UK’s big five banks set to pay out £7bn in dividends as their earnings soar October 10, 2021 The UK’s largest banks are preparing to hand out a collective £7bn in dividends this year, on the back of earnings hitting their highest level for the sector since 2008. The £7bn payout would be more than double the £3.3bn handed out in dividends by the UK’s big five in 2020. The UK’s five largest [...]
Bank of England rate-setter: Brace yourself for interest rate rises very soon October 10, 2021 One of the key rate-setters on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has today said UK households should be primed for an interest rate rise “significantly sooner” than first thought. Michael Saunders, the former Citigroup economist turned Threadneedle St wonk, noted that financial markets had already priced in a pending rate rise as economies [...]
Raise interest rates now to stem inflation, warns John Major’s chancellor Lord Lamont October 9, 2021 A former Tory chancellor has called for an increase in interest rates as he wanred about the risks surrounding inflation. The Government’s policy of calling for wages to go up could further drive inflation if the boost is not accompanied by increased productivity, Lord Lamont said today. Amid soaring energy prices and shortages of workers [...]
Stablecoin Tether pressured to reveal the location of its reserve funds October 8, 2021 Tether, a stablecoin pegged to the price of the US dollar, is facing scrutiny once again over the location of its reserve funds. Tether Holdings Inc issues one token for each dollar it receives. This means that trades made using USDT are supposedly backed by the companies’ dollar reserves – a quality which has made [...]
Is bling out? What Chinese “common prosperity” means for luxury goods October 8, 2021 Evergrande Group will not have helped to calm the nerves of investors in European luxury goods companies. They’ve viewed recent developments in China with some trepidation. The difficulties facing the country’s second largest property developer (by sales) add to a checklist of concerns. These concerns include a slowdown in economic activity (for background, see: China: what [...]
BoE new chief economist slams employer for dropping the ball on inflation October 7, 2021 The Bank of England’s newly crowned chief economist has slammed his new employer for dropping the ball on inflation. Huw Pill, Andy Haldane’s successor, characterised the Bank’s bet on the inflation upsurge being transitory as “proving greater than expected.” “Over recent months inflation has surprised to the upside, UK activity data have disappointed somewhat, while [...]
Britain’s economic adjustment only ends in one way October 7, 2021 The ails of the nation’s favourite sausage roll maker are a microcosm of the problems afflicting the UK economy. In a trading update yesterday, high street baker Greggs warned it is suffering from a “supply of ingredients.” A couple months back, it pulled its iconic chicken bite for similar reasons. Severe shortages plaguing the British [...]
Mark Carney slammed over fossil fuels ahead of COP26: ‘Watering down rules for finance’ October 7, 2021 Just weeks before the UK hosts the COP26 climate summit, around 90 climate groups have written to UN Special Envoy Mark Carney and place ads in the Financial Times and Toronto Star today, urging him “to stop greenwashing financial institutions that continue to invest in expanding fossil fuel infrastructure.” The groups said that, while his [...]
Showers, haircuts and GP appointments to be offered on revamped London buses October 7, 2021 Haircuts, doctors’ appointments, showers and financial advice will be offered on a number on revamped London buses. Two buses have been repurposed with the aim of providing direct support for more than 3,000 people a year sleeping rough in the capital. The project, by the not-for-profit company Change Please, will provide access to virtual GP [...]
City of London Corporation calls for extension to UK clearing house access to EU October 6, 2021 The Square Mile’s local authority has called on Brussels to extend the EU’s access to City clearing houses beyond next year to ensure financial stability. The City of London Corporation’s policy chair Catherine McGuinness said in Paris today that “the issue of clearing is a real worry for many of us in the City”. The UK’s [...]