The UK’s SME manufacturers have seen new orders grow as price pressures rise February 2, 2017 Domestic orders grew at the fastest pace in two years to give the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a welcome boost ahead of Brexit, according to a new survey. Almost a third of SMEs say domestic demand has increased, according to a survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The outlook for the [...]
US production growth booms as manufacturing expands at fastest rate since 2014 February 1, 2017 The US manufacturing sector grew faster than expected in January to expand at the fastest rate since the end of 2014, according to a widely followed indicator of economic health. The purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for America’s manufacturers reached 56 per cent, according to the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), up from 54.5 per cent [...]
The City A.M. Shadow Monetary Policy Committee votes to hold rates steady February 1, 2017 The Bank of England (BoE) is expected to leave interest rates and its quantitative easing policy unchanged at the latest meeting of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Most economists expect serious talk of a rate rise to be reserved until the latter half of the year at least – and the possibility remains of a further [...]
US private sector smashes expectations as most jobs added since June February 1, 2017 The US private sector jobs market smashed economists’ consensus expectations in January in a further sign the labour market in the world’s largest economy is heating up. Employment in the US private sector rose by 246,000 jobs in the last month, according to payrolls company ADP, the fastest rate since June 2016. This far outstripped [...]
Healthy manufacturers boost sterling and the FTSE 100 February 1, 2017 A strong set of data from the UK and the Eurozone have pushed up the value of sterling against the dollar, with the FTSE 100 benefiting as well. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ indices (PMIs) were strong across Europe as the sector continues to expand healthily. Sterling had dipped at the end of Asian trading against [...]
UK’s producers are quick off the blocks as Eurozone sees five-year high in manufacturing activity February 1, 2017 UK manufacturers have shrugged off big input price increases to start 2017 in fine form, while activity in the Eurozone has reached its highest point since a debt crisis almost brought the continent’s economy to its knees, according to closely watched indicators. Growth in the sector’s output reached its highest point since May 2014 as [...]
UK consumers are set for a big hit as inflation spikes this year February 1, 2017 Inflation is set to spike this year with the hit to consumer spending denting UK growth, according to an influential group of economists. Annual growth in the consumer price index will average 3.3 per cent in 2017, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr), before slowing to 2.9 per cent next [...]
Star manager Neil Woodford set to launch new higher-yielding fund January 31, 2017 Britain’s best known fund manager Neil Woodford is set to launch a new fund focused on higher returns for investors, according to reports. The CF Woodford Income Focus fund will invest in more foreign stocks in an attempt to offer investors a yield 20 per cent higher than the FTSE All-Share index over a five-year [...]
Chinese tourist spending soars in London’s West End as Brexit fall in sterling leaves more bang for the yuan January 31, 2017 WEST END sales to Chinese shoppers rose by a whopping 154 per cent year-on-year last week as visitors from the country took advantage of the cheap pound to celebrate the Chinese New Year in London’s key shopping district. Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of New West End Company which represents businesses around Oxford Street said: “The [...]
Apple of my iPhone: Records tumble as quarterly revenue sets all-time high January 31, 2017 Apple has smashed investor expectations to post its best ever quarterly revenue on the back of record-breaking sales of its iPhone. The Cupertino-based company saw revenue for the quarter increase to $78.4bn, a rise of $2.5bn from the previous year. Apple's share price rose by over three per cent in after-hours trading. Read more: Here's how top [...]
