Code red Omicron scenario would setback UK economic recovery, warn experts November 29, 2021 The UK economy would suffer a severe setback in its battle to revert to pre-pandemic strength if the Omicron variant proves to be deadly, City economists have warned. If the heavily mutated strain of the virus is capable of evading vaccines and the UK government reimposes blanket lockdown measures, the economy would shrink back to [...]
FTSE 100 rises again after bleak Black Friday November 29, 2021 London’s FTSE 100 has risen up slightly this morning after shedding 3.31 per cent on Friday amid the new coronavirus variant scares. The market movements come as the World Health Organisation and Coronavirus experts around the world called this morning for countries to drop travel restrictions and end mass hysteria – and instead be cautiously [...]
Mel Stride MP urges chancellor to slash taxes to ease cost of living crisis November 29, 2021 The chairman of an influential group of MPs that scrutinises the spending plans of the government has told Tory chancellor Rishi Sunak to slash taxes to ease the cost of living crisis looming over Brits. Speaking to the PA news agency, Conservative MP Mel Stride, who chairs the Treasury Committee, called on the chancellor to [...]
All eyes on the open: Investors brace for choppy week as Omicron looms over markets November 28, 2021 Investors are bracing for a choppy week on markets as fears the new Omicron variant of coronavirus could derail the global battle against the disease spread rapidly. London markets capped off last week with a mauling driven by a wave of selling triggered by the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant which may have the [...]
A Black Friday on global markets as new Covid-19 variant engulfs investors November 26, 2021 Global markets tumbled today driven by investors being spooked by a fresh Covid-19 strain emerging in Southern Africa that has been described by scientist as the worst yet. In London, the FTSE 100 registered one of its day’s in months, shedding 3.31 per cent to plunge to 7,068.68 points heading into the final hour of [...]
Foundations laid for rate hike, signals Bank of England chief economist November 26, 2021 The Bank of England’s chief economist has given one of the strongest signals yet that the Old Lady will hike interest rates next month. Huw Pill, Threadneedle Street’s chief wonk, told the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) annual conference today that “the ground has now been prepared for policy action”. Pill highlighted a string of [...]
Global semiconductor crunch steers British car production to over six decade low November 26, 2021 An ongoing semiconductor crunch has caused British car production to slump to its lowest level in over six decades, reveal new figures published today. Vehicle production dropped 40 per cent over the last month as producers contest with an endemic shortage of chips that has snagged the motor sector for over a year. Mike Hawes, [...]
Three decade high inflation print will force US Fed’s hand, warns Goldman Sachs November 26, 2021 The US Federal Reserve will have to tighten policy much quicker than they want in order to hose-down runaway inflation, a leading Wall Street investment bank said yesterday. Goldman Sachs has bet on the Fed having to double the speed of scaling back its monthly asset purchases from January next year to and hiking interest [...]
Investors bet on global commodity boom continuing as miners lift London markets November 25, 2021 A rally among travel and industrial stocks lifted London markets yesterday as investors bet on betting on commodity prices still having room to climb. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index added 0.33 per cent to close at 7,310.37 points, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 group of shares finished 0.49 per cent to 23,279.96 points. International [...]
Retailers hike prices at fastest pace in three decades as Brits brace for Xmas shopping crunch November 25, 2021 Retailers are hiking prices at the fastest pace in over three decades as Brits rush to scoop up Christmas presents to avoid being left empty handed, reveals fresh research published today. Some 77 per cent of retailers raised prices over the last three months to November, the highest rate since 1990, according to data from [...]