UK rail fares set to increase by 1.6 per cent in January despite pandemic August 19, 2020 UK rail fares are set to increase by 1.6 per cent in January, adding more than £100 to many annual season tickets to London, after an unexpected rise in a controversial measure of inflation. Official figures published today showed that retail price index (PRI) inflation rose by 1.6 per cent in July year on year. [...]
UK inflation unexpectedly rises on oil prices and clothes shopping August 19, 2020 UK inflation jumped unexpectedly to one per cent in July from 0.6 per cent in June amid a surge in global energy prices and increased retail activity, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. The consumer price index inflation reading was the highest since March and markedly higher than the 0.6 per cent analysts [...]
UK job vacancies rise 50 per cent in July but sectors still suffering August 19, 2020 The number of job vacancies in the UK rose markedly in July and August, suggesting some areas and sectors have seen an economic rebound, although the number of openings is still far below its pre-crisis levels, new analysis has shown. New vacancies rose more than 50 per cent in July, according to the think tank [...]
FTSE 100 gives up gains despite S&P 500 hitting all-time high August 18, 2020 The US’s S&P 500 stock index hit an all-time high before slipping back along with the FTSE 100 and other global markets amid rising US-China tensions. The S&P 500 rose to 3,395 points, topping a high it hit in February, having been boosted by record levels of stimulus. But the index reversed course and slipped [...]
Lending through key UK coronavirus schemes tops £52bn August 18, 2020 Bank lending to struggling businesses through the government-backed coronavirus lending programmes has topped £52bn, figures today showed. The bounce back loan scheme (BBLS), under which the government backs 100 per cent of loans up to £50,000, has seen by far the most use. Treasury figures showed £35.5bn had been lent out through the programme by [...]
A-levels debacle: Williamson expects to stay in post ‘over the coming year’ August 18, 2020 Education secretary Gavin Williamson has sought to defend the government’s U-turn on A-level and GCSE grading, suggesting the blame lies with the body that decided on the original algorithm. Williamson also said he expected to remain in post “over the coming year”, amid calls for him to step down as a result of the fiasco. [...]
Persimmon’s first-half profit slumps before market rebound August 18, 2020 Housebuilder Persimmon’s pre-tax profit tumbled 42 per cent in the first half of the year, but the company said it had had an “excellent start” to the second half as market sentiment improved. The figures Persimmon’s profit before tax fell 42 per cent to £292.4m in the six months ending 30 June, down from £509.3m [...]
US economy adds 1.8m jobs but expansion slows sharply August 7, 2020 The US economy added 1.8m jobs in July but the rate of job creation slowed amid rising coronavirus cases and 16.3m Americans remained without work. The rise in Americans entering work took the unemployment rate to 10.2 per cent, down from 14.7 per cent in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Although [...]
FTSE 100 flatlines as Trump order ramps up US-China tensions August 7, 2020 The FTSE 100 flatlined on a choppy morning of trading after US President Donald Trump signed executive orders hitting Chinese firms Tiktok and Wechat, and Congress and the White House failed to agree on a stimulus plan. London’s blue-chip index was roughly flat at 6,027 points at midday. The FTSE 250 of mid-cap firms rose [...]
The return to work: Here’s when City firms are going back to the office August 7, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday said a strong recovery for the UK economy will require people to have the confidence to return to work at the office. The government is worried that hospitality businesses are being hit hard by people working from home. But London firms have adopted a more cautious approach than the [...]
