Borrowing in October hits second-highest on record after inflation blow November 21, 2024 The government borrowed £1.6bn more in October than the previous year, making it the second-highest figure for the month in more than 30 years. The government’s borrowing – the difference between spending and income – hit £17.4bn in the last month, the Office for National Statistics said this morning. The body said the government’s current [...]
Global dividends hit record high despite UK drop off November 21, 2024 Global dividends hit a record third quarter high in 2024 after rising to $431.1bn (£340.7bn), despite a sharp drop off in UK payouts. Globally, 9 companies in ten (88 per cent) increased their dividends or held them flat, but UK dividends fell seven per cent to $25.8bn (£20.4bn) thanks in large part to mining sector [...]
Hospitality firms are bracing for the return of inflation November 21, 2024 October’s inflation figure has worried hospitality firms. While it is not too far above target – 2.3 per cent versus the sweet spot of two per cent – and one month does not constitute a trend, it has exacerbated concerns companies already had about the future of their industry. There are two reasons hospitality is [...]
Rachel Reeves needs to channel Alexander the Great, says City group November 21, 2024 The Association of British Insurers called on Rachel Reeves to break the “regulatory Gordian knot” last night – Hannah Gurga told City AM why the group is calling for faster reform. According to ancient Greek legend, he who untied the Gordian knot was destined to rule over the whole of Asia. Unravelling the stubborn splice [...]
GB Energy given five years to turn a profit November 20, 2024 The boss of Great British Energy has been given a five-year target for Labour’s flagship state-owned energy company to become “profitable”, MPs have been told. Juergen Maier, who was appointed chairman of GB Energy in June, was asked at the Commons energy security and net zero committee whether he had a timeline on profitability. He [...]
Bond Street moves into third for world’s most expensive retail spot November 20, 2024 Bond Street has leaped-frogged Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong to take bronze in a list of the world’s most exclusive retail streets. The shift bucks bucks fears about the decline of brick-and-mortar retail on the high-street and the so-called tourist tax, which has faced campaigners’ calls for scrappage. The average rent on Bond Street [...]
Allica Bank-backed start-up sets out to ‘protect’ UK family firms November 20, 2024 A new start-up set out to protect the legacies and values of Britain’s family businesses has secured its first ever acquisition and funding round backed by the UK’s fastest growing firm Allica Bank. Astra Holding, founded by entrepreneurs Amit Rai and Sergey Sushentsev earlier this year, has announced the acquisition of Hull-based industrial doors supplier [...]
Ford to cut hundreds of UK jobs in sweeping round of European layoffs November 20, 2024 The cuts will take place by the end of 2027 and make up around 14 per cent of the firm's workforce in Europe, which totals 28,000.
Peel Hunt: There’s a ‘missing piece’ in Reeves’ City growth push November 20, 2024 The government has demonstrated a “fundamental shift” in its approach to growth but must address the key issue of pushing investment into the UK stock market, Peel Hunt has said. In an a note to investors today, Peel Hunt’s head of research, Charles Hall, stressed that while Rachel Reeves‘s Mansion House speech had been a [...]
Inflation surprise scuppers hope of Christmas interest rate cut November 20, 2024 A bigger than expected rise in inflation last month has all but scuppered hopes of a cut to interest rates by the Bank of England in December. While economists had been expecting rising energy prices to push inflation beyond the Bank of England’s two per cent target last month, a sharper than expected lift in [...]
