House building craters to weakest level in 14 years amid Bank of England interest rate rises July 6, 2023 The Bank of England’s series of aggressive interest rate hikes to pull back raging inflation is wreaking havoc on house building, dealing a blow to first time buyers hoping to get on the property ladder any time soon, a closely watched survey out today shows. According to S&P Global and the Chartered Institute of Procurement [...]
Less than half of companies plan to hike prices in boost for Bank of England and inflation July 6, 2023 Less than half of companies plan to lift prices over the coming months in a sign that inflation may finally be starting to budge after staying high for around a year and a half, a new survey out last night showed. Analysis from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) found that companies are considering scaling [...]
Yield on fresh UK government debt hits highest level since 2007 July 5, 2023 The amount of interest the UK government has to pay investors buying its newly minted debt has hit its highest level since the financial crisis. Britain’s Debt Management Office (DMO) – the body tasked with issuing bonds – today sold a tranche of gilts to traders with a yield just shy of 5.7 per cent, [...]
Inflation falling rapidly but not enough to avert 14th straight Bank of England rate rise, experts warn July 5, 2023 Inflation is still hanging around in the UK economy due to businesses continuing to pass on higher wage bills, although there are signs price pressures have turned a corner, a closely watched survey out today reveals. A reduction in energy and transport bills caused by international gas markets and supply chains repairing from a series [...]
Bank of England mulls forcing international lenders to set up UK subsidiaries – reports July 5, 2023 The Bank of England is considering plans to force more international banks to set up subsidiaries in the UK. According to the Financial Times, the Bank could reduce the threshold at which foreign banks have to set up subsidiaries which have their own capital and liquidity. Unlike branches, subsidies are able to be seized by [...]
Sunak REFUSES to put percentage on chances of halving inflation this year July 4, 2023 Rishi Sunak has refused to put a percentage figure on his chances of halving inflation this year. The prime minister appeared at parliament’s Liaison Committee this afternoon where he was quizzed by MPs on subjects from Ukraine and national security to the cost of living. It came almost exactly six months after he made his [...]
UK now only rich country where inflation is rising despite Bank of England interest rate hikes July 4, 2023 Britain is now the only rich country where inflation is rising, signalling the Bank of England’s series of interest rate rises have been less effective than its peers’, new data out today shows. Inflation across the Group of Seven (G7) nations fell to 4.6 per cent in May, down from 5.4 per cent in April, [...]
Much like the UK economy, pound sterling suffers from a certainty deficit July 4, 2023 Barrelling around in the piping of the UK economy so far this year has been a sustained pound sterling rally. Britain’s currency in 2023 has been one of the best performers in the rich world. It is up nearly five per cent against the US dollar at $1.26, a far cry from the record low [...]
Bank of England warns lenders of ‘fiendishly unpredictable’ risks from climate change July 4, 2023 The Bank of England has cautioned lenders that they need to keep a close eye on commodities and private credit to avoid financial problems. Speaking at a UK Finance event, Nathanaël Benjamin – who is responsible for authorising the UK arms of international banks – warned there were a range of dangers facing banks. Benjamin [...]
Higher interest rates tipped to accelerate UK house price decline in quiet week for City July 3, 2023 Higher interest rates are set to accelerate UK house prices’ decline, new figures in what will be a quiet week for markets are expected to reveal. Analysts at consultancy Oxford Economics reckon Halifax’s house price data on Friday will show they dropped 2.5 per cent over the last year and 0.1 per cent over the [...]