European bond rout worsens ahead of pivotal defence summit March 6, 2025 European bond yields continued to climb on Thursday as traders weighed expectations of higher borrowing from major European economies, which is expected to boost defence spending. German bonds suffered their worst day since the immediate aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Wednesday, after soon-to-be Chancellor Friedrich Merz laid out a bumper package [...]
Gilt yields stable ahead of crucial UK inflation data January 14, 2025 The yield on the 10-year gilt crept lower on Tuesday afternoon, leaving it on track to break six days of consecutive rises.
UK consumer confidence may struggle to ‘ride out’ uncertainty January 13, 2025 Consumer confidence ended 2024 on a high, but analysts have warned that it might not be able to ride out a wave of economic uncertainty this year. Confidence was at its highest since April 2021 in December, according to Yougov’s and CBRE’s monthly consumer confidence survey. Business activity, optimism about the future, and perceptions of [...]
Pound sterling suffers as traders pare bets on Fed rate cuts January 13, 2025 The sell-off comes after a bruising week for UK assets last week, with sterling falling over three per cent and gilt yields picking up to the highest levels in decades.
Stakes are high for UK economy ahead of crunch week of data January 13, 2025 The latest inflation figures, covering December, will be published on Wednesday before GDP figures for November will be released on Thursday.
Reeves vows ‘action’ to meet fiscal rules amid rise in borrowing costs January 11, 2025 Rachel Reeves has said she will “take action” to meet her fiscal rules following turbulence on the gilt markets. Increases in the Government’s borrowing costs have sparked concern that the Chancellor will be unable to meet her debt and spending targets, requiring either tax rises or deeper spending cuts when she delivers a fiscal statement [...]
Rachel Reeves eyeing spending cuts in spring January 10, 2025 Rachel Reeves is considering cutting departmental spending as UK borrowing costs soar, despite risks it could “dampen” activity and “further dent anaemic” growth. The Chancellor is said to be eyeing further reductions to unprotected government departments’ budgets after she ruled out additional tax rises or more borrowing to avoid breaking her fiscal rules following the [...]
Pound sterling sinks and gilt yields rise after US jobs report January 10, 2025 The pound plummeted against the dollar while gilt yields came under further pressure after new figures revealed the continued strength of the US economy. According to the latest report on the US labour market, the world’s largest economy added 256,000 roles in December, accelerating from November and well ahead of economists expectations. Unemployment, meanwhile, unexpectedly [...]
Mortgage rates to rise on back of bond market turmoil January 10, 2025 Gilt yields influence the mortgage market through swap rates, the main benchmark for mortgage lending in the UK.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves looks for pro-growth measures amid market tumult January 10, 2025 Earlier this week the yield on the 30-year gilt hit its highest level since 1998 while the 10-year gilt rose to its highest level since 2008.