AIM ropes in best year for fundraising in over a decade January 3, 2022 London’s junior stock market roped in its best year for fundraising in nearly a decade and a half this year, reveal new figures released today. Money raised on AIM in 2021 topped £9.4bn, the highest value since 2007, according to the London Stock Exchange. Some 64 companies floated on the junior market, its most active [...]
Energy chiefs urge government to step in to cool cost of living crisis January 3, 2022 Energy chiefs have called on the government to step in and ease the cost of living crisis looming over British households. The chief executive of Octopus Energy told Times Radio that unless the government intervened in the market, soaring gas prices will hit consumers hard. Greg Jackson said: “Unless action is taken, we will start [...]
Jubilant South Africa lifts curfew as Omicron wave subsides rapidly with minimal Covid hospital admissions and Delta killed off: ‘Expect the same in other countries’ December 31, 2021 Optimism is growing rapidly in South Africa as the wave of Covid infections caused by the Omicron variant seems to subside as quickly as it came. Infections are down and multiple Covid experts have confirmed the Omicron wave is subsiding quickly. The government therefore lifted the months-long curfew last night, allowing South Africans to party [...]
Brits flocking to online retailers hoists UK spending above pre-pandemic levels December 31, 2021 Widespread take up of online shopping amid Covid-19 lockdowns has lifted consumer spending above pre-pandemic levels, reveal fresh figures released today. Brits spent 5.9 per cent more in 2021 compared to 2019, according to research from Barclaycard, which cover £1 in every £3 spent on debit and credit cards in the UK. The upbeat spending [...]
FTSE 100 edges lower as investors dump housebuilders December 30, 2021 London’s premier index edged lower today driven down by investors selling off real estate stocks despite fresh data released today showing UK house prices are rising at the fastest pace since before the financial crisis. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index closed 0.24 per cent lower at 7,403.01 per cent, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 [...]
UK house prices accelerate at fastest pace since before financial crisis December 30, 2021 UK house prices have accelerated at their fastest pace since before the financial crisis, shooting up over 10 per cent over the last year, reveal fresh figures released today. The cost of buying a home in Britain hit £254,822 this month, the highest price on record and up around £24,000 since December last year, according [...]
Small British businesses leave larger rivals riding their coattails December 30, 2021 Small British businesses are leaving their larger listed rivals behind by growing rapidly over the last half a decade, reveals new research released today. Revenue at privately owned and medium-sized UK companies jumped around a quarter over the last five years, compared to just four per cent growth at all FTSE 350 firms, according to [...]
London markets join global Santa rally December 29, 2021 London markets joined the global stock rally today after they missed out due to being shut at the start of the week for public holidays in the UK. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index closed 0.63 per cent higher at 7,418.76 points, while the mid-cap FTSE 250, which is more aligned to the health of [...]
Omicron curbs and roaring inflation could tip economies into double dip recessions, warns World Bank top economist December 29, 2021 A return to strict restrictions on daily life to curb the spread of Omicron and roaring inflation could plunge the world’s leading economies into double dip recessions, according to the World Bank’s chief economist. Speaking to The Telegraph, Carmen Reinhart, the organisation’s top economist, said the emergence of the new strain of coronavirus and historically [...]
Poverty looms for millions of UK families as energy bills climb by £1200, inflation rises and taxes jump 1.25 per cent in 2022 December 29, 2021 Soaring energy bills, inflation and rising taxes are likely to lead to a ‘cost of living catastrophe’ for millions of UK families, an economic think tank warned this morning. The Resolution Foundation (RF) said from next April families would typically face a £1,200-a-year hit to their incomes as the energy price cap is raised and [...]