UK unemployment stays at 45-year low as wages tick up July 16, 2019 Just 3.8 per cent of working age Britons were out of a job in the three months to the end of May, according to official figures released today, the lowest figure since the mid-1970s. Read more: UK economy ‘close to stagnation’ despite service sector growth High numbers of people in work caused employers to raise [...]
Recruiter Hays takes Brexit blow on UK hires July 16, 2019 Recruitment agency Hays recorded flat revenue growth in the last quarter of its financial year, it said today, as UK income declined in a “tougher” private sector market. The FTSE 250 firm blamed a lack of appetite in the UK and Ireland’s private sector for a two per cent fall in fees. Read more: Recruitment [...]
Trump 2020? Firms haven’t felt this gloomy since the financial crisis July 15, 2019 Global businesses were at their gloomiest about business activity and profits since the financial crisis in June, a new survey has shown. Read more: China growth slows to 27-year low Bosses were increasingly anxious about US trade tensions with China, Mexico and the European Union, as well as the possible reelection of President Donald Trump [...]
Donald Trump says his trade war tariffs are ‘major factor’ in China slowdown July 15, 2019 US President Donald Trump has claimed that his tariffs are damaging China’s economy after its growth slowed to a 27-year low. Read more: China growth slows to 27-year low “The United States Tariffs are having a major effect on companies wanting to leave China for non-tariffed countries,” Trump tweeted. He added: “We are receiving Billions [...]
Trump’s tax cuts spurred an economic bonanza – the UK must follow suit July 15, 2019 Economist Paul Krugman wrote in 2016 that Donald Trump becoming President would lead to a “global recession”
IR35: ‘Damaging’ tax changes set to hit self-employed workers July 11, 2019 Self-employed workers face paying controversial new taxes from next year as part of a measure that is set to rake in more than £3bn for the taxman. New ‘off-payroll’ rules to tax sole traders as employees if their working arrangement are deemed to be akin to regular staff will likely hit roughly 170,000 private sector [...]
Sterling edges higher on UK no-deal Brexit preparations as FTSE 100 sheds gains July 11, 2019 The pound rose 0.35 per cent against the dollar as the greenback slipped again today after falling on yesterday’s comments from Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. Powell said “trade tensions and concerns about global growth” have weighed on the US’ economic outlook, making a rate cut more likely. Read more: Mark Carney is ‘too busy’ [...]
Mark Carney too busy to think about IMF role – for now July 11, 2019 Mark Carney today refused to be drawn on whether he has his eyes set on the top job at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after he leaves the Bank of England in January. Read more: IMF chief Christine Lagarde among surprise picks for top EU jobs The Bank’s governor said there were “a few orderly [...]
Euro falls as meeting minutes show ECB ready to ease rates July 11, 2019 The euro has fallen against the pound after minutes from the European Central Bank (ECB)’s last meeting showed board members were leaning towards an interest rate cut in June. Read more: Euro plunges as ECB president Mario Draghi signals more stimulus The account released today showed ECB governing council members were in “broad agreement” that [...]
Richard Branson: Sterling could hit dollar parity in no-deal Brexit July 11, 2019 A no-deal Brexit could cause sterling to crash until it hits parity with the dollar, according to Virgin entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. Read more: Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit to test satellite launch rocket Branson warned this would be “devastating” for Virgin brands, which cover rail, air travel, financial services and media, and could lead the [...]