The FTSE just hit its highest level since January 2000. Here’s what you need to know May 13, 2014 Traders are shrugging off concerns about tensions over Ukraine, and instead riding the momentum from yesterday's record-setting US session. London's leading index, the FTSE 100, is currently trading at its highest level since January 2000. More broadly European shares have risen to a six-year high after that US rally. Yesterday saw the Dow Jones and [...]
Meet John Pullinger: The UK’s new national statistician May 12, 2014 It's a really technical job, and someone's got to do it. The job of chief executive of the UK Statistics Authority, and national statistician, has gone to John Pullinger. Pullinger is currently House of Commons librarian and director general, a role he will leave to join the UK Statistics Authority in July. Those who've been [...]
How London’s housing crisis threatens City businesses May 12, 2014 The high cost of London housing is affecting the capital's competitiveness, according to a new report from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Soaring house price increases have outstripped wage increases, and so make "living in London unaffordable for many, affecting both employees and employers." 42 per cent of London businesses feel that their [...]
Here’s what Morgan Stanley thinks ECB QE might look like May 12, 2014 It's clear that the European Central Bank knows it has a disinflationary problem. Today, a global investor poll conducted by Bloomberg finds that 74 per cent of participants see deflation as a greater risk to the region than inflation. While headline Eurozone inflation remains positive, that aggregate measure masks the member states already suffering from [...]
Industrial production sees small fall in March May 9, 2014 Industrial production down a touch, but nonetheless better than economists had hoped for. In the month of March, it's down 0.1 per cent, with manufacturing production up by a punchy 0.5 per cent. Analysts had expected industrial production to fall by 0.2 per cent in March. Today's release sees industrial production growing at 0.7 per [...]
One of Greg Dyke’s core claims about English players doesn’t stack up May 8, 2014 English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has outlined his vision for English teams to develop more England players. Highlighting a decline in the number of English players in the Premier League's top four clubs, much of the 84 page report rests on a core assumption: That more English players in top flight football will mean [...]
Euro sinks as Draghi suggests action at next ECB meeting May 8, 2014 Signs of action from the European Central Bank has whacked the euro. President Mario Draghi has said that the central bank could act at its next meeting, in June, and it's whalloped the currency. Draghi's wording: "The governing council is comfortable about acting next time." The ECB is clearly aware of its inflation problem, with [...]
ECB makes no policy change despite disinflation risks May 8, 2014 The European Central Bank is by now well aware of its inflation problem – but it's still doing nothing about it. No change in policy this month, as widely expected by analysts. That's despite widely recognised disinflation risks. The only real sign of inflation in the Eurozone is the number of times Draghi refers to [...]
Bank of England holds policy – but analysts still expect Carney to pull rate hike trigger first May 8, 2014 The members of the Bank of England's interest-rate setting committee have voted to hold policy. Interest rates will stay put at 0.5 per cent, while asset purchases will be maintained at current levels. Despite the (widely expected) inaction from the Monetary Policy Commitee, there are rumblings that the Bank of England could now be first [...]
The ECB’s new press chief just killed the Draghi tie guesses game May 8, 2014 It's that Thursday of the month again, and finance Twitter is getting ready for the big event. Many would traditionally have spent the morning making their forecasts. Not on the subject of European Central Bank policy (their monthly decision is out at 12.00pm), but on what colour tie President Mario Draghi would be wearing at [...]
