UK factory optimism hits six-year high after election January 22, 2020 Optimism in the UK’s factory sector surged to an almost six-year high in the three months to January, survey data has shown, in a sign that the British economic sentiment picked up following the December General Election. The sector’s performance over the period was weak, however, with output once again falling as car factories slowed [...]
DEBATE: Is the Bank of England out of ammunition for the next recession? January 22, 2020 Is the Bank of England out of ammunition for the next recession? Jumana Saleheen, chief economist at commodities consultant CRU Group, says YES. Lessons from history: central banks need to cut interest rates by about five percentage points in a recession. So if rates were six per cent, they would need to drop to one [...]
Bank of England forms group to weigh up digital currency launch January 21, 2020 The Bank of England has teamed up with other major central banks to assess the case for launching their own digital currencies, it announced today, as a debate rages over the future of money. Threadneedle Street will work with the central banks of Canada, Japan, the Eurozone, Sweden, Switzerland and the Bank for International Settlements [...]
FTSE 100 sinks into red as China virus scare hits shares January 21, 2020 The FTSE 100 was on track for its biggest fall since early December this morning as investors were rattled by an outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus in China. The London blue-chip index slipped more than one per cent in early trading, with luxury and travel stocks leading the slide. Burberry fell more than [...]
UK employment rate hits record high as Bank of England mulls cut January 21, 2020 The UK’s booming labour market showed no sign of slowing in the three months to November, according to official data, with the strongest jobs growth in nearly a year pushing the employment rate to a new record. The unemployment rate stayed at 3.8 per cent, its lowest since the 1970s, but the number of people [...]
Move over, ‘Davos Man’, climate is the big issue this year January 21, 2020 It’s that time of the year again: policymakers, politicians, bankers, activists, journalists, and a swathe of cameras are descending upon the snowy peaks of Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF). Once branded the playground for the elite, epitomised by the stereotypical champagne swashing “Davos Man”, this year the gathering ostensibly seems to be morphing [...]
Davos 2020: What is the World Economic Forum and what’s up for discussion? January 20, 2020 What is Davos? The World Economic Forum (WEF) is widely known as Davos, after the posh Swiss ski resort where it is held. It is a meeting of world leaders and chief execs, who gather each year to chew over the big issues facing business and the global economy. Davos 2020 is expected to be [...]
UK household optimism hits one-year high but uncertainty remains January 20, 2020 UK households became more upbeat about their finances in January, a survey from data firm IHS Markit has shown, with December’s general election result and falling inflation pushing optimism to a one-year high. The survey was the latest to show rising optimism following Boris Johnson’s thumping election win in the middle of December. Firms and [...]
What does 2020 hold in store for the pound? January 20, 2020 Brexit cast a long shadow over the pound in 2019. Additional factors that influenced the value of sterling – caution from the Bank of England, faltering economic results – were all seen through the lens of Brexit. Now that parliament has backed the Brexit bill, the focus may move slightly from the challenges of uncertainty [...]
Chancellor Sajid Javid warns business ‘there will be no alignment’ with EU on regulations January 18, 2020 The Chancellor has warned businesses that “there will not be alignment” with the EU on regulations following Brexit. Sajid Javid said firms will have to “adjust” to new regulations. The automotive and pharmaceutical industries were among those that warned the government last year of the damage that not aligning with the EU could do. Javid [...]