UK recession wobble sends FTSE profit warnings back to Covid-19 levels April 24, 2023 The UK’s flirtation with a recession over the last year or so has prompted a wave of the country’s top companies to warn shareholders to expect profits to miss forecasts, a new report out today shows. Profit warnings among UK-listed firms climbed to 75 in the first three months of this year, the highest level [...]
Bed Bath & Beyond files for bankruptcy protection, begins liquidation sale April 23, 2023 Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday after the home goods retailer failed to secure funds to stay afloat, and has begun a liquidation sale. The home goods retailer, which shot to popularity in the 1990s as a go-to shopping destination for couples making wedding registries and planning for new babies, [...]
UK borrowing tipped to have jumped to £23bn in March but Hunt and Sunak are on course to hit OBR forecasts April 23, 2023 Britain is tipped to have borrowed nearly £23bn last month to help pay for capping energy bills at £2,500, according to City analysts’ consensus forecast. Fresh numbers out from the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday are expected to show the gap between what the government generates in revenue from taxes and spends on public [...]
UK economy in ‘early stages of recovery’ as families shrug off inflation and interest rate hikes April 21, 2023 Britain’s economy could be in the early stages of a recovery, with consumers holding up pretty well under the pressure of high inflation and interest rate increases, a closely watched survey out today indicates. Families’ outlook on how well the economy will perform over the coming year is improving, while confidence in their own personal [...]
FTSE 100 close: London index muted as Barclays and Lloyds Bank give up early gains April 20, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 was muted today as investors ditched mining giants, curbing the sector’s recent rally, while high street banks gave up strong early gains. The capital’s premier index edged 0.01 per cent high to 7,899.48 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more responsive to sentiment toward the UK economy, nipped [...]
‘We need a new rulebook’ because ‘times have completely changed’, Blackrock’s Wei Li says April 20, 2023 The global economy has entered a “new regime” as a series of major changes transform the global economy, Blackrock’s global chief investment strategist said. Speaking at TheCityUK’s international conference, Wei Li said “the times have completely changed and we need a new playbook.” Li suggested the global economy is being affected by a series of [...]
Mark this Earth Day by investing in green finance skills April 20, 2023 This year’s Earth Day on Saturday should serve as an urgent call to action for businesses. As a community, we must rapidly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and help our society adapt to human-caused climate change. If businesses are to deliver on their sustainability strategies and fund essential innovation, they also need access to well-priced [...]
FTSE 100 close: Inflation shock drags London index lower as real estate firms lead losses April 19, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 slipped today as investors took fright at UK inflation topping forecasts to stay in the double digits last month. The capital’s premier index shed 0.13 per cent to drop to 7,898.78 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, fell 0.49 [...]
NDT Broadgate: £40m generated for UK economy by ‘revolutionary’ City of London arts project April 19, 2023 A piece of City of London land offered for free to 8,800 independent artists for twelve months has generated £40m in revenue for the UK economy. The NDT Broadgate initiative ran for twelve months in 2021 and 2022, providing rehearsal spaces, writing rooms, co-working areas, recording booths, studios and workshops to the creative community free [...]
Will inflation ever fall back below 10 per cent? Yes, but we’ve been wrong before April 19, 2023 We find ourselves in the same situation again. UK inflation has topped the City and Bank of England’s expectations, hanging in the double digits in March at 10.1 per cent. The forecast was for it to slip to 9.8 per cent. Families and businesses will be forgiven for worrying whether it will ever fall back [...]