‘Where is the Chancellor?’: Rachel Reeves urged to cancel China trip amid gilt turmoil January 9, 2025 Mel Stride has criticised Rachel Reeves for her absence in parliament as the UK government’s borrowing costs soar, asking the commons: “Where is the Chancellor?” The Conservative shadow Chancellor hit out at Reeves, who is coming under pressure to cancel a long-planned trip to China and Davos, during an urgent question in the Commons. It [...]
What is a gilt? And why should you care? January 9, 2025 Investors have been drawing comparisons to the bond market meltdown following Liz Truss's mini-Budget as well as the IMF bailout way back in 1976.
Canary Wharf life science hub appoints contractor to transform Elizabeth Line-linked site January 9, 2025 Construction services organisation Morgan Sindall has been appointed lead contractor for a huge office-to-labs conversion in Canary Wharf. The plans for 17 Columbus Courtyard (17CC), which were approved by Tower Hamlets in 2023, will see the existing building transformed into a new state-of-the-art life science and technology hub. When the building is completed in 2026, [...]
Price hikes are coming as firms battle Reeves tax raid, Bank of England survey suggests January 9, 2025 The Bank's latest decision maker panel, which surveys finance chiefs around the country, showed that firms' inflation expectations picked up in December.
London commercial property starts year strong with huge Baker Street let January 9, 2025 A British-based property company has fully let a Baker Street office space at a significant premium to the estimated value in an excellent start to the commercial market in 2025. Derwent London has pre-let 204,300 sq ft of office space to five tenants at its 25 Baker Street W1 development, which will complete later in [...]
Kemi Badenoch not planning to announce big policies for two years January 9, 2025 Kemi Badenoch is reportedly not planning to announce big policies for the next two years as she plans to focus on rebuilding voters’ trust. The Conservative leader is said to have told her shadow cabinet on Tuesday that she has a “three-year plan” based on transforming her party’s fortunes following the July election defeat, according [...]
Pound sterling continues to sink as UK economy ‘clearly on very shaky ground’ January 9, 2025 Pound sterling has continued to sell off this morning, and UK government bond yields have ticked higher as UK risk assets remain under pressure. The pound fell below $1.23 against the dollar in early trade and is currently down 0.7 per cent against the dollar and 0.6 per cent against the euro. Meanwhile, the domestically [...]
Tesco shares drop despite bumper Christmas trading January 9, 2025 Tesco shares dropped two per cent in early deals this morning despite the retailer reporting abumper festive trading period. Food sales rose by 4.7 per cent in the six weeks to January 4, with a “particularly strong contribution” from fresh food, the grocer said. That’s more than double the market average of 2.1 per cent. [...]
UK fintech funding races ahead of Europe January 9, 2025 According to new figures, the UK’s fintech sector was beaten by only the US on total investment last year despite a sharp fall in funding on 2023 levels. As global fintech investment fell 20 per cent globally to $43.5bn (£35.2bn), the UK attracted $3.6bn (£2.9bn) of total funding, more than the next five European countries [...]
Marks and Spencer shares plunge despite bumper results January 9, 2025 Marks and Spencer shares plunged by eight per cent in early deals this morning as investors digested the company’s Christmas trading update. The food and clothing retailer told markets this morning that food sales increased 8.7 in the 13 weeks to December 28, and sales of its new Christmas products grew 14 per cent. This [...]