, 2016 The price of diesel will fall below £1 for the first time since 2009 at all Big Four supermarkets as Tesco and Asda were first to announce the cost of filling up will cost less, bringing a new year gift to motorists across the country. Supermarkets will drop the price per litre to 99.7 pence from Monday, with both [...]
BCC: Britain risks plunging into “new economic storm” if politicians are complacent January 1, 2016 One of the UK's leading business groups today said clouds are gathering on the horizon, and they risk pushing Britain into "a new economic storm", as it warned politicians do not have room for complacency. In the BCC's new year's message, chief economist John Longworth said businesses and consumers will be left exposed when the Bank of England starts [...]
Russian rouble dives against the dollar as economic picture darkens December 31, 2015 The Russian rouble tumbled yesterday as concerns over a prolonged oil price rout stoked fears surrounding the country's economy. The rouble sank 1.2 per cent at Rbs73.15 against the dollar yesterday, taking it to a record low. It has since recovered somewhat, and was last up 0.1 per cent at Rsb73.9. Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil [...]
Institute of Directors: Company profits at risk from an interest rate rise by the Bank of England December 31, 2015 One of Britain's biggest business groups has warned company profits peaked in 2015, and they'll be crunched when the Bank of England eventually raises borrowing costs for the first time in more than six years. The Institute of Directors (IoD) said the bank's rate-setters has exercised caution thus far, but they'll have "no choice" but [...]