Rishi Sunak urged to block Liz Truss’s reported resignation nominations March 25, 2023 Former prime minister Liz Truss reportedly nominating four close supporters for peerages has sparked outrage among opposition MPs.
‘If all prices try to beat inflation we WILL get higher inflation’: Bailey pleads with firms to be considerate to low earners March 24, 2023 The Governor of the Bank of England has pleaded with companies to remember that inflation will drop sharply later this year when they are setting prices or risk hurting those on the lowest incomes. Andrew Bailey said that if companies set prices that help embed inflation in the economy it will not benefit anybody and [...]
Tax vote in 2016 saved Sunak £300k: Number 10 insists PM backed it ‘in national, not personal interest’ March 24, 2023 Downing Street has insisted Government decisions are made “in the national interest, rather than personal interest”, after reports that Rishi Sunak saved more than £300,000 due to a cut in capital gains tax he voted for in 2016. The Prime Minister released a summary of his tax affairs on Wednesday, showing that he had paid [...]
Sharp increase in retail sales amid ‘subdued’ outlook due to inflation – but is there a ‘chink of light’ with Easter holidays? March 24, 2023 British retail sales grew sharply last month compared to pre-pandemic levels, but price increases continue to deliver a “subdued” longer-term outlook. Sales volumes are thought to have increased by 1.2 per cent in February after a rise of 0.9 per cent in January, suggesting the industry is recovering from the pandemic well. Industry figures are [...]
European banks slide as concerns remain over health of financial sector following US bank sell-off March 23, 2023 European banking stocks slid again on Thursday, following a sell-off in the US on Wednesday, as investors remain nervous about the health of the financial sector. European banks were mostly in the red around midday: French banks Socgen and BNP Paribas fell 1.6 per cent, Deutsche Bank slipped 1.5 per cent while Commerzbank fell 3.1 [...]
10 construction firms fined £60m for ‘illegally colluding’ to rig contracts including for Selfridges and 135 Bishopsgate March 23, 2023 The UK competition watchdog has fined 10 construction firms a total of almost £60 million for “illegally colluding” to rig bids for contracts. The construction firms have been punished over cartel agreements related to 19 contracts worth over £150 million on both public and private sector contracts. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the [...]
Can Tulip Siddiq get Labour’s City plans blooming? March 23, 2023 Labour's Shadow City minister talks facing off against her opposite number and the struggle for the Square Mile.
US Federal Reserve presses on with interest rate hike amid banking chaos March 22, 2023 The US Federal Reserve today looked past the ongoing wobbles in the global banking system and hiked interest rates for the ninth time in a row, extending its aggressive fight against inflation. Chair Jerome Powell and the rest of the federal open market committee (FOMC) today bumped the world’s most important interest rate 25 basis [...]
FTSE 100 close: Inflation shock tames London index as investors brace for Fed decision March 22, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 nipped higher today despite investors betting the Bank of England will be forced to keep raising interest rates to tame higher than feared inflation. The capital’s premier index closed up 0.41 per cent at 7,566.84 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the [...]
PMQs sketch: Starmer’s cameo on Law & Order March 22, 2023 When in doubt, dig in on law and order. This is underlined, twice, in Sir Keir Starmer’s playbook. The American TV show was, after all, running for more than twenty years, so surely they know a thing or two about what people want. Indeed, the Labour leader was spoilt for choice with Conservative chaos today. [...]