FTSE 100 close: Wage growth fuels rate fears as M&S soars and B&M drops on Wilko speculation August 15, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 ended Tuesday down more than 1.6 per cent, as record-breaking wage growth fueled speculation of a 15th straight Bank of England rate hike. The capital’s blue-chip index was down 1.63 per cent by close of play to to 7,384.94, weighed down by listed investment firm Abrdn, down three per cent, alongside Pheonix [...]
Interest rate hikes and unsettled markets rain on private equity’s dealmaking parade August 15, 2023 Private equity dealmaking has cooled in the first six months of the year as rapid interest rate hikes and unsettled markets rained on the parade of a predicted deal frenzy, new figures have revealed. The number of private equity deals in the UK fell to 689 from 909 last year, with just 327 deals worth [...]
Red China: Economy indicators turn south as China stops reporting young unemployment August 15, 2023 A broad array of Chinese data on Tuesday highlighted intensifying pressure on the economy from multiple fronts, prompting Beijing to cut key policy rates to shore up activity but analysts say more support is needed to revitalise growth. Less than an hour before the release of a batch of July data, China’s central bank unexpectedly cut key [...]
UK unemployment ticks up but wage growth hits two-decade-high August 15, 2023 The rate of UK unemployment rose to 4.2 per cent in the three months to June from 3.9 per cent in the previous three months, the Office for National Statistics said. However, this was tempered by annual growth in pay – excluding bonuses – up to 7.8 per cent in June. This is the highest [...]
Analysis: Why record wage growth will give the Bank of England kittens – and see them raise rates again August 15, 2023 Wage growth outstripping inflation should be good news, but Bank of England wonks will fear a wage price spiral is in play
FTSE 100 close: London subdued on quiet earnings day as YouGov mulls US listing August 14, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 started the week in subdued fashion, as a quiet earnings day was overshadowed by reports that YouGov is mulling a US listing. The capital’s premier blue chip index closed the day on 7,495.24 points, down 0.88 per cent, while the FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the domestic economy, was [...]
Plus500 unveils $120m payout in bid to turn around share price slump August 14, 2023 Fintech trading firm Plus500 has unveiled a fresh $120m payout for investors this morning despite reporting a slump in profits compared to last year amid “quieter market conditions”.
Chinese economy: Country’s biggest property developer sees shares crash to record low August 14, 2023 Chinese property giant Country Garden’s debt problems deepened after its onshore bonds were suspended, sending its shares plunging 16 per cent to record low on Monday in a fresh blow to policymakers trying shore up confidence in a stuttering economy. Markets remain jittery as the trouble in China’s largest private property developer could have a chilling effect [...]
Cost of living pressures set to ease as inflation tipped to fall again August 14, 2023 Cost of living pressures facing households are set to ease, as experts predict inflation will fall below wage growth for the first time since last April. Official figures out on Tuesday are tipped to show that wage growth hit 7.4 per cent in the three months to June on an annual basis, up from 7.3 [...]
London growth continues to outpace every other region amid interest rate pain August 14, 2023 London’s economy has continued to outpace the rest of the country even as rising interest rates and recessionary fears drag on confidence across the UK, a closely watched survey has revealed.