Carney expected to leave rates on hold on Bank’s Super Thursday November 3, 2016 The Bank of England is widely expected to leave interest rates on hold when it meets later today. Better-than-expected economic growth data in the third quarter – seen as a sign of resilience following the UK’s vote to quit the European Union – could mean Bank of England governor Mark Carney paints a rosier picture [...]
Money supply growth suggests we’re still too pessimistic about the British economy November 2, 2016 The latest broad money supply M4x figures from the Bank of England (up to the end of September this year) paint a picture of an economy getting stronger, not weaker. To understand why, we need a short digression into economic theory. Broad money supply growth provides an insight into the outlook for nominal GDP growth [...]
The age of deglobalisation is here: Now we must face up to its implications November 2, 2016 Politics is never certain. Yet from Brexit and wider Eurozone disquiet, to the isolationist rhetoric permeating the US elections, one thing is clear: the former mantras of globalisation and deregulation are facing increasing opposition. Voters across the developed world are expressing the view that the benefits of operating at an international scale have been offset by [...]
Federal Reserve holds rates ahead of US presidential election November 2, 2016 The US Federal Reserve’s rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has voted to leave interest rates on hold. But the Fed set the stage for a hike in December amid signs of the economy picking up. The Fed said: The committee judges that the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has continued [...]
Oil prices sink on massive increase in US crude oil stockpiles November 2, 2016 Oil prices have slipped today after US crude stockpiles registered their largest ever weekly increase. The rise blew expectations out of the water, with the US Energy Information Administration (IEA) saying crude-oil stockpiles rose by 14.4m barrels in the week to 28 October. Analysts had pencilled in a build of 1m barrels. Oil prices moved sharply lower, falling [...]
Wetherspoon’s Tim Martin thinks that the falling pound will impact Eurozone businesses more than British companies November 2, 2016 Many of Britain's businesses may be feeling the pinch from sterling's recent malaise but the boss of one of Britain's largest pub chains doesn't think it will cause him too much pain. "The pound has gone up and down over the years and I haven’t noticed over the years a big effect on bar sales [...]
Gold rises above $1,300 per ounce as US election polls and the coming Fed rate decision spooks investors November 2, 2016 Gold prices have hit a one month-high today. Prices topped $1,300 per ounce on the growing uncertainty surrounding the US presidential election and a last-minute rush to safe havens ahead of Fed chair Janet Yellen's interest rate announcement at 6pm London time today. With less than one week to go before the US election and polls tightening, analysts [...]
Aberdeen council launches multi-million pound bond to transform the city November 2, 2016 Aberdeen became the first local council in Scotland to successfully price an investment bond, today, as part of key a strategic push to transform the city. Proceeds from the £371m index-linked bond are equivalent to over a third of the city's annual budget and nearly three times its annual expenditure on capital projects. Bond issuances from local authorities [...]
Brexit will test the UK’s constitutional framework to the limits, a new think tank report says November 2, 2016 Brexit will test the UK's constitutional and legal frameworks to the limit as the public have unleashed "a process as complex as it is unpredictable", a think tank has said. A report out from The UK in a Changing Europe, commissioned by the Political Studies Association, says British politics is "being reshaped" and "our institutions tested" as it [...]
Sterling hits two-week high against the dollar as fears over Trump presidency take their toll November 2, 2016 Sterling rose to a two-week high against the dollar this morning pushed by uncertainty surrounding the US elections. The pound, which has fallen by around 20 per cent since the UK voted to leave the EU, has taken a slight boost today. It has risen around one per cent this week, also pushed up by the news [...]