UK industrial production falls on oil and gas as manufacturing output shows modest growth August 6, 2015 UK industrial output has unexpectedly fallen by 0.4 per cent in June, led by oil and gas output falling. Industrial output fell compared to an increase of 0.3 per cent in May and compared to expectations of a 0.1 per cent rise in June, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics. The fall [...]
Bank of England: Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon and Barratt Developments share prices rise after not-so-super Thursday August 6, 2015 Shares in housebuilders were boosted today after the Bank of England's historic "data dump" struck an unexpectedly dovish note. Taylor Wimpey shares rose 2.19 per cent to 200.5p per share, while Persimmon was 1.22 per cent higher at 2,079p per share and Barratt Developments was 1.4 per cent higher at 650p per share. Read more: Mortgage [...]
Why widening the Suez Canal might not boost trade between Asia and Europe August 6, 2015 Egypt has just spent a huge $8bn (£5bn) on widening the Suez Canal – the fastest trade route between Asia and Europe. Read more: Egypt to build a new Suez Canal for $45bn By adding a new 21 mile long bypass along the 120 mile canal, Egypt hopes to transform its economy by [...]
Super Thursday: Interest rate rise by the Bank of England could end the buy-to-let boom August 6, 2015 It looks like momentum to raise interest rates could be building over at the Bank of England (BoE), however a legal advice service has warned this could spell disaster for the UK's booming buy-to-let market. Minutes due to be released later today are expected to show between two to three members of the nine-strong rate-setting [...]
Bank of England Super Thursday: Which monetary policy committee member could vote for an interest rate rise? August 6, 2015 Economists, analysts and investors think the minutes of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting due out at midday could show the first minority dissent among the Bank's policymakers so far this year. But which members of the nine-strong MPC who could be itching to pull the trigger and hike rates? Martin Weale [...]
Super Thursday: Dissent in the ranks as Bank of England monetary policy committee votes 8-1 to hold interest rates August 6, 2015 UK policy makers took a step toward raising interest rates for the first time in eight years today as the Bank of England’s committee of rate-setters broke their unanimity on voting to keep borrowing costs at record lows. The pound fell 0.49 per cent against the dollar to 1.5526 on the news, sliding 0.24 [...]
Purchasing managers’ index: UK and Eurozone set for decent growth despite service sector moderation August 6, 2015 The UK and Eurozone’s service sectors are seeing slower growth, new figures show, but are still expanding at levels consistent with robust economic growth. Markit’s purchasing managers’ index – a survey of firms – dropped to a score of 57.4 in July for the UK service sector from 58.5 in June, according to figures released [...]
Halifax house prices: UK house price growth continues shrinks to its lowest since December August 6, 2015 Growth in UK house prices dipped to 7.9 per cent in the year to July, the lowest figure since December 2014, figures published by Halifax this morning showed. On a quarterly basis, prices grew 2.4 per cent, lower than June's 3.3 per cent, while the monthly figure fell by 0.6 per cent – its first [...]
Oil price rallies on US inventory figures August 5, 2015 Finally, a bit of good news for oil investors: the black stuff was up almost $1 a barrel, or 1.92 per cent, in afternoon trading, after figures showed US inventories had declined for the second week in a row, while Saudi Arabia announced plans to raise prices – but only for its Asian customers . Brent [...]
British people’s confidence in the economy has soared in the last two and a half years August 5, 2015 British people's confidence in their economy is currently at its highest in five years, according to a global poll by Ipsos Mori. Read more: Surveys reveal UK consumers are optimistic on the economy Half of UK respondents in the July survey said they thought their economy was in good health – up from just [...]