Will the Bank of England raise or cut interest rates after UK inflation data? July 17, 2019 UK inflation has grown at an annual rate of two per cent for the second month in a row, official statistics confirmed today. Read more: UK inflation stays at Bank of England two per cent target The consumer price index (CPI) figure is bang on the Bank of England’s target. It thinks two per cent [...]
Chris Grayling admits Cabinet overruled him on Eurotunnel ferry settlement July 17, 2019 Transport secretary Chris Grayling has said he personally wanted to fight Eurotunnel’s legal challenge against the government’s no-deal Brexit ferry strategy in court but that Cabinet collectively decided to settle it. In what was most likely his last appearance before the Transport Select Committee, Grayling was asked why the Department for Transport (DfT), which he [...]
Philip Hammond says it is ‘terrifying’ Jacob Rees-Mogg is close to being in the next government July 17, 2019 Philip Hammond has warned it is “terrifying” that leading Brexiter Jacob Rees-Mogg will have influence in a future government during a row over leaving the EU without a deal. The Chancellor issued the scathing assessment of his Conservative colleague after Rees-Mogg penned an article downplaying suggestions a no-deal Brexit would make the UK poorer. Hammond [...]
Burberry shares at 10-month high and challenging records July 17, 2019 After a stunning six-week rally, our head of markets explains why investors are still piling in today. If the market was waiting for signs of an immediate improvement in Burberry (LSE:BRBY) fortunes, it will not be disappointed as the fashion house has delivered an update which is much better than expected – and on a number of [...]
London house prices suffer worst plunge in 10 years July 17, 2019 London house prices suffered a staggering 4.4 per cent annual drop in May, their worst annual drop since the financial crisis, public data revealed today. While UK house prices rose 1.2 per cent compared to May 2018, London house prices sank, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed. Read more: UK house prices slip for [...]
Real wages rise as UK inflation stays at two per cent July 17, 2019 The prices in UK shops rose by two per cent in the 12 months to the end of June, official figures have revealed, with clothing and food costs rising most rapidly in the last year. Read more: UK unemployment stays at 45-year low as wages tick up The two per cent consumer price index (CPI) [...]
Activist investor Elliott takes stake in Saga July 17, 2019 US activist investor Elliott has taken a stake in troubled tourism and insurance firm Saga in a move that could put pressure on management to boost returns. Shares in Saga were up 9.18 per cent this afternoon after it was revealed that Elliott Capital Advisors has disclosed a 5.14 per cent stake in the company. [...]
Galliford Try expects profits to be in line with expectations July 17, 2019 Galliford Try said today that the restructuring of its construction arm has been completed and pre-tax profits for the year are set to be in line with expectations. The FTSE 250 giant, which has been cutting its exposure to Central London’s subdued housing market and scaling back its core construction business, seemed to ease investor [...]
European car sales suffer steep June drop July 17, 2019 European car sales slumped 7.8 per cent last month as Nissan, Fiat Chrysler and Volvo suffered the biggest revenue losses. Read more: Volkswagen and Ford team up on driverless cars Registrations dropped to 1.45m units in June, according to the Association of European Carmakers (AEC), the worst decline since December. The AEC blamed two fewer [...]
Business bodies unite to attack post-Brexit immigration plans July 17, 2019 A group of business organisations representing thousands of firms have demanded the next prime minister change proposed post-Brexit immigration plans to avoid worsening “chronic skills and labour shortages”. Read more: British businesses attack post-Brexit immigration policy The groups, among them business membership organisation London First, the British Retail Consortium (BRC), and the Recruitment and Employment [...]