When is the Bank of England interest rate decision and what is going to happen? March 23, 2023 The Bank of England is going to deliver its interest rate decision today against the backdrop of a shock rise in inflation and a now becalmed banking mini-crisis. Before Wednesday’s surprise increase in inflation to 10.4 per cent, there was speculation about whether the Bank’s decision making body, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would raise [...]
US Federal Reserve presses on with interest rate hike amid banking chaos March 22, 2023 The US Federal Reserve today looked past the ongoing wobbles in the global banking system and hiked interest rates for the ninth time in a row, extending its aggressive fight against inflation. Chair Jerome Powell and the rest of the federal open market committee (FOMC) today bumped the world’s most important interest rate 25 basis [...]
UK inflation shock was bad for the Bank of England – and disastrous for families March 22, 2023 These were not good inflation numbers for the Bank of England. They were even worse for families. Nearly everyone has been taken aback by the Office for National Statistics calculating the annual rate of headline inflation (the consumer price index) snapped a three month falling streak to climb to 10.4 per cent last month. That [...]
UK inflation leaps to 10.4 per cent smashing Bank of England and City forecasts March 22, 2023 UK inflation has surpassed forecasts and stayed in the double digits, in a sign the Bank of England will need to keep hiking interest rates to tame prices, official figures out today reveal. The rate of price increases jumped to 10.4 per cent in February, up from 10.1 per cent in January, according to the [...]
Central banks need to steady their course despite choppy weather March 22, 2023 Much ado about nothing? Hardly. The loss of Credit Suisse, and the wipeout of Coco bond holders, will have consequences for years to come – but for now at least it appears as if the guardrails are holding. Attention will now inevitably turn to the Federal Reserve and, the day after, the Bank of England. [...]
Nearly every sector of UK economy powers away from feared recession March 22, 2023 Nearly every sector of the UK economy is powering away from a recession that was much-tipped at the turn of the year, a new survey out today shows. Some 11 of the 14 sectors monitored by Lloyds Bank are producing more than they did a month ago, the highest number in nearly a year. The [...]
Bank of England and Fed to ignore Credit Suisse chaos and hike interest rates this week March 21, 2023 The Bank of England and US Federal Reserve are this week expected to ignore the on-going financial market chaos which resulted in Credit Suisse being pawned off in a shotgun sale and hike interest rates. City analysts have tipped Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Bank Governor Andrew Bailey to prioritise fighting inflation instead of shielding [...]
Europe’s banks post strong gains as Janet Yellen is set to signal further support for US banks March 21, 2023 European Bank stocks continued to recover today as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to signal further support for regional US lenders. Europe’s largest banks were all firmly in the green around midday. BNP Paribas rose 3.9 per cent, Deutsche Bank was up 5.2 per cent, while UniCredit and Santander climbed 6.3 per cent [...]
Hunt must commit Treasury and BoE to review of rate rise impact, Labour shadow City minister urges March 21, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been urged to commit the Treasury and the Bank of England to a review of “sharp interest rate rises” in light of the ongoing banking turmoil. Shockwaves have rocked the financial sector in the past weeks with the collapse of the US arm of tech bank SVB – plus the buyout [...]
European markets to open higher after Credit Suisse drama as investors split on central bank rate hikes March 21, 2023 European markets are set to open higher on Tuesday as investors bet that banking turmoil will put a halt to central banks’ battle to contain inflation The FTSE and Frankfurt’s DAX were called up 0.59 per cent while the CAC in Paris was called up 0.47 per cent. After the drama of the past few [...]