Service sector growth beats expectations in the third quarter – but inflation is about to bite November 3, 2016 Another day, another figure showing the economy was in pretty good nick in October, after output in the UK's largest sector beat expectations. Markit/CIPS' purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the services sector rose to 54.5 in October, up from 52.6 in September and way higher than the 52.4 economists expected. Any figure above 50 denotes [...]
How much would you pay for a satanic new five pound note? This eBay seller’s hoping for more than £666 November 3, 2016 Somebody with a devilish sense of humour has put a new five pound note on eBay for a cool £300,000. Why so much, you ask? It's a satanic fiver of course – the serial number is 666 making it a pretty rare number indeed. Now people are willing to shell out for some of the rarer [...]
Why Trump could be in for a thumping victory November 3, 2016 As if 2016 hadn’t already provided enough reasons for investors to panic, a late narrowing of opinion polls ahead of next week’s US election is sending shivers through trading flaws. Could Donald Trump steal an incredible (and, in the opinion of many, terrifying) victory next Tuesday? It remains unlikely – but less unlikely than in recent [...]
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 [...]