Was Rayner’s leaked memo an early play for party leader? May 26, 2025 Rayner's 'leaked' memo was a reminder that she is cut from different stuff than our iron Chancellor, but was it strategic, asks Eliot Wilson.
Anglian Water gets £500m boost after criminal investigations May 23, 2025 Anglian Water has received a £500m boost from its shareholders just days after it was revealed it is facing a raft of criminal investigations. The company, which operates in the East of England, is owned by the Osprey Consortium which is made up of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Colonial First State and Industry Funds Management. [...]
Reeves’ impossible mission to save the public finances – in four charts May 22, 2025 Government borrowing spiked in April, according to official data, in a stark illustration of the difficult fiscal tightrope that the Chancellor Reeves is walking. The £20.2bn in monthly borrowing was steeper than economists’ prediction of £18bn. So, Reeves might have shivered when she heard Keir Starmer tell the House of Commons winter fuel payments would [...]
UK government borrowing blows past estimates on Labour’s spending plans May 22, 2025 Government borrowing spiked in April, official data has shown, reflecting Rachel Reeves’s difficulties in controlling public finances. The rise to £20.2bn in monthly borrowing was more than economists’ prediction of £18bn. Capital Economics suggested that the rise in borrowing costs since March via debt interest payments has slashed Reeves’ headroom down to £5.7bn. Tax receipts [...]
Fleet Street Quarter May 21, 2025 The Place where stories are born known as the home of British journalism, FSQ runs from the Royal Courts of Justice in the west to Ludgate Hill in the east. Established in February 2022, Fleet Street Quarter embraces fascinating areas such as Chancery Lane, Holborn, Ludgate Hill and New Street Square. Set amongst a backdrop [...]
The UK is a financial world leader, so why are our numeracy levels so poor? May 21, 2025 Poor numeracy skills have real financial consequences. If the City is to remain a financial powerhouse, we must address the nation’s deteriorating maths, writes Andy Haldane on National Numeracy Day Financial services is a numbers game. Success in finance requires mastery of a wide range of skills, professional and interpersonal. But without a command of [...]
Government debt sale delayed over ‘Bloomberg system issues’ May 21, 2025 An auction of UK government debt was delayed on Wednesday after a Bloomberg system outage prevented traders from participating. In a statement the UK’s Debt Management Office (DMO) said: “Due to the ongoing market-wide Bloomberg system issues, the bidding window for this morning’s auction of 4 per cent Treasury Gilt 2031 is being extended.” A [...]
UBS creates AI tool to monitor interest rate cuts May 21, 2025 UBS has created an AI model that takes a view on central bank’s hawks and doves when interest rates are set in a bid to cut through the noise of hard-to-read press conferences. In a new policy paper spanning 38 pages, the Swiss bank revealed that its new tool is adept at “measuring the tone [...]
Reeves’ taxes push inflation to 3.5 per cent in ‘Awful April’ May 21, 2025 Inflation bounced back up to 3.5 per cent in April, official data has revealed, underlining the cost burden firms are taking on after Chancellor Reeves’ tax hikes on employers and rise to the national living wage came into effect. Consumer price inflation rose by 1.2 per cent on a month-on-month basis, higher than the last [...]
Firms must be at heart of red tape overhaul, CBI boss says May 21, 2025 The government’s efforts to slash red tape and regulation in a bid to boost growth are doomed to fail if they do not consult the very firms that “live and breathe” the UK’s regulatory barriers, according to the boss of Britain’s largest lobby group. In a speech at Singer Capital Markets, Rupert Soames, president of [...]