Bank of England could cut interest rates if Brexit uncertainty persists, says MPC member September 27, 2019 The Bank of England may need to cut interest rates even if a no-deal Brexit is avoided, according to a member of the monetary policy committee (MPC), which sets the rates. Michael Saunders has said that the Bank may have to cut rates if the “slow puncture” effect on the economy from Brexit uncertainty persists. [...]
FTSE 100 spikes as Trump whistleblower complaint sinks Asian and US stocks September 27, 2019 The FTSE 100 opened up again today after surging to an eight-week high yesterday, but later giving back some gains. Read more: FTSE 100 rises as US-China trade talks boost European stocks London’s main market climbed 0.96 per cent to 7,421.65 points as it opened, after the fallout from President Donald Trump’s whistleblower complaint hit [...]
How banks should be looking at the climate change challenge September 26, 2019 Mitigating the impact of climate change is not just an environmental responsibility – it is also an economic necessity. This is a clear message as global leaders met for the UN Climate Summit this week in New York. The impact of climate change will only intensify over time: rising seas and greater storm surges alone [...]
Deutsche Bank CEO: Central banks lack tools to prevent economic crisis September 25, 2019 The turnaround boss of Deutsche Bank struck a gloomy tone over the future of the world economy today, warning that central banks have already “turned on the money tap to the limit” and forecasting that the current US-China trade war will persist. Christian Sewing, who is chief executive of the struggling German lender, told banking [...]
Why as an investor I’m looking through Brexit fears September 24, 2019 Following the twists and turns in Westminster of the past few weeks I expect many more market participants will simply place UK equities in the “too difficult” basket. Anecdotal stories of overseas investors selling their last UK stocks could start doing the rounds again. Brexit and political uncertainty have been a drag on UK equities, [...]
Sterling rises as Supreme Court scuppers Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans September 24, 2019 Sterling has risen around half a cent against the dollar after the Supreme Court ruled that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s move to prorogue parliament was unlawful. GBP rose to $1.2487 after Lady Hale announced the 11 justices’ unanimous decision that “parliament is not prorogued”. Read more: Bercow recalls MPs as Supreme Court rules parliament suspension [...]
Could this pro-Brexit economist be what Threadneedle Street needs? September 24, 2019 Gerard Lyons’ candidacy for governor of the Bank of England may look like a pro-Brexit ploy, a way to sneak Boris Johnson’s optimism into a pessimistic institution. But Lyons – who has never worked in a central bank, served as Johnson’s chief economic adviser when the now-Prime Minister was mayor of London, and was previously [...]
Ben Stokes and Steve Smith’s redemption stories offer sponsors an alternative to virtue signalling September 23, 2019 The dust may have settled on an exhilarating Ashes series that saw Australia retain the urn, but for the sponsors of each team’s star player it is just the beginning of what will likely become an increasingly lucrative relationship. Steve Smith was almost single-handedly responsible for preventing England from reclaiming the urn, while Ben Stokes [...]
Acceptance of negative interest rates ‘vaguely troubling’, says BIS September 23, 2019 Growing acceptance of negative interest rates has reached “vaguely troubling” levels, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has said. Recent switches back into economic support mode by central banks including the European Central Bank and Federal Reserve has led to a record $17 trillion (£13.7 trillion) of bonds trading at negative rates. Read more: Blackrock [...]
Labour pledges to cut working week to 32 hours September 23, 2019 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has pledged to cut back the working week to 32 hours, with no loss of pay, “within the next decade” under a Labour government. In what would be a radical transformation of the UK’s labour market, increasing the role of the state in the workplace, McDonnell set out how a Labour [...]