UK businesses return to growth in December after lockdowns December 16, 2020 The UK’s businesses clawed their way back to growth in December after the England-wide lockdown hit the economy in November, a new survey has shown, although conditions were better in manufacturing than the all-important services sector. An early reading of the IHS Markit purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a closely watched economic gauge – rose [...]
London’s most famous plumber Charlie Mullins: ‘I’d take another pandemic over Brexit every time’ December 16, 2020 Reflecting on the year that was, the coronavirus pandemic caused havoc in 2020 and helped to put this year down in the history books for the wrong reasons, London’s most famous plumber, Pimlico Plumbers’ founder and CEO Charlie Mullins, tells City A.M. this morning. “Having said that, I would relive this current crisis rather than endure [...]
FTSE off to fast start as global markets rise on vaccine rollout December 16, 2020 The FTSE 100 surged upwards this morning as markets round the world hailed the rollout of coronavirus vaccines. The blue-chip index was up one per cent an hour after markets opened, with energy and housebuilder stocks leading the charge. Investors were also buoyed by hopes that the UK could still sign a free trade deal [...]
UK inflation drops to 0.3 per cent as clothes and food prices sink December 16, 2020 The UK’s inflation rate fell sharply to 0.3 per cent as food and clothes prices eased during England’s month-long lockdown, according to the latest official figures. The headline CPI rate sank from 0.7 per cent in October to 0.3 per cent in November, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed. Clothes and footwear [...]
Before the Bell: Flash PMIs and Federal Reserve in focus December 16, 2020 The pound had a pretty good day yesterday as optimism grows that a UK/EU deal on trade could well be within reach after some positive comments from Irish PM Micheal Martin. “While we’ve been here many times before, the prospect of an imminent deadline can help concentrate minds, and despite some push back over fear [...]
Bank of England set to hold policy amid Brexit and lockdown uncertainty December 16, 2020 The Bank of England is set to leave interest rates on hold when it announces monetary policy tomorrow, according to analysts, after expanding its bond-buying programme sharply last month. Economists said there was little reason for the Bank to act. The latest lockdown measures have not been as damaging as feared, while the BoE asset-purchase [...]
Trading platforms flying high on back of pandemic December 16, 2020 Trading platforms have reported record profits as more people stuck at home during lockdowns took a gamble on the stock markets.
Economics has a lesson for Remainers and lockdown-lovers who refuse to let facts change their minds December 16, 2020 Christmas is a time to be charitable. So let’s spare a thought for those who fought against the referendum result. Unlike the great unwashed, who simply didn’t understand the issues they were voting on, they had all been expensively educated at the right sort of schools and universities. From the time the vote took place [...]
Boris Johnson did not want to settle Sonia Khan unfair dismissal case out of court December 15, 2020 Boris Johnson issued an order to not settle a high-profile unfair dismissal claim out of court, despite the advice of one of the country’s top civil servants. Sonia Khan, who was dismissed by Dominic Cummings last year for alleged leaking, was last month paid out in the region of £100,000 by the government in an [...]
Brexit: UK signs continuity trade deal with Mexico December 15, 2020 The UK has signed a continuity trade deal with Mexico, which will ensure trade between the two countries will not be disrupted after the Brexit transition period ends next year. The deal will see the two countries continue to trade on the same terms as under the EU-Mexico trade deal, however both sides have now [...]