The hidden infrastructure holding back the housing market March 4, 2024 Politicians of all stripes are promising to help more people onto the housing ladder, but behind the headline-grabbing policies, the elephant in the room is whether the mortgage and conveyancing market can cope with a spike in transactions, says Joe Pepper The housing market will be a key battleground in the forthcoming election, and we [...]
More misery for retail as footfall slips to lowest level since pandemic on wet weather and strikes March 1, 2024 Unpredictable British weather has yet again been blamed for hurting trade on UK high streets. According to a report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), footfall recorded in February slumped to the lowest since the pandemic, falling 9.3 per cent against a 2.3 per cent decline the prior month. Some 23mm of rain fell across [...]
Clare Lombardelli appointed deputy governor at the Bank of England February 29, 2024 Clare Lombardelli has been appointed as the next deputy governor for monetary policy at the Bank of England, replacing Ben Broadbent.
Mortgage approvals rise to highest level in a year – but UK housing market rebound unlikely to last February 29, 2024 The figures show that the housing market is steadily rebounding from the impact of higher interest rates.
Coventry Building Society sees profit boost from rate hikes as Co-op Bank merger talks continue February 29, 2024 Higher interest rates have boosted Coventry Building Society's annual profits as the lender continues to negotiate a potential merger with the Co-op Bank.
Schroders profits slide in ‘one of the most challenging years of recent times’ February 29, 2024 Schroders reported a rebound in assets under management but a slide in profits today as it weathered “one of the most challenging years” for money managers “in recent times”.
UK economy: Business confidence remains high with firms set to increase headcount February 29, 2024 Despite falling into a shallow recession in the second half of last year, business surveys have pointed to an upturn at the beginning of the year.
FTSE 100 today: London markets set for cautious open as U.S. inflation data looms large February 29, 2024 Asia mirrors Wall Street's decline, bitcoin breaches $60,000, and oil prices fall; all eyes are on US PCE inflation data for market direction.
‘Fragile’ UK at risk from ‘another acceleration’ in business insolvencies, Allianz warns February 28, 2024 The insurer's global insolvency outlook estimated 15 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses in the UK are at risk of going bust, the highest proportion of "fragile firms" in Europe.
Interest rates aren’t as influential as you think February 28, 2024 Andy Haldane’s criticisms of the Bank of England’s persistence with higher rates are misguided. Just as near-zero rates following the financial crisis were hardly a stimulus to growth, the more recent actions of the MPC can’t be said to be ‘crushing the economy’, says Paul Ormerod Criticising the Bank of England has become fashionable in [...]