A rate cut could wipe £1.4bn off operating profits at the UK’s top banks August 4, 2016 Profits will be decimated at the UK’s top banks if, as widely expected, the Bank of England cuts interest rates to a historic low of 0.25 per cent today. New analysis by the banking practice of consultants Simon-Kucher and Partners predicts that lower rates would wipe £1.4bn off the operating profits at the UK’s top [...]
A Bank of England interest rate cut is almost inevitable: It’s a shame it’ll prove ineffective August 3, 2016 In all likelihood, today will see the most predictable yet most ineffective policy move from the Bank of England in its 19 years of monetary policy independence. We should be concerned, especially on the second point, because at a time when the economy is slowing, the limited ability of the Bank to lend a helping hand should [...]
UK on brink of recession as service sector slammed in July August 3, 2016 The UK could already be in the midst of a recession according to fresh economic data out this morning. The latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) data has revealed the dominant services sector shrunk in the first full month after the EU referendum as the shock of the UK's vote to leave appears to have taken an immediate [...]
Brexit vote reminds us of existing concerns August 3, 2016 The full consequences of the UK's vote to leave the European Union are not yet known. Advocates of a painless Brexit can point to data that refutes the worst fears put about by a panicking Remain campaign. But those looking for evidence to demonstrate that those fears weren't baseless have plenty to go on, too. [...]
Think tank warns of 50-50 chance of post-Brexit recession August 3, 2016 The government will borrow an extra £47 billion between now and the end of the decade as a result of the UK's decision to leave the European Union, economists have warned. The new economic outlook from the National Institute of Economic and Social Reserach (Niesr) also said there was a 50-50 chance of the UK economy [...]
City braced for rate cut as construction data and banking woes unsettle markets August 3, 2016 The FTSE 100 fell to a two-week low of 6,645.40 yesterday, spooked by a double whammy of gloomy UK construction data and faltering bank stocks. Official data shows that UK construction has shrunk at its fastest pace in seven years. Markets are now bracing themselves for tomorrow’s Bank of England policy meeting, at which governor Mark [...]
Banking shares plunge across Europe as stress test fallout rumbles on August 2, 2016 Shares in Europe's leading banks have been dumped again today as the sector's woes pile up and questions over the rigour of recent stress test pushed sentiment down. German lenders Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank are trading at all time lows and the problems facing Italy's financial services remains top of the agenda. Commerzbank issued a profit [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open August 2, 2016 Japan has launched a £34bn stimulus package, the Reserve Bank of Australia has chopped its its benchmark interest rate to a record low 1.5 per cent and Europe's banks are getting sold off. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm. The US pre-market is pointing down ahead of the open. The S&P is [...]
Japan underwhelms markets with ¥28 trillion stimulus package August 2, 2016 Markets have given a lukewarm reaction to the long-awaited details of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's latest economic salvo. The Japanese government today signed off a stimulus package worth a headline ¥28 trillion (£207bn), though critics said this figure betrayed the fact much of the spending comes in the form of cheap loans rather than direct [...]
These experts say the Bank of England should throw the kitchen sink at the UK economy – including a rate cut and QE August 2, 2016 Banking analysts have urged the Bank of England (BoE) to do everything it can to boost the UK economy and said the case for stimulus is clear. Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BoAML) said in a note today that UK soft data "looks bad… the economy has taken a big hit and may be [...]