US jobs market recovery smashes expectations in July August 6, 2021 The US jobs market rebound is defying expectations and surging at a much faster pace than first thought, according to fresh data published today. The US economy added 943,000 jobs in July, helping to push down the unemployment rate 0.5 per cent to 5.4 per cent, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics said on Friday. [...]
Embracing uncertainty is the only path out of the pandemic August 4, 2021 A few days ago, Sajid Javid made one of the most thoughtful and encouraging statements by a government minister during the whole Covid crisis. Early In July, he seemed to be falling under the control of the modellers. The number of daily infections, he stated confidently, would soon reach 100,000, bowing to the so-called experts. [...]
Oil prices plummet on surging Covid cases August 3, 2021 Oil prices plummeted on Tuesday as the resurgence in Covid cases globally driven by the Delta variant fuelled concerns that restrictions on economic activity may be reimposed. Global benchmarks WTI and Brent Crude slid 1.39 per cent and 1.12 per cent to hit $70.41 and $72.22 respectively – WTI briefly dipped below $70. Prices have [...]
“DinoBanking”- Prehistoric U.S. Legacy Banking August 3, 2021 U.S. banking is primitive. It forces some to write checks in this day and age. Yet some politicians and paid lobbyists are doing everything they can to kill off the vastly superior platforms of DeFi through onerous regulations. Typical banks and credit unions offer no ACH transfer, no automatic payroll. The check can’t be too [...]
Sunday Read: Bank of England’s QE programme has muddied the water between right and wrong August 1, 2021 “The problem with QE is it works in practice but it doesn’t work in theory,” an often quoted joke said by former Fed chair Ben Bernanke. But, some are testing that hypothesis. The backdrop to Thursday’s Bank of England meeting is much more unforgiving than previous ones. A House of Lords committee recently accused the [...]
Covid case rates fall in every English local authority as R rate dips for first time in weeks July 30, 2021 Covid case rates have fallen in every local authority in England for the first time since comparable figures have been recorded, while the “R” rate has decreased for the first time in weeks. Not one of England’s 315 local authorities recorded a rise in Covid cases in the week to 26 July, according to analysis [...]
US economic growth falls short of expectations July 29, 2021 The US economy is rebounding sharply from the damage inflicted on it by the Covid crisis, but output growth is falling well below analysts’ expectations, new figures released today reveal. The Commerce Department estimated the US economy grew at an annualised rate of 6.5 per cent in the second quarter of this year, driven by [...]
Fed says US economy has ‘made progress’ but holds rates at near-zero July 28, 2021 The Federal Reserve deems the US economy to be “strengthening” despite rising coronavirus cases, but not so much that it feels ready to wind down its economic support policies. In a new policy statement released on Wednesday following its two day meeting, the US central bank said: “With progress on vaccinations and strong policy support, [...]
Global ETF boom continues with record inflows in first half of the year July 28, 2021 Global exchange traded funds (ETFs) attracted record inflows in the first six months of 2021, as investors poured in amid low interest rates, an equities rally and “cheap money” lending. Investors worldwide ploughed $639.8bn into ETFs between January and June, a half year record and more than double that of the same period last year, according [...]
US stocks open flat as investors await outcome of Fed meeting July 28, 2021 US stocks were broadly flat on Wednesday morning as investors held off from making any sudden moves until the Fed announces the outcome of its latest round of talks. The blue-chip S&P 500 inched up 0.02 per cent to 4,404 during opening trading, while the Dow Jones lost 0.12 oer cent. The Nasdaq led the [...]