UK bonds suffer biggest monthly fall in years February 26, 2021 UK bond prices recorded their sharpest fall in years this month, as investors bet on a rebound in growth and possibly inflation. The fall comes just days before the budget, in which Chancellor Rishi Sunak will set out his economics plans for the UK. The month’s sharp declines largely reflect a global sell-off led by [...]
Pound soars to pre-pandemic heights against euro amid vaccine rollout February 24, 2021 Pound soars to pre-pandemic heights against euro amid vaccine rollout
BoE policymaker: ‘Five per cent interest rates won’t return in my lifetime’ February 22, 2021 Bank of England policymaker Gertjan Vlieghe said he did not expect British interest rates to return to levels common before the 2008 financial crisis during his lifetime, due partly to the effect of an ageing population. Vlieghe, 49, said longer life expectancies and more time spent in retirement had boosted demand for safe retirement assets, [...]
UK PMIs: UK firms fare less badly than expected February 19, 2021 UK firms had a more positive February than anticipated so far, with firms eyeing growth prospects later in the year as the vaccine roll-out continues. The IHS Markit/CIPS purchasing managers index (PMI) jumped to 49.8 in February from 41.2 in January, a far swifter improvement than what was originally feared. The index indicated some stabilisation [...]
Before the Bell: Focus on Andrew Bailey speech later today February 10, 2021 It was quiet in the markets yesterday as the overall outlook did not change. The same stories were circulating: vaccine rollouts and the prospect of additional stimulus from the US. Late last week, it was revealed the Democrats decided to try and implement the proposed $1.9 trillion spending package without receiving approval from the Republicans [...]
Burnley and Asda are unlikely warnings of debt-driven troubles February 10, 2021 It has been a week of mixed messages. Not just on the release from lockdown, but on the economy. The Bank of England indicated that banks have been given six months to prepare for negative interest rates. The Monetary Policy Committee was quick to clarify that this did not mean that they would necessarily cut [...]
BoE boss Andrew Bailey denies responsibility for London Capital & Finance collapse February 9, 2021 Bank of England boss Andrew Bailey has hit out at allegations that he was not quick enough to reform the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) before the collapse of London Capital & Finance (LCF). Bailey, who was chief executive of the FCA when the mini-bond firm collapsed in 2019, said the regulator had been a “broken [...]
British banks set to hand out hundreds of millions in staff bonuses February 6, 2021 Britain’s largest banks are finalising plans to hand out hundreds of millions of pounds in staff bonuses next week, at the same time loan losses are expected to catapult during the pandemic. Taxpayer-backed lender Natwest Group has informed the Treasury that it is poised to distribute more than £200m in staff bonuses for 2020. The [...]
Sunak extends Covid loan relief after BoE says £22bn may never be repaid February 5, 2021 Rishi Sunak to extend Covid loan relief with longer repayment time for small businesses
UK banks ‘shielded from the worst’ of the Covid crisis, says BoE deputy governor February 5, 2021 UK banks 'shielded from the worst' of the Covid crisis, says BoE deputy governor