UK equity markets could do with some shock therapy February 20, 2025 My favourite explanation as to why UK pension funds have shrunk their investments in UK equities from around 50 per cent in the 1990s to a paltry 3 per cent today was offered to me recently by one of the City’s veteran fund managers; “You can trace it all back to the day that crook [...]
How will inflation impact Bank of England interest rate decisions February 19, 2025 The first inflation figures of the year confirmed what many had already known: Inflation will rise significantly in 2025.
Growth is now near impossible. Here are 7 pleas for Reeves’ Spring Budget February 19, 2025 Growth is impossible if we continue on as we are but the Spring Budget is a chance for change, writes Steve Rigby.
UK economy: Mixed signals for Rachel Reeves as GDP beats expectations February 13, 2025 You can tell it has been a bleak midwinter when quarterly growth figures of 0.1 per cent sets the pulses racing.
Reeves faces tough choices as recession fears mount on UK downgrade February 12, 2025 The watchdog will put together four more forecasts in the coming weeks, but the earliest draft suggests that Reeves will be facing a small deficit in March, Bloomberg reported.
Households will still feel the squeeze even if Budget boosts growth February 12, 2025 Poorer households will not see their living standards recover to pre-2022 levels for another two years despite an anticipated acceleration in economic growth, new forecasts suggest. The forecasts highlight the challenges in ensuring households across the country feel the benefit of any growth that the Labour government is able to stimulate. The National Institute for [...]
City chief to warn UK has become ‘allergic to risk’ February 12, 2025 The UK has become “allergic to risk”, the antidote to which “can’t come soon enough”, the City of London’s policy chair will warn in a speech today. Speaking at an annual jamboree on City policy, Chris Hayward will call for a cultural overhaul of how politicians and regulators perceive risk, and propose a slew of [...]
The Debate: Are growth and net zero incompatible? February 12, 2025 Are growth and net zero really star-crossed lovers, or can they find a happy marriage? We get two writers to hash it out in this week's Debate.
If we want growth, we should listen to the small businesses that create it February 12, 2025 Small business owners are creative and impactful entrepreneurs, adept problem-solvers with a natural optimism. If we want answers on driving growth, it’s worth asking: what would they do? Says Charlotte Keenan It’s no secret what this government is focused on: achieving growth. It’s a mission that is essential but challenging to put into practice, and [...]
UK government acting ‘too slow’ on growth agenda, says City boss February 11, 2025 While Tim Levene is supportive of the government’s growth agenda, the fintech boss feels things are moving too slowly for the City to be hopeful of a boost to equity markets anytime soon. The CEO of Augmentum Fintech said he has already met Chancellor Rachel Reeves three times since the election, including attending the government’s [...]