UK high street lenders whipsaw on muddled day of trading in the City April 27, 2022 The UK’s biggest high street lenders whipsawed in the City today after giving up morning gains that initially boosted London’s top indexes. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index closed 0.53 per cent higher at 7,425.61 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, dipped [...]
Lloyds warns of looming defaults on cost of living shock April 27, 2022 The cost of living shock that is rippling throughout household finances is increasing the chances of borrowers defaulting on their debts, Britain’s biggest mortgage lender warned today. Worsening economic conditions triggered by inflation scaling to 30-year highs is likely to lead to greater financial distress among Brits, Lloyds Bank said today. The bleak assessment touches [...]
We need to stop comforting ourselves with the myth of the all-powerful central bank April 27, 2022 Inflation continues to be a major problem for policy makers. The annual rate of price increases hit 7 per cent last month and could be in double figures later this year. This projection is far from being a fantasy. On some measures, annual inflation in America is already over 10 per cent. Rather bizarrely, the [...]
London’s top indexes fail to recover China Covid lockdown triggered losses April 26, 2022 London’s top indexes failed to recover from Monday’s bruising session as investors were still jittery due to concerns over the severity of the impact on the global economy from China sticking to its zero-Covid tolerance policy. London’s premier FTSE 100 index edged 0.08 per cent higher to 7,286.19 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 [...]
UK flirting dangerously close with recession this year, economists warn April 26, 2022 The UK economy is flirting dangerously close with falling into recession this year as a result of inflation dealing a heavy blow to households and businesses. That’s according to a slate of gloomy forecasts from some of the City’s top economists. Elevated food, energy and core goods prices will send inflation to a peak of [...]
Historic inflation crunch swells UK interest bill to highest on record April 26, 2022 Historic high inflation has swelled the amount of money the UK government spends on servicing its debt to its largest level on record, reveals official figures released today. Britain’s debt interest bill for the year to March climbed 77 per cent over the last year to nearly £70bn in a further sign that Chancellor Rishi [...]
As house prices hit another all-time high, we need to cut bureaucracy burdening sales April 26, 2022 Yesterday, average house prices in England hit a record high for the third consecutive month, according to RightMove. They reached an average of £360,100. High buyer demand and a limited number of homes available are likely to send prices even higher. Against this backdrop, it’s about time we reconsider the way we buy and sell [...]
Amazon customers face higher prices for products as retail giant brings in fuel and inflation levy April 25, 2022 Consumers could be hit with higher prices for Amazon products, after the retail giant announced it will impose a new levy on sellers.
Britain’s biggest banks in higher interest rate profit boost as earnings season kicks off April 24, 2022 Profits at Britain’s biggest high street lenders have been boosted by the Bank of England hiking interest rates to tame historic high inflation. That’s according to top City analysts who are forecasting the UK’s largest banks to have reaped the rewards of being able to charge borrowers more for loans. A higher interest rate environment [...]
Rain Newton-Smith interview: Go for growth to turbocharge economic resilience April 22, 2022 Everyone knows the dismal time the UK economy is in for over the coming year – but let’s recap. Living standards are scheduled to fall at the steepest rate in 66 years as a result of wages failing to keep pace with an average annual inflation rate of over seven per cent, according to the [...]