Hunt’s misguided fiscal rules risk holding back UK growth March 5, 2024 With the Spring Budget fast approaching, the Chancellor is engaging in a dizzying array of financial gymnastics to meet his fiscal rules.
Treasury has no way of recording value for money on borrowing, MPs find March 5, 2024 Government borrowing has ballooned since the early 2000s as a result of a succession of crises, rising from around £300bn in 2003 to as much as £2.5trn last year.
Wettest February on record leads to poor month for retail March 5, 2024 New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed that retail sales increased 1.1 per cent in the year to February, down from 5.2 per cent last year and below the three-month average of 1.4 per cent.
FTSE 100 today: London markets braces for cautious opening as U.S. and Asian markets slip March 5, 2024 Hong Kong and Chinese stocks fell as China set a 5% growth target. Meanwhile, Bitcoin surged past $68,000. Investors now await Fed Chair Jerome Powell's testimony for market insights.
China’s audacious aim: pursuing five per cent growth target amidst economists’ scepticism March 5, 2024 China has set its sights on achieving an economic growth target of approximately 5% for the current year, a goal that some economists consider ambitious.
Civil servants hopeful on AI’s role as Jeremy Hunt goes on productivity drive March 4, 2024 The government is hopeful that AI can help turnaround the UK's stagnant productivity, which has flat-lined since 1997.
Spring Budget 2024: City tells Hunt to axe the share tax March 4, 2024 Leading City figures have called on the Chancellor to scrap the stamp duty on buying shares in a bid to boost London's capital markets and support growth.
Moving markets: Five things shaping the FTSE 100 today March 4, 2024 Asian markets rallied as Japan's Nikkei surged, bitcoin hit a two-year peak, and oil prices rose. All eyes are on the UK Budget and the Annual Chinese Communist Party (CCP) meetings, set to influence market dynamics this week.
Moving markets: Five things shaping the FTSE 100 today March 1, 2024 Both the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 reached record highs, while the Nikkei also hit a new peak. However, China's manufacturing activity slowed for the fifth straight month. Oil prices surged amid Gaza deaths, complicating ceasefire talks. All eyes are on global factory PMI data.
Fed’s preferred measure of inflation picks up slightly as signs of persistence remain February 29, 2024 On an annual basis, core PCE came in at 2.8 per cent, down from 2.9 per cent the month before.