FTSE 100 lags but pound jumps as markets weigh Brexit latest December 14, 2020 The FTSE 100 lagged behind its European peers as the pound rose the most in nearly two months after the UK and EU agreed to extend post-Brexit trade talks. Elsewhere, stocks climbed strongly amid signs of progress in US stimulus talks, and as the country prepared to roll out the first coronavirus vaccines. London’s main [...]
Treasury urged to focus on job creation amid UK ‘unemployment crisis’ December 14, 2020 The government has been urged to take a more active approach to job creation and keep public spending high to avoid “sleepwalking into an unemployment crisis” next year. The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee said the Treasury should move away from wage subsidies and instead fund jobs in places they are needed such as [...]
Pound jumps more than one per cent after Brexit talks extended December 14, 2020 Investors have driven the pound up more than one per cent against the dollar and euro amid optimism about the extension of Brexit talks. Yesterday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen agreed to “go the extra mile” and extend the deadline for trade talks. Von der Leyen said [...]
Pound slumps as no-deal Brexit gloom hangs over markets December 11, 2020 The pound has fallen sharply against the dollar as markets react to the growing chances of a no-deal Brexit, with increasingly pessimistic noises coming from the UK and EU. Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday said there was a “strong possibility” the two sides would fail to reach a deal. Ursula von der Leyen, president of [...]
Morgan Stanley: UK bank shares could fall 20 per cent in no-deal Brexit December 11, 2020 Morgan Stanley has said UK bank shares could tumble 10 to 20 per cent in a no-deal Brexit, with the FTSE 250 dropping as much as 10 per cent. It comes as the UK and EU struggle to sign a free-trade agreement. Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday said a no-deal Brexit outcome was now a [...]
UK signs free-trade deals with Vietnam and Singapore December 11, 2020 The UK has signed a continuity free-trade agreement with Vietnam the day after it penned a deal with Singapore. The Singapore deal protects trade that was worth £17.6bn last year while the Vietnam agreement protects £5.7bn of trade, the government said. Trade secretary Liz Truss, who is in south east Asia, said: “Both these agreements are [...]
BoE gives lenders all-clear and extends zero capital buffer December 11, 2020 The Bank of England has said the UK’s lenders are strong enough to withstand an economic shock much worse than the one currently predicted, but extended the period in which banks can hold reduced capital buffers to try to encourage lending. Despite the all-clear, the Bank’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) said that Brexit could cause [...]
FTSE 100 slips as no-deal Brexit comes into focus December 11, 2020 The FTSE 100 opened lower as investors digested the prospect of a tighter lockdown in London and a no-deal exit from the EU transition period. London’s blue-chip index fell 0.1 per cent to 6,594 points in early trading. The FTSE 250 of slightly smaller firms dropped 0.2 per cent. The pound – which has been [...]
Zurich and Farmers to buy Metlife property and casualty for $3.9bn December 11, 2020 Zurich Insurance’s subsidiary Farmers Group has agreed to team up with Farmers Exchanges to buy Metlife’s US property and casualty business for $3.94bn (£2.96bn). Zurich will contribute $2.43bn through FGI, while Farmers Exchanges will chip in $1.51bn, Zurich said. “The acquisition significantly increases the potential for growth at the Farmers Exchanges and will further boost [...]
UK Banks OK to restart dividend payments, PRA says December 10, 2020 The banking regulator has given lenders the go-ahead to restart dividend payments, saying it believes they are in a strong enough position to withstand a hit to the economy more severe than the current expectations. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) lent on banks to stop paying out dividends in the spring. It said they should [...]
