Consumer confidence hits highest level in two years as UK ‘turns a corner’ UK Economy "The revival in consumer confidence speaks to a wider story of an economy that has turned the corner," Ian Stewart said.
FTSE 100 today: London markets poised for red start as Middle East tensions escalate; investors await more details on the crisis Markets Middle East tensions rattled markets in the Asian session following ABC News reports of Israeli missile strikes in Iran. Oil and gold prices surged while bitcoin dropped below $60,000. However, an Iranian official denies the missile attack reports, adding to the uncertainty. Market focus now shifts to UK retail sales data and speeches by Bank of England officials Ramsden and Breeden.
Netflix shares sink as company announces halt in reporting subscriber tally, weak outlook Markets Shares of Netflix took a sharp tumble of about 5 per cent as the market closed, spurred by the streaming video pionaeer's decision to cease disclosing subscriber numbers and prioritise viewer engagement metrics.
Why the Bank of England might be wary of cutting interest rates before the Fed April 18, 2024 The path for the Bank of England to cut interest rate cuts looks increasingly uncertain, particularly as the US Federal Reserve looks set to wait a while longer before loosening policy.
UK firms to invest £338bn on re-industrialisation in next three years, research shows April 18, 2024 Like many advanced economies, the UK has seen a relatively rapid fall in the importance of manufacturing.
FTSE 100 today: London shares poised for quiet start amid lingering concerns over US rates, Middle East tensions April 18, 2024 The US stock market was volatile, with Wall Street notching its first four-day losing streak since the start of the year. Asia stocks were mixed, while oil and gold prices surged due to Middle East tensions. Australia's March employment data disappointed, with all eyes now on Netflix earnings for further insight.
IMF warns Britain must address ‘fundamental’ fiscal imbalances April 17, 2024 By 2029, global debt is projected to be roughly equal to global output.
New data: UK tax take rising faster than any other rich country April 17, 2024 Although the UK started the century with tax revenue making up a much lower proportion of national income than other advanced economies, the tax burden has rapidly climbed since the pandemic.
Timing of Bank of England interest rate cuts thrown into doubt after hot inflation data April 17, 2024 This week market caution looks justified following two upside surprises on two crucial pieces of economic data.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt: Conservatives will cut taxes again in autumn ‘if we can’ April 17, 2024 Speaking to the Financial Times, the Chancellor said further tax cuts were on the table for an autumn fiscal event, but stressed it would depend on "responsible management of the economy".