Eurozone confidence thumps forecasts despite stagnant unemployment August 30, 2013 Eurozone consumer confidence has come in very strong in August, with the main indicator at a healthier -16 from -17.4 (-16.5 expected). That's despite a flat unemployment rate posted for the same month. Economic sentiment too looked decidedly better, rising from 92.5 to 95.2 (93.0 expected). Business climate is up to -0.2 from -0.53 (-0.35 [...]
Mortgage approvals up as Help to Bubble scheme takes effect August 30, 2013 UK mortgage approvals have come in above analyst estimates, at 60,624 in July. Economists had predicted a jump to 59,000 from 57,667 the month before. The government's Help to Buy scheme, only one part of which is now active, has prompted higher demand in the housing sector. But for all that mortgage help, nothing has [...]
Before the open – 30/08 August 30, 2013 It's the last trading day of the month – and it looks the FTSE will close down this August. The index closed at 6621.10 on 31 July, and saw its monthly peak the next day at 6682.00. Opening at 6483.05, it seems very unlikely that anything dramatic will happening on what looks to be a [...]
German retail sales continue their decline August 30, 2013 German retail sales have dropped again, down 1.4 per cent in July after a 0.8 per cent contraction last month (revised up from -1.5 per cent). Economists had predicted an end to the decline and 0.5 per cent growth this month. Total retail sales growth in the year to July now stands at 2.3 per [...]
House prices continue to rise on Help to Buy scheme August 30, 2013 House prices are up again in August, by 0.6 per cent. That's in line with analyst predictions, and slightly lower than last month's 0.9 per cent growth (release). Nationwide's figures are provided on a seasonally adjusted basis, while nominal average house prices have actually dropped slightly, down from £170,825 to £170,514. £311 isn't a discount [...]
Cameron calls off military action in Syria after losing Westminster vote August 29, 2013 DAVID Cameron last night suffered a major blow to his authority as parliament took the near-unprecedented step of vetoing military action desired by the government. Just 48 hours ago, the Prime Minister had hoped that last night’s vote would authorise immediate military strikes against the Syrian regime. Instead, Britain has now all but ruled out [...]
Vodafone confident tax won’t halt $100bn Verizon deal August 29, 2013 VODAFONE is confident tax issues will not stand in the way of any multi-billion dollar deal it agrees with Verizon to offload its shareholding in its US counterpart. Earlier this year there had been suggestions that a massive tax bill, perhaps as high as $40bn (£25.8bn), could prevent a deal between the two mobile telecoms [...]
Co-op gets tough with an ultimatum to investors August 29, 2013 SMALL investors in the Co-op bank must agree to take losses on their bonds or risk the bank being closed or sold, executives said yesterday as they revealed group pre-tax losses of £559m for the first half of the year. Much of those losses came from the bank – the trading group business made a [...]
Cameron will look back on this vote as a political blessing August 29, 2013 SO THE heir to Blair, who seemed so keen to intervene in Syria, has been stopped in his tracks. Prime Minister David Cameron came home early from his holiday to persuade parliament of the need for action against Syria and in the end received a bloody nose himself. It might not look great for him [...]
Exclusive: Big banks shoot down Carney’s £90bn loan plan August 29, 2013 THE BIGGEST four banks do not intend to run down their liquidity buffers to increase lending, City A.M. understands, despite Bank of England boss Mark Carney this week cutting the size of the buffers of liquid assets they must hold. The governor believes this could free up £90bn to lend out. However major lenders are expected [...]
