FTSE 100 edges up as Europe rises on trade deal hopes November 27, 2019 The FTSE 100 climbed half a per cent this morning as European stocks rose on hopes of a US-China trade deal. London’s blue-chip index was up 0.49 per cent by 10.30am to 7,438 points with traders also awaiting a closely-watched election poll that is due to be published tonight. Read more: Boris Johnson promises sensible [...]
UK employer confidence slips to three-year low November 27, 2019 Employer confidence in the UK economy has fallen to its lowest level in over three years as Brexit and General Election uncertainty hangs over firms, new data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has shown. Companies said they were ready to invest in November, however, showing that the upcoming General Election should focus on [...]
Cranswick’s pork sales to China surge after swine flu outbreak November 26, 2019 Sausage-maker Cranswick said its pork exports to the far east surged by 95 per cent in the first half of the year due to the outbreak of African swine fever in China. The disease has led to large-scale pig culls in China and sent pork prices soaring, causing domestic buyers to look elsewhere. The boost [...]
Sajid Javid attacks Labour’s claims that only rich will pay for manifesto November 26, 2019 Chancellor Sajid Javid has attacked Labour’s claim that 95 per cent of Brits would pay no more tax under its plans, saying the party’s manifesto includes six policies that would hit middle earners. These include scrapping tax relief for married couples, reversing cuts to inheritance tax, and raising corporation tax on small businesses. Read more: [...]
Getting Brexit done will not help UK economy, say academics November 26, 2019 Carrying out Brexit will not improve the UK’s struggling economy but will usher in years more uncertainty about Britain’s trading relationships, a new report has said. The hard Brexit that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is proposing will also limit the size of the UK market and raise trade costs, making it a less attractive place [...]
Economists give Labour a boost by backing spending plans November 26, 2019 Labour’s economic credibility has received a boost this morning after a group of 168 economists signed a letter supporting the party’s plans for much higher government investment in the economy. Published in the Financial Times, the letter said Labour has “understood the deep problems we face,” which include “10 years of near zero productivity growth” [...]
Election poll: Labour is closing the gap on the Tories November 26, 2019 Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party has squeezed the Tories’ election poll lead down to 11 points from 18 a week ago, a new survey by data company Kantar showed today. Support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives dropped two points to 43 per cent, while Labour climbed five points to 32 per cent. Read more: Chief [...]
Tackling UK productivity crisis could yield £83bn a year for economy, says PwC November 26, 2019 The UK productivity crisis is dragging on the economy, a new report has said, which could be £83bn a year larger if laggard areas could make up just half the efficiency gap. The next government has a major opportunity to increase investment in infrastructure and encourage the private sector to better train its workers to [...]
Germany on track for growth as confidence rises, says Ifo institute November 25, 2019 The German economy is set to grow by 0.2 per cent in the second quarter, the country’s Ifo economic institute has predicted, as executives became slightly more optimistic in November. However, it is too early to say the struggling German economy is turning around, with confidence falling in its important manufacturing sector, according to the [...]
Labour policies could cause run on sterling, says think tank Cebr November 25, 2019 A Labour government could cause a run on the pound due to market fears over the party’s stewardship of the economy, a leading economic think tank has said. Douglas McWilliams, director of the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), called Labour’s plans to raise £83bn a year through higher taxes by 2023-24 “improbable”. Read [...]
