Pound rises as UK services PMI shows surprise rise in January February 3, 2016 The UK's services sector showed stronger growth than expected in January, Markit's purchasing managers' index showed today. The index showed a reading of 55.6, against expectations of 55.4 (any number above 50 denotes expansion). That caused the pound to spike 0.14 per cent against the dollar, rising to $1.4448, with economists suggesting the surprise jump will [...]
London property prices: There’s £1m difference between properties in Wembley Park and Finchley – but just eight minutes’ travel time February 3, 2016 Wrestling with the trade-off between commuting time and house prices? A new Tube map has been created giving prospective home-owners the skinny on where the best option might be – and where the biggest discrepancy on each line can be found. According to EMoov, one of the biggest differences can be found on the Jubilee Line, [...]
Universal credit rollout is still concerning but the new welfare system should help encourage people to work once it has been fully introduced February 3, 2016 While MPs are concerned about how universal credit is being rolled out, economists think the new system helps to encourage people into work. A report released today by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has found that universal credit should encourage those who were disincentivised by the previous system to find employment. However, the report also noted that preemptive cuts [...]
Niesr: UK economy to gain momentum as inflation stays low and interest rate rises are delayed by EU referendum February 3, 2016 The UK economy should pick up steam this year, with low inflation and a delay in interest rate hikes to create conditions for faster growth, a think tank has said today. The economy should grow 2.3 per cent this year, up from 2.2 per cent in 2015, according to forecasts published today by the National Institute [...]
Business leaders value innovation but have questions over whether HR is visionary enough for the task, even though HR leaders also agree on importance of innovating February 3, 2016 Both human resources heads and business leaders are placing increasing value on innovation in business, but the business chiefs are questioning whether HR is visionary enough to make it happen. According to a study released today from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), a third of both HR leaders (35 per cent) and business leaders in general [...]
Gold looks set to lose it’s shine in 2016 as markets calm down February 2, 2016 Gold, the perceived safest of havens, is unlikely to keep its gains in 2016, according to a survey of 31 gold watchers by the London Bullion Market Association. Those surveyed produced an average price of $1,103 a troy ounce, down from the current price of $1,125.3. The predictions ranged from $1,225 at the most bullish [...]
Eurozone unemployment falls to lowest rate since 2011 February 2, 2016 Unemployment in the Eurozone dropped to 10.4 per cent in December, according to figures released this morning. While it is a high rate globally, and far higher than the UK's 5.1 per cent, it marks the lowest rate of unemployment in the currency-bloc since 2011. It is also down from 11.4 per cent on year [...]
US West Texas Intermediate crude oil price just went below $30 per barrel again as talks of a deal dwindle February 2, 2016 The US oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), has fallen under $30 per barrel for the first time in over a week as rumours of a production cut deal between Opec and non-Opec members diminished. Brent crude was trading around $32.61 when WTI dipped under the psychological $30 barrier. WTI, also known as Texas light sweet, came into price parity [...]
Parliament to debate gender pricing and why there seems to be a premium on being female, as goods marketed towards women cost more February 2, 2016 MPs are set to debate an apparent tax on colouring things pink this evening, after research unveiled that the price tag on items marketed towards the fairer sex is routinely hiked up. The debate on gender pricing, which is set to take place in Westminster Hall at 4:30pm today, was raised by Paula Sherriff, the Labour MP for Dewsbury. [...]
Did David Cameron and Donald Tusk’s draft deal on EU membership help lift the pound? February 2, 2016 The pound has bounced back against the dollar after the publication of a draft agreement designed to keep the UK inside the 28-member EU. Currency experts any upward movement in sterling resulting from the deal was due more to the fact it reduced uncertainty, rather than the contents of the deal itself. The deal increases the chances of a summer [...]