Disposable incomes grew in November but households will feel the pinch as inflation begins to bite, say experts December 29, 2016 Household disposable incomes have swelled by 4.5 per cent over the last year despite price inflation being at a two-year high. Including bonuses, the average cash families have to splash out on discretionary items stood at £202, up over £9 on the previous year, according to data prepared by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and [...]
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude prices hold steady as US stockpile increase interrupts oil rally December 29, 2016 Oil prices steadied today after a surprise uplift in US crude stockpiles impeded a recent upward trend that has pushed global benchmarks to 15-month highs. Brent crude was up 16 cents, or 0.3 per cent, today to $56.38 a barrel after industry data released by the American Petroleum Institute last night showed a 4.2m barrel [...]
An ageing population, robots taking jobs and increasing inequality: The 10 biggest dilemmas facing the UK in 2030 December 29, 2016 It's not even 2017 yet, but think tank the IPPR has turned its attentions to the year 2030, to work out what challenges the UK will be facing by then. The resulting report, Future Proof, suggests we'll be grappling with an ageing population, increased automation of jobs – and increasing inequality. But what will be the [...]
Investment trust winners of 2016 December 29, 2016 | City Talk Investment trusts focused on Asia are on course to deliver some of the best returns in 2016, according to data for trust sectors. Investment trusts are an alternative to more commonly held open-ended funds or unit trusts, offering some advantages. This is explained here: investment trust v open-ended funds Here, we look at the performance [...]
FTSE 100 surpasses 2016 highest point to close at record high as miners drive end-of-year gains December 28, 2016 The FTSE 100 surpassed its record highest close on Wednesday as investors started returning to their desks after the Christmas break. London’s blue chip index was one of the top performing indices worldwide as mining stocks drove it above its highest previous close to reach 7,106.08 points. That beat the 7103.98 point close set in April 2015. Sterling's continued [...]
Four of Donald Trump’s New Year resolutions on the economy December 28, 2016 Predicting the future is hard. Predicting what US President-elect Donald Trump will do is potentially harder. Trump's campaigning style might politely be characterised as "shoot from the hip", which makes it tricky to know what exactly he has planned for the world's largest economy. Luckily, the man who will be leader of the free world [...]
No Brexit effect on their business say UK managers – but watch out for the broader economy December 28, 2016 British managers are confident about their prospects for the next year, but think Brexit is going to dent the UK economy over the course of 2017, according to a poll. More than half of managers think their own business has a positive outlook for the next year, compared to only a quarter who think they [...]
A sign of things to come? Mortgage approvals fall in November, although consumers are still borrowing at ultra-low rates December 28, 2016 Mortgage approvals are nine per cent lower than the same point last year, but UK consumers were still borrowing to power the economy in the five months after EU referendum. The number of house purchase mortgage approvals fell slightly in November to 40,659, down from 40,835 in October, according to the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), [...]
India’s economy to overtake UK – and France will enjoy a brief period on top as sterling fall makes its mark December 26, 2016 India’s economy is set to overtake the UK in size in the next two years as the second largest country by population continues its heady pace of development, according to a new study. France’s GDP will also rise above the UK’s for the next five years, according to forecasts in the World Economic League Table, [...]
Brexit confusion gives foreign firms “God-given opportunity” to steal UK business says Trump commerce secretary December 26, 2016 Brexit offers a “God-given opportunity” for foreign businesses to take market share from the UK, according to comments attributed to US President-elect Donald Trump’s new trade chief. Veteran distressed debt billionaire Wilbur Ross made the comments to finance executives in Cyprus in the period after the referendum – before his appointment by Trump as US [...]