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 [...]
Bank of England Super Thursday: Here’s everything you need to know August 5, 2015 Economists, analysts and investors across the City are busily preparing for Super Thursday. Rather than having a fortnight to digest various releases from the Bank of England, they'll be hit with the central bank's interest rate decision, minutes of the meeting and new economic forecasts all at once. The Bank ended what governor Mark Carney [...]
US jobs growth slows in July, sending dollar lower August 5, 2015 Private sector employment in the US increased by 185,000 jobs in July, short of economists’ expectations, sending the dollar lower. The increase was the smallest rise since April. In June, the figure rose by 229,000, revised down from 237,000. The dollar took a battering on the data release, with the euro gaining nearly half a [...]
Bank of England’s Ian McCafferty says interest rates could rise this year “data dependent” August 5, 2015 The Bank of England's Ian McCafferty reportedly said interest rates could rise before the end of this year depending on the strength of future economic data. "Financial markets still believe that an interest rate rise is unlikely until May or June next year, and economists suggest February or March," The Courier said he told the Dundee [...]
Greek debt crisis: Greece upbeat on bailout deal but bank shares continue to plummet August 5, 2015 Greek finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos said yesterday that he was confident an agreement with the cash-strapped country’s lenders could be reached by 20 August, despite admitting disagreements on privatisations. Tsakalotos met yesterday with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, Eurozone and European Central Bank (ECB) to further discuss terms attached to any further lending. He [...]