Eurozone inflation edges up to 0.1 per cent in October as European Central Bank vice president Vitor Constancio hints at more stimulus measures November 16, 2015 Eurozone inflation ticked up in October, but remains far too weak to deter analysts from betting that stimulus measures will be ramped up – while yet another European Central Bank (ECB) official has strongly hinted the central bank will take further action to boost growth and inflation in the currency-bloc. October’s annual inflation rate was 0.1 [...]
Knight Frank development opportunity areas: These 18 places could experience the highest levels of housebuilding over the next few years November 16, 2015 The Conservatives may have promised a housebuilding revolution during the election – but where will those new homes actually appear? New research by Knight Frank suggests the answer is Manchester and Leeds. The upmarket estate agent has ranked the local authorities which provide the best opportunities for property developers over the next 10 years – and the two areas are [...]
Eurozone recovery unlikely to be derailed by Paris attacks, but long-run growth will depend on political responses, say economists November 16, 2015 The attacks in Paris are unlikely to derail the economic recovery in France and the Eurozone, economists have said, but equities could be hit this week and the longer-term economic outlook is clouded by possible political decisions. "It is obviously likely to significantly hit the Paris economy in the near term, and there could also be a knock-on [...]
Inflation data to set interest rate tone in US – New York Report November 16, 2015 The big event in the US this week will be the inflation numbers, expected tomorrow afternoon UK time. Consumer prices are expected to have gone up by 0.2 per cent over the course of October, making the annual increase just 0.1 per cent. The core consumer price index, excluding lower energy prices, is forecast to [...]
Finance executives feel UK business outlook is bleak, and confidence is low across Europe in general November 16, 2015 More than a quarter (29 per cent) of UK chief financial officers (CFOs) feel less optimistic about the financial prospects of their business than they did three months ago, according to a Deloitte report released today. Of the UK CFOs questioned for Deloitte’s latest European CFO Survey, which surveyed a total of 1,298 CFOs across [...]
UK skills gap gives small firms a big headache November 16, 2015 The UK's small businesses are concerned that skills shortages could dent an otherwise bright outlook for their growth. Bosses at Britain’s small firms expect sales to rise 7.4 per cent a year over the next two years, survey data published today by Lloyds Bank reveals. Four in ten firms also said they expected to lift [...]
Investors starting to warm to emerging markets again November 16, 2015 Attitudes towards investing in emerging markets have improved markedly over the last month, according to survey figures published today by one of the UK’s biggest lenders. Lloyds Bank’s investor sentiment index for emerging market shares climbed 8.47 points to a score of 5.32. The score was derived from a survey of 4,500 people. However, sentiment [...]
China’s dip hits global dividends November 16, 2015 Payouts to shareholders from Chinese companies are set to decline for the first time on record this year as firms feel the bite of the country’s slowdown in growth, a City investor has warned today. Chinese dividends were down 2.1 per cent year-on-year in the three months to September and this trend is set to [...]
Mark Carney warned over gilt market instability risks November 15, 2015 A decline in bond market liquidity could threaten financial stability, the chairman of the Treasury select committee has warned. Treasury chairman Andrew Tyrie has written to Bank of England governor Mark Carney, laying out his concerns and asking for the Financial Policy Committee's view on the risk of declining liquidity in the bond market. Tyrie highlighted particular [...]
Attention turns to final borrowing figures ahead of 2015 Autumn Statement and Comprehensive Spending Review November 15, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne could come under added pressure this Friday when the last state borrowing figures before next week’s Autumn Statement and Comprehensive Spending Review are published. Consultancy Capital Economics expects borrowing for October to come in at £6.5bn. While it would be substantially below last year’s October deficit of £9.4bn, it still puts the Treasury [...]