Analyst reaction: GDP at 0.6 per cent in second quarter July 25, 2013 Howard Archer, chief UK & European economist, IHS Global Insight: The GDP data are very encouraging, not only showing the growth rate doubling to 0.6% quarter-on-quarter but also showing positive contributions from all sectors. While the dominant services sector remains very much key to the economy’s performance, it is important that manufacturing and construction grow [...]
UK GDP grows by 0.6pc in second quarter July 25, 2013 UK GDP grew by 0.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2013, in line with analysts’ expectations, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics today. The services sector grew by 0.6 per cent, while construction increased by 0.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter. While the figures are an encouraging sign for sustained growth [...]
Unilever sales disappoint as emerging markets growth slows July 25, 2013 CONSUMER goods giant Unilever today posted underlying sales growth of five per cent in the second quarter of the year, falling short of forecasts, due to a slowdown in emerging markets. Emerging markets grew at 10.3 per cent, slightly down on 10.4 per cent in the previous quarter, while developed markets fell 1.3 per cent. [...]
Pound falls as growth doubles to 0.6 per cent in second quarter July 25, 2013 The UK economy is heating up, but it's still pretty cold out there, according to the ONS. GDP grew by 0.6 per cent in the second quarter, up from 0.3 per cent in the first. GDP is still 3.3 per cent below its first quarter 2008 peak, and this figure is in line with average [...]
Rolls-Royce profits rise 34pc July 25, 2013 ENGINEERING firm Rolls-Royce today posted a 34 per cent increase in underlying pre-tax profits to £840m for the first half of the year. Revenue rose 27 per cent to £7.3bn and shareholder dividends rose 13 per cent to 8.6p per share. Chief executive John Rishton said that while “good progress” had been made, “it is [...]
BT Sport signs up half a million pre-launch July 25, 2013 TELECOMS company BT today said more than half a million households have ordered its new sports offering to challenge Sky Sports, as it reports a smaller than expected decline in first quarter profit and revenue. BT Sport is being launched in August as part of the British firm’s plan to compete with Sky and [...]
We should welcome the Church’s foray into lending July 25, 2013 Archbishop Justin Welby's announcement that the Church of England could be going head-to-head with payday lenders like Wonga is good to hear. Rather than limiting the options of consumers, Welby is set to expand the choices that the most vulnerable face. In an interview with Total Politics, the former oil executive has said that he [...]
Spanish unemployment falls for first time in two years – but more than one in four are still jobless July 25, 2013 The Spanish unemployment rate has fallen from 27.16 per cent to 26.26 per cent in the second quarter, according to survey data from the National Institute of Statistics. Economists had been forecasting another rise, to 27.3 per cent, so this is some welcome news. It's the first fall in two years, and the largest since [...]
Before the open – 25/07 July 25, 2013 Today will show whether growth is accelerating in the UK, with second quarter GDP out later. After a limp 0.3 per cent growth in the first quarter, economists are now forecasting that we'll see the economy grew by as much as 0.6 per cent in the second quarter. Asian equities fail to respond to #China’s [...]
Unilever warns of slowing growth in emerging markets and little sign of recovery in North America and Europe July 25, 2013 Consumer goods company Unilever has warned that emerging markets are facing slowdown, as it posts results for the first half of 2013 (release). Growth is slowing in emerging markets, as macro-economic headwinds influence consumer behaviour. Within this overall trend we see a mixed picture across the major countries reflecting different local circumstances. Developed markets remain [...]
