Jobs market turbulence after furlough fails to rear its head as Brits in work swells 0.6 per cent to over 29m November 16, 2021 An expected wave of job losses after government support measures propping up the jobs market were pulled has seemingly been averted. The number of payrolled employees climbed 160,000 over the last month, or 0.6 per cent, to 29.3m. This is the first period which the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has examined the labour market [...]
No bitcoin believer: Bank of England rate setter warns of imminent danger of crypto assets November 16, 2021 A member of the Bank of England’s rate setting committee has warned the possibility of crypto assets derailing the financial system is ramping up. “The point at which [crypto assets] pose a risk is getting closer. I think regulators and legislators need to think hard about that,” Jon Cunliffe, deputy governor of financial stability at [...]
Bailey hot under the collar over price rises as City warns BoE inflation will scale to double its target November 15, 2021 The governor of the Bank of England is deeply agitated by red hot inflation in the UK despite voting in favour of leaving interest rates unchanged at a record low. Responding to a grilling by MPs, Andrew Bailey said he was “very uneasy about the inflation situation”. Inflation is “not of course where we want [...]
Serco hikes profit forecasts on buoyant Covid-19 support work November 15, 2021 Work to support governments in their response to the Covid-19 crisis prompted outsourcer Serco to hike its profit forecasts. The firm now expects to rake in at least £225m in profits for the year, up from around the £200m set out in its previous guidance. “In the UK and Australia, volumes of work related to [...]
CMC Markets shares boosted by split talks confirmation November 15, 2021 Digital trader CMC Markets confirmed today it is mulling splitting the business in two under plans being led by its founder and chief Lord Peter Cruddas, boosting its share price. CMC, a favourite among the City press, is in the preliminary stages of exploring how it could carve out into two businesses, one focusing on [...]
City warns Bank of England inflation will soar to double its target November 15, 2021 Inflation in the UK will scale to double the Bank of England’s target, raising fresh questions over the credibility of the Old Lady’s actions, City economists have warned. A toxic combination of soaring petrol, energy and food costs and restaurants hiking prices after the end of a VAT tax holiday will lift inflation to around [...]
London markets kick off week in positive style on Shell UK commitment November 15, 2021 London markets kicked off the new week in positive fashion today, boosted by oil mega cap Royal Dutch Shell. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index gained 0.14 per cent to hit 7,358.35 points, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 advanced 0.25 per cent to 23,625.56 points. The City was buttered up by oil giant Royal Dutch [...]
Dividends scale to new heights as companies shake off pandemic hangover November 15, 2021 Companies are rewarding shareholders with record levels of dividends as corporate balance sheets shake off the hangover of the Covid-19 crisis. Firms paid shareholders $403.5bn in dividends in the third quarter of the year, the highest total ever recorded for the three months to September, research by Janus Henderson has found. Dividends are 22 per [...]
Richard Ratcliffe ends hunger strike after 21 days November 13, 2021 The husband of detained Iranian-British national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is ending his hunger strike after 21 days. Richard Ratcliffe told his wife today that he would end his protest and will head to hospital for a full check-up. “Today I have promised Nazanin to end the hunger strike. Gabriella needs two parents. Thank you all for [...]
High street stalwarts shun Black Friday November 13, 2021 High street stalwarts are shunning Black Friday this year due to the discount shopping event losing its pull among consumers. The likes of Marks and Spencer and Next will stop offering discounts on products due to the event squeezing margins and offering little value to businesses. Other online retailers, including Amazon and AO.com, are intending [...]