FTSE 100 close: Shock US debt downgrade sparks market sell-off in London and Europe August 2, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 plummeted during opening exchanges today after a top credit ratings agency slashed their outlook on the US’s finances. The capital’s premier index slumped 1.36 per cent to 7,561.64 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is a better reflection of the health of the UK economy, fell 1.33 per cent [...]
Steady as she goes: Virgin Money launches further buyback after solid third quarter August 2, 2023 Virgin Money’s margin remained stable, despite increasing competition in the market, as Richard Branson’s bank said it anticipates a £175m share buyback at its end of year results. The challenger bank launched a £50m buyback today, after it passed the Bank of England’s stress test, and expects to deliver a £125m buyback with its full [...]
Taylor Wimpey: Profit slashed almost in half by red-hot interest rates August 2, 2023 Taylor Wimpey posted a 44.5 per cent decline in operating profit in the half year, as the house builder said it was “inevitably” impacted by red hot mortgage rates which have shattered consumer confidence. The London-listed construction firm reported a 21.2 per cent contraction in revenues down to £1.6bn compared to £2bn in the same [...]
As mortgages go up, Britons’ inability to do maths is putting them in financial peril August 2, 2023 Brits who are bad at maths are losing around £2,850 every year - a figure which will only be exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, writes Ludovic Subran.
Sir Jon Cunliffe to be replaced by Sarah Breeden as Bank of England deputy governor August 1, 2023 Sir Jon Cunliffe will step down as one of the Bank of England’s chief market watchers later this year, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced on Tuesday. Cunliffe, who was appointed Threadneedle Street’s deputy governor for financial stability a decade ago, will be succeeded by Sarah Breeden, also a long servant at the central bank. Breeden [...]
Travis Perkins profits slip 31 per cent amid slow down in house building August 1, 2023 Travis Perkins blamed a weak market for its falling revenues as the home improvement retailer struggles to cope with dwindling sales and a tough economic climate. In its half year results, the tools supplier said revenue slipped 2.5 per cent to £2.5bn and adjusted operating profits fell 31 per cent to £112m. A slowdown in [...]
Robert Walters posts 60 per cent profit slump as economic woes clobber recruitment August 1, 2023 A recruiter that is often viewed by analysts as a bellwether for the UK jobs market has posted a 60 per cent drop in profits as a result of firms trimming hiring amid the economic slowdown. Robert Walters, which specialises in sourcing talent for the City’s biggest banks, brokers and insurers, said today operating profits [...]
Crash warning: House prices slump in July as market hits 2009 lows August 1, 2023 House prices have slumped by 3.8 per cent year on year, the latest closely watched figures from Nationwide show, as a season of high interest rates and weak consumer confidence continues to batter the market. The figure is the weakest since July 2009, although it is only slightly lower than the -3.5 per cent recorded [...]
Metro Bank swings back to profit in first half as boss Frumkin claims ‘strategy is working’ August 1, 2023 Metro Bank achieved profitability in the first half of 2023 as the bank’s recovery from an accounting scandal continues. In the first half of the year the retail bank reported a pretax profit of £15.4m, swinging from a loss of £10.5m the year before when the bank faced significant restructuring and write-off costs. The second [...]
Are central banks to blame for the inflation crisis? August 1, 2023 As we enter what looks like the final leg of central banks’ interest rate rising journeys, it’s as good a time as ever to trace why they have been jolted into action after over a decade of ultra loose policy and whether their response to the inflation crisis has been effective. Coming out of the [...]