Housing for servicepeople should be ‘defence policy priority’, Tories say June 18, 2025 Housing for servicepeople should be a “defence policy priority”, the Conservatives have said as they unveiled their new defence strategy. On Friday, Iran launched an attack on Israel in retaliation to Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. US President Donald Trump has refused to rule out US involvement, with the caveat that he is “not [...]
TACO investors: Don’t bet too much on Trump-always-chickens-out trade June 18, 2025 Investors betting on Trump climbing down may be too optimistic, writes Hargreaves Lansdown's Susannah Streeter in today's Notebook.
Shell and BP: FTSE 100 giants get analyst backing after oil surge June 18, 2025 FTSE 100 oil heavyweights are back in analysts favour after oil prices surged from the intensifying Middle Eastern conflict. BP and Shell shares have jumped around three per cent in the last week and climbed further as President Donald Trump weighed in on the attacks in Israel and Iran. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ [...]
Why the Bank of England will hold interest rates June 17, 2025 At every other meeting, the Bank of England publishes its monetary policy report alongside its interest rate decision. Each lengthy report includes fresh details on revisions to central forecasts, which are poured over with glee by economists and investors.. But this Thursday’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting will offer few statistical goodies. Officials will meet [...]
Dollar weakens as ‘confidence in US assets continues to erode’ June 17, 2025 The US dollar’s traditional safe-haven status has continued to take a bruising, as investors shun the currency amid rising global tensions. The dollar index (DXY) – which tracks the dollar’s value against a basket of currencies – has tumbled to around 98, compared to nearly 110 at the beginning of the year, as the currency [...]
84 per cent of Brits want Iran blocked from developing nuclear weapons June 16, 2025 A huge 84 per cent of Brits say that Iran should be stopped from developing nuclear weapons, with 44 per cent supporting UK military efforts to intervene, according to polling from think tank More in Common. The overwhelming strength of public concern and the relative backing of intervention is at odds with Sir Keir Starmer’s [...]
Inflation set to ease slightly before interest rates decision June 16, 2025 UK inflation is set to ease slightly to 3.3 per cent in May, according to a poll of economists, in a final set of data to be seen by Bank of England officials before they come to an interest rates decision on Thursday. A slightly lower rate of inflation would enthuse investors, who currently predict [...]
Barclays and Natwest shares jump as conflict sparks inflation fears June 16, 2025 Shares in the FTSE 100’s top banks were rising on Monday as the intensifying conflict in the Middle East triggered inflation fears. Barclays and Natwest were up nearly two per cent and Lloyds over one per cent during early trading as oil prices crept up another one per cent to $74.90 a barrel. This follows [...]
FTSE 100 shrugs off Israel-Iran strikes June 16, 2025 The FTSE 100 was unmoved by simmering tensions in Israel and Iran, despite reports that the UK was scrambling to send fighter jets, and conflict in the Middle East was on the brink of a significant escalation with US involvement. The UK’s leading index was up 0.2 per cent after the first hour of trading, [...]
Israel-Iran conflict to dominate G7 meeting as Starmer calls for restraint June 16, 2025 The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran is likely to be high on the agenda as world leaders gather in Canada on Monday. Sir Keir Starmer said that the G7 meeting in Alberta would provide an opportunity for allies to make the case for de-escalation in the “fast moving” situation in the Middle East, with President Trump [...]