UK unemployment falls as number of people in work at record high as wage growth slows June 12, 2018 Unemployment fell by 38,000 between February and April with the employment rate at a record high, according to figures out today from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). But average earnings, excluding bonuses, rose by 2.8 per cent in the three months to April – a slight dip on the 2.9 per cent growth rate [...]
Oil prices slide to less than $76 per barrel as US and Russia boost production ahead of Opec meeting June 11, 2018 Oil prices dwindled on Monday with Brent crude dropping down to less than $76 (£57), around one per cent down, as a result of Russia increasing production and the US stepping up its drilling activity. Despite the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) deciding to resupply the market when members nations meet on 22 [...]
Higher oil prices to boost UK inflation with ECB and Federal Reserve in tightening mood June 10, 2018 Higher oil prices are expected to cause a rebound in UK inflation, adding to expectations that the Bank of England will carry out the rate hike it delayed in May in the coming months. Consumer price index inflation will bounce back in May to a yearly rate of 2.6 per cent in data published on [...]
FTSE closes lower amid investor fears over impending G7 summit in Canada June 8, 2018 The FTSE closed down today with investors in a cautious mood for most of the day ahead of a G7 meeting this weekend. It ended 0.3 per cent lower at 7,681.07 points. Markets fell as Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin should attend the summit in La Malbaie in Quebec, Canada. Russia was expelled from what [...]
Bank of England bitcoin rival would “strengthen” effects of monetary policy changes May 30, 2018 A central bank-run digital currency to rival cryptocurrencies such bitcoin and ethereum could make monetary policy changes a more effective tool, according to Bank of England research. The Bank has recently released a flurry of research weighing the potential risks and benefits of central bank digital currency (CBDC), with the potential to revolutionise monetary policy. [...]
Marketing emails from companies asking for your data consent could be in breach of GDPR May 16, 2018 Most of us will have received emails over the recent weeks from businesses asking us to confirm that we want to continue to hear from them. They will use phrases like “we take your privacy very seriously” and “if you don’t tick the box below, we will no longer be able to hold your data [...]
Finding value in American growth May 11, 2018 Last year saw global growth accelerate at its fastest pace since the financial crisis as this long-running bull market defied expectations and found another gear. It was a period of synchronised global growth reminiscent of yesteryear – a brief boon for global stock market investors. But with growth inevitably cooling in 2018, the challenge now [...]
Whatever the weather, Next sticks to its guns May 11, 2018 Predicting the weather is notoriously fraught with difficulty, but predicting that retailers will blame the weather for bad performance is a sure thing. Whether it’s too rainy, too snowy or even too sunny, high street operators are renowned for finding a way to pin their poor performance on something other than their own actions. The [...]
Where is my mind? How an ancient psychedelic ritual in the Oaxaca region of Mexico turned into the trip from hell May 3, 2018 It’s a beautiful day in San Jose Del Pacifico, a small village high in the mountains south of Oaxaca City, southern Mexico, where I’m sitting in front of the world’s most frightening cup of tea. Opposite me is Paolo, a 19-year-old “mushroom guide” in whom I have placed an inordinate amount of trust. Are you [...]
Morning markets: FTSE tumbles after Wall Street wobbles and Asian shares slide May 3, 2018 The FTSE 100 slipped 0.3 per cent after the bell this morning, falling well below the 7550 levels it had reached earlier in the week, before rallying back towards 7540. Major European markets also fell in early trading with French CAC, Germany’s DAX and the Spanish IBEX all falling over 0.20 per cent. The FTSE’s [...]