Eurozone inflation rises May 16, 2011 More expensive energy drove eurozone headline inflation higher in April and core inflation jumped as well, data showed, confirming an earlier estimate and the ECB’s concern about rising inflationary risks. The European Union’s statistics office Eurostat said consumer prices in the 17 countries using the euro rose 0.6 per cent month-on-month, confirming its earlier year-on-year [...]
Inflation needs to fall before rates can rise May 15, 2011 SO another week but the focus is the same. Where’s inflation going and what’s the impact on the consumer and growth? Last week the Bank of England said inflation could hit five per cent and tomorrow April CPI could rebound to an annual rate of 4.4 per cent. For the fourth quarter in a row [...]
Inflation is expected to rise again May 15, 2011 OFFICIAL figures out tomorrow will show whether inflation sprang forward in April, with the Bank of England fearing it could hit five per cent this year. The Bank said last week consumer price inflation could remain above its two per cent target until 2013. In March, inflation surprisingly eased to four per cent annualised – [...]
US inflation on the rise May 13, 2011 US inflation hit the highest level in two and a half years as food and energy prices moved higher, but there was little sign of a broader pick-up in inflation that would trouble the Federal Reserve. The Labor Department said on Friday its Consumer Price Index increased 0.4 percent in April from March after rising [...]
Don’t worry, the party in commodities isn’t over yet May 11, 2011 COMMODITIES took a big knock in the recent correction, but the fundamentals still point towards continued rises over the medium term. Assuming you aren’t planning to fill your home with sheep, soybeans and platinum, with certain provisos, commodity funds can offer you a route in. THE PARTY ISN’T OVER Investors who joined the commodity party [...]
N Brown dividend up as profit jumps May 10, 2011 HOME shopping business N Brown yesterday posted another year of growth, despite difficult trading conditions. The retailer, which has brands including High and Mighty, Figleaves, Jacamo and Simply Be, reported revenues of £718m for the year to 28 February, up 4.2 per cent. Pre-tax profits were boosted by 5.5 per cent to £98.2m. The company [...]
Bank to face questioning over inflation May 8, 2011 THE BANK of England releases its latest Inflation Report on Wednesday, with economists increasingly divided over the outlook for price pressures in the UK. Consumer price inflation unexpectedly slowed to four per cent in March, yet official figures released next week could show a rebound for April. Input costs for manufacturers accelerated to 17.6 per [...]
Don’t cry for me, Argentina: I’ve found Malbec paradise May 8, 2011 THE new Argentina is deeply seductive – its famous beef and increasingly famous wine are celebrated in restaurants from New York to Beirut. Its natural beauty, from the Andes to the plains of Patagonia; its sparkling heat, beautiful people and stunning horses lure travellers the world over. And Buenos Aires, the gorgeous, cosmopolitan crown on [...]
Malaysia hikes its interest rates May 5, 2011 Malaysia’s central bank ended its rate-hike pause yesterday, raising its key policy rate by 0.25 per cent to three per cent, and ordered banks to set aside more money in reserves to fight inflation stoked by rising oil and food prices. The Bank raised the Statutory Reserve Requirement – the amount of cash reserves banks [...]
Commodities drag on FTSE but high street names rally May 4, 2011 COMMODITY stocks pulled Britain’s top share index lower yesterday, ending the FTSE 100’s recent rally as disappointing US manufacturing data spoiled investors’ appetite for risk. The FTSE 100 closed down 98.81 points, or 1.6 per cent, at 5,984.07, with the FTSE volatility index up 11.4 per cent, hitting a near five-week high. The FTSE 100 [...]