FTSE 100 close: London index bumps higher ahead of key inflation and wage numbers February 13, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 kicked off the week in busy fashion today ahead of a busy week of data that will provide more clues on the health of the UK economy. The capital’s premier index closed 0.83 per cent higher today at 7,947.60 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with [...]
Hunt must tackle worker shortage hobbling London’s economy, business groups warn February 13, 2023 London’s economy is being hamstrung by a chronic worker shortage that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt needs to tackle at the 15 March budget, a new report from Britain’s biggest business lobby groups highlighted today. Nearly two in three of the capital’s firms are struggling to fill vacancies, according to research carried out by BusinessLDN, Federation of [...]
Brexit delivered £1,000 blow to every UK household, Bank of England rate setter Haskel claims February 13, 2023 The sharp reduction in business investment after Brexit has dealt a £1,000 blow to every UK household, a rate setter at the Bank of England has claimed. Speaking to The Overshoot, Jonathan Haskel, an external member of the monetary policy committee (MPC), said that the “productivity penalty” caused by a huge drop in capital spending [...]
UK firms cut back on hiring as rising costs hit business optimism February 13, 2023 British firms have begun cutting back on hiring as services businesses suffered a hit from the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, new research from BDO shows. Hiring has fallen to its lowest levels since December 2021, following a sharp drop in business output over the previous year, data from BDO’s business trends report shows. UK business output [...]
FTSE 100 live: London index under pressure despite easing of UK recession woes February 10, 2023 The FTSE100 index was trading slightly lower, down 0.24 per cent, this morning despite the UK narrowingly avoiding recession. London’s premier index had fallen to 7,892.06 points – down from yesterday’s close – while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index was off 0.55 per cent. Standard Chartered’s shares fell nearly five per cent in early [...]
UK narrowly avoids recession as GDP remains unchanged but Jeremy Hunt warns country ‘not out the woods yet’ February 10, 2023 The UK very narrowly avoided a recession in the final months of last year but the economy contracted sharply over Christmas, official figures out today reveal. Gross domestic product (GDP) remained unchanged in the final three months of last year, meaning the country swerved the technical recession definition of two consecutive quarters of contraction, according [...]
FTSE 100 close: Standard Chartered, BP and AstraZeneca continue London index’s surge February 9, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 continued its relentless upward march today, led higher by bank Standard Chartered and oil giant BP extending a week-long rally. The capital’s premier index rose 0.33 per cent to 7,911.16 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK, was broadly flat at [...]
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey ‘very uncertain’ about inflation decline February 9, 2023 The Bank of England’s governor, Andrew Bailey, has today admitted he is “very uncertain” about whether inflation will decline, forcing him to back another steep interest rate increase last week. Responding to a grilling by MPs on the commons treasury select committee, Bailey, 63, said he wants to see “more evidence” of the rate of [...]
Navigating the talent challenge: where should your people priorities lie over the next 12 months? February 9, 2023 The expertise and skills of people underpin the success of virtually every organisation. Yet ongoing skills shortages are often preventing today’s organisations from accessing the vital people they need to innovate and grow. ACCA’s inaugural 2023 Global Talent Trends Survey highlights some of the most pressing people challenges faced by employers globally, including in the [...]
Exclusive: Brits turn to buy-now pay-later to fund spending amid cost of living crisis February 9, 2023 Brits are turning to buy-now pay-later products to fund online spending amid a cost of living squeeze that is eroding their disposable income rapidly, exclusive research shared with City A.M. reveals. Nearly £1 in every £8 spent online last month was sourced from buy-now pay-later providers, according to research by Adobe Analytics. The proportion is [...]