Bank of England deputy governor flags concerns over ‘low for long’ interest rates October 14, 2019 Economic downturns are at risk of becoming more severe as a result of prolonged low interest rates, the deputy governor of the Bank of England has warned. The current environment of ‘low for long’ interest rates will make “demand management of the economy more difficult in downturns”, according to Jon Cunliffe. The Threadneedle Street official [...]
Queen’s Speech reaction: Government slammed over lack of detail and certainty October 14, 2019 The government has been criticised for failing to provide any real details in today’s Queen’s Speech that would have offered British businesses certainty. As part of the state opening of parliament, the government set out 22 bills which will form the basis of its domestic policy, with the Queen confirming a Hallowe’en Brexit was Number [...]
Queen’s Speech: Government’s ‘priority’ is Hallowe’en Brexit October 14, 2019 The government has used the Queen’s Speech to reiterate its “priority” to making sure Brexit will happen on 31 October, with several of the 22 bills announced this morning setting out the UK’s post-EU future. Overarching the bulk of the state opening of parliament was the European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which will ratify any [...]
Queen’s Speech live: The UK to ‘champion global free trade’ post-Brexit October 14, 2019 12.13pm That’s all from us Thanks for following our live blog this morning for the Queen’s Speech and state opening of parliament. For more coverage of the government’s new agenda, check out our coverage from political correspondent Catherine Neilan. 11.55am UK to continue to ‘play a leading role on global affairs’ The government “will ensure [...]
Chuka Umunna: Why Labour’s former star politician wants a City seat for the Lib Dems October 14, 2019 Not so long ago, Chuka Umunna looked like a Labour leader in waiting. The Lambeth-born smooth-talking solicitor-turned-politician, who counts rapper Tinie Tempah as one of his friends, was the cool one in Ed Miliband’s shadow cabinet. After the shock election result in 2015 prompted a Labour leadership campaign, the Streatham MP surprised no one by throwing his [...]
Santander and Visa veterans join UK Finance board October 14, 2019 UK Finance has added Santander executive Susan Allen and chief executive of Visa Europe Charlotte Hogg to its board. Allen is Santander’s head of retail and business banking in the UK, and is responsible for the bank’s 15 million retail and business customers in the UK, as well as its nationwide network of branches. Read [...]
The top dogs of global finance gather this week to confront economic storm clouds October 14, 2019 Will there be a global recession? What next for policy? Where are the major financial risks? These questions will be to the forefront of minds this week in Washington as the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank take place. Policymakers from across the globe will be in attendance, plus over 10,000 participants from [...]
Sophos shares jump as it announces £3bn US private equity buyout October 14, 2019 Cyber security group Sophos shares spiked this morning as it announced it is to be bought out by a US private equity firm, in a deal that values it at £3.1bn. Thoma Bravo said this morning it would take Sophos private, as it dives deeper into the booming cyber security sector. Read more: Sophos share [...]
European stock markets fall on China data and Brexit October 14, 2019 European stock markets opened lower on Monday after data showed Chinese imports and exports falling and new doubts emerged over a Brexit deal. Germany’s Dax index led Europe downwards, falling 0.6 per cent by 9.30am UK time, while the pan-European Euronext 100 had fallen 0.7 per cent. Britain’s FTSE 100 was 0.4 per cent lower, [...]
Oil prices fall amid uncertainty over US China trade deal October 14, 2019 Oil prices fell this morning amid uncertainty over the first phase of a trade deal between the US and China. Markets were lifted two per cent by optimism over a thaw in the frosty relations by the end of last week, but Brent Crude was down 1.11 per cent this morning, valued at $59.84 per [...]