London renters need 209,000 new homes as government told it has ‘huge task on hands’ January 22, 2024 Some 209,000 new rental homes will be needed in London by 2031 to help deal with the capital’s shrinking pool of housing.
Savings rates have biggest monthly drop since 2009 as banks bet on rebound January 22, 2024 Fixed savings rates have clocked their biggest monthly drop in nearly 15 years, new figures show, as banks slash deals to compete for business and stay optimistic on an economic rebound this year. The average one-year fixed bond fell for a third consecutive month to 4.87 per cent in January – the first time it [...]
Economy: Why the latest data makes a ‘technical’ recession seem (almost) inevitable – with pub spending the only white knight January 19, 2024 The UK appears set to enter recession - and even if the term is in some ways meaningless, it's still very bad news indeed
Retail sales crash 3.2 per cent in December as struggling high street hits Covid-era low January 19, 2024 UK retail sales plummeted 3.2 per cent in December, well below analyst expectations and the largest monthly fall since January 2021 when coronavirus restrictions pushed down sales. Analysts had expected sales to fall by 0.5 per cent in the last month of the year, but a significant drop in both food and non-food store sales [...]
Bank of England survey: Default rates continue rising in 2023 – but at slower pace January 18, 2024 According to bank responses to the Bank of England's quarterly credit conditions survey, default rates on secured lending - which includes mortgage lending - increased in the final quarter of 2023.
Why UK equities could ‘turn a corner’ in 2024 January 18, 2024 UK equities will "turn a corner" in 2024 as analysts bet that growing optimism about the UK's economic prospects would provide a strong tailwind.
Cynergy Bank chief urges struggling SMEs to ‘de-risk’ current accounts January 18, 2024 The boss of challenger Cynergy Bank has said small firms are letting too much money languish in no-interest current accounts, as it launches a new offering that puts it in more direct competition with Britain’s major lenders. Chief executive Nick Fahy told City A.M. that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly struggling to afford [...]
FTSE 100 suffers worst day in five months after inflation surprise dampens rate cut bets January 17, 2024 London’s FTSE 100 has clocked its worst day in five months after new figures showed a surprise uptick in inflation at the end of last year.
Woodford deal could create ‘systemic risk’ by scrapping investor protections, say academics January 17, 2024 A group of academics have warned that the planned £230m compensation for Woodford investors “would be likely to set a dangerous precedent” by scrapping “cornerstone” protections for investors provided by regulators.
Central bankers push back on interest rate cut bets but accept progress on inflation January 17, 2024 In the US, traders think there is a 60 per cent chance that the Fed will lower interest rates in March, according to CME Fedwatch.