Falling computer game prices drag UK inflation to lowest rate in three years September 18, 2019 UK inflation slipped to its lowest point in three years in August, official figures have shown, dragged down by falling computer game prices. Read more: Fall in UK unemployment pushes earnings growth to 11-year high Prices in British shops rose by an annualised rate of 1.7 per cent in August, the Office for National Statistics [...]
UK must adapt to automation or firms will suffer, MPs warn September 18, 2019 MPs have warned that British businesses could lose out to foreign competitors if the country fails to quickly adopt new technologies such as automation, and have called on the government to take action. Read more: Robot rollout: Number of businesses using automation doubles in 2019 Parliament’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee said the [...]
Dutch government to boost spending as king warns over Brexit and trade wars September 17, 2019 The Dutch government has announced it will increase spending and reduce its budget surplus, days after the European Central Bank (ECB) suggested such a move could help boost Eurozone growth. Read more: ECB turns stimulus taps back on with first rate cut in three years The Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander, speaking as Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s [...]
US industrial production beats expectations with strong growth in August September 17, 2019 US industrial production bounced back in August after falling in July, official figures have shown, in the latest sign that the economy is performing better than its major peers. Read more: US manufacturing sector shrinks for first time in three years, survey shows Industrial production rose 0.6 percent in August month on month, the US [...]
Confidence among German investors grows despite recession worries September 17, 2019 The mood among German investors has improved despite the economy teetering on the edge of recession, with a closely-watched gauge beating economists’ expectations. Read more: Germany to tumble into recession, says Ifo think tank The economic sentiment indicator from German research institute ZEW gave a score of minus 22.5 in September, rising from minus 44.1 [...]
London tightens grip on FX market in three years since Brexit vote September 16, 2019 London has increased its dominance of global foreign exchange (FX) trading in the three years since Brexit, new figures have shown, in a sign that the City remains a top-two financial centre. Read more: Hong Kong vows to chase London Stock Exchange after £32bn bid rejected Between 2016 and April of this year, the share [...]
‘We had to respond’: ECB defends move to splash cash in Eurozone September 16, 2019 European Central Bank (ECB) chief economist Philip Lane has defended the institution’s decision to turn the stimulus taps back on, despite some public opposition from members of its governing council. The bank relaunched its massive bond-buying programme known as quantitive easing (QE) and cut its deposit rate by 0.1 percentage points to minus 0.5 per [...]
Brexit: Sterling falls as Boris Johnson and Jean-Claude Juncker remain at loggerheads September 16, 2019 The pound has shed half a per cent against the dollar this morning as worries grow that Britain and the European Union are no closer to reaching a new Brexit deal. Read more: PM Johnson tips deal in ‘weeks’ ahead of Juncker meeting Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in Luxembourg this morning to meet European [...]
European stock markets fall as oil worries shake investors September 16, 2019 European stock markets have fallen this morning as investors sell so-called risk assets following a severe spike in the price of oil due to a drone attack on a Saudi Arabian facility. Read more: Saudi Arabia oil facilities engulfed in flames after drone attacks The attack, believed to have been carried out by Yemen’s Houthi [...]
UK house prices see first September fall for nine years September 16, 2019 UK house prices have witnessed their first September fall since 2010, according to a closely-watched gauge, as Brexit uncertainty continues to dampen sales. The average price of property coming to market fell by 0.2 per cent in September, the house price index from real estate website Rightmove showed. “As we approach yet another Brexit deadline, [...]
