London’s FTSE 100 drops after second big Bank of England rate hike September 22, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 plunged today after the Bank of England lifted interest rates 50 basis points for the second time in a row. The capital’s premier index fell 1.08 per cent to 7,159.52 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, tumbled 2.05 per [...]
National Insurance rise to be axed on 6 November, says Kwarteng September 22, 2022 This year’s hike in National Insurance will be axed from 6 November, Kwasi Kwarteng has today announced. The Treasury today said the move to reverse the 1.25 percentage point increase in National Insurance – which was originally brought in to pay for increased health and social care spending – will save businesses an average of [...]
Bank of England shirks historic rate hike despite warning of longer inflation September 22, 2022 The Bank of England today shirked the biggest interest rate hike since the late 1980s despite inflation threatening to run hot for months. Borrowing costs climbed 50 basis points to 2.25 per cent, their highest since November 2008 and the seventh rise in a row, the Bank announced. Before the decision, City economists and markets [...]
Federal Reserve backs third jumbo rate hike to unpick inflation out of US economy September 21, 2022 The Federal Reserve backed a third successive jumbo-sized interest rate hike today as it scrambles to unpick inflation out of the US economy. Chair Jerome Powell and co hoisted the global financial system’s most important rate 75 basis points to between three and 3.25 per cent. Wall Street edged lower after the move. The tech-heavy [...]
London’s FTSE 100 bumps higher after government halves firms’ energy bills September 21, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 bumped higher today as investors digest the details of the government’s energy support package for UK businesses. The capital’s premier index climbed 0.63 per cent to 7,237.64 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, rose 1.01 per cent to 18,714.67 [...]
Liz Truss tax cuts must be bolder to revive UK economy, Thatcherite thinks tank claims September 21, 2022 Liz Truss must be even bolder than cancelling the corporation tax rise to unlock the UK’s full economic potential, a Thatcherite think tank has claimed today. The prime minister’s chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, is expected to reverse the six percentage point corporation tax hike at this Friday’s mini-budget. The move will generate a 1.2 per cent [...]
Truss tells Wall Street execs that she wants ‘lower, simpler taxes in the UK’ September 21, 2022 Liz Truss has declared she will deliver “lower, simpler taxes” to drive investment during a charm offensive of powerful Wall Street executives. The Prime Minister told the group of 15 business leaders during a New York roundtable that her plans will “make us a better place to invest and be unashamedly pro-business” and make the [...]
What are the key factors that can sink M&A? September 21, 2022 | City Talk 2021 saw booming markets and the release of capital from investors that had built up during the pandemic. It was a record-breaking year for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity. This year, circumstances are quite different. Economies are now dealing with geopolitical issues like the Russia-Ukraine war, rising inflation and interest rates, and declining company valuations, [...]
UK government borrowing double than expected September 21, 2022 The UK government borrowed nearly double the amount than expected last month to fund the first stages of the cost of living care package, official figures published today show. Britain’s debt pile swelled £11.8bn in August, much higher than the country’s official forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), projected £6bn at the March budget, [...]
More sectors flash recession warning amid spending cooldown September 21, 2022 More sectors of the UK economy are flashing recession signals caused by consumers cutting spending in response to surging prices, a fresh survey published today reveals. Some 11 sectors out of the 14 tracked by Lloyds Bank recorded a slump in both demand and output last month. It is the fourth month in a row [...]