US inflation breaks above two per cent for first time since 2014 January 18, 2017 Inflation in the US broke through the Federal Reserve's two per cent target in December for the first time since 2014, strengthening the case for a rise in interest rates over the coming year. Consumer prices rose by an annual rate of 2.1 per cent in December, after inflation of 1.7 per cent the month before, [...]
The US dollar lifts against Japanese yen ahead of Yellen’s speech January 18, 2017 After falling to a seven-week low against the yen, the dollar lifted today as investors await Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen's speech on monetary policy. The dollar was up 0.4 per cent to 113.05 yen after hitting the low of 112.57 yen, while the dollar index was at 100.50, up 0.2 per cent, according to [...]
Higher fiscal spending could prompt faster tightening of monetary policy says Federal Reserve’s Brainard January 17, 2017 Donald Trump’s economic policy could lead to a faster pace of monetary policy tightening, according to an influential member of the US Federal Reserve’s rate-setting body. If the US President-elect’s policies lead to higher inflation at a time when the US is approaching full employment, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) could be forced to [...]
Bank of England governor Mark Carney claims stimulus package in August saved 250,000 jobs from being lost January 16, 2017 Mark Carney has been slammed by leading Brexiteers after claiming that 250,000 jobs could have been lost if the Bank of England had not taken action in the aftermath of last year's EU referendum. Bank governor Carney slashed rates to 0.25 per cent in August last year, while expanding the UK's quantitative easing programme and providing [...]
Mumsnet’s Justine Roberts talks community, the value of debate, and bursting the filter bubble January 16, 2017 Time poverty is clearly an issue for Justine Roberts. I have just 40 minutes on the phone with the Mumsnet founder and chief executive to disseminate a lifetime of achievement: PPE student at Oxford, a stint in the City, a journalist with a sports beat and, most recently, a recipient of a CBE for services [...]
Everton 4, Manchester City 0: Pep Guardiola accepts Premier League title may be out of reach after landmark defeat January 15, 2017 Everton 4, Manchester City 0 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits his team may be out of the title race after he suffered the heaviest league defeat of his glittering career at Everton on Sunday. Striker Romelu Lukaku and winger Kevin Mirallas put the Toffees in control before young midfielder Tom Davies and £11m debutant Ademola [...]
So much could go wrong – but America’s President-elect gives free marketeers plenty to cheer January 12, 2017 Within days, Donald J Trump will be the forty-fifth President of the United States, and his economic team will be charged with the task of translating an economic manifesto into actual policy. As a passionate supporter of free trade, I have problems with The Donald’s America First trade policy. But when I look at the [...]
As the Dow Jones hovers beneath 20,000, will the Trump presidency prove a continuing boon to stock markets? January 12, 2017 Garry White, chief investment commentator at Charles Stanley, says Yes. Donald Trump’s tax and spending policies should boost the US economy. He may not get his proposed package through the Senate in full – and boosting growth to 3 per cent plus may be wildly ambitious – but he should get at least some of [...]
Jeremy Corbyn says he’d join Southern rail picket line as next wave of industrial action puts the brakes on services January 10, 2017 Jeremy Corbyn has announced he'd join a Southern rail picket line, saying he felt long-suffering commuters would support his position. Speaking on Radio Four's Today programme, the Labour leader said he would stand in solidarity with those taking industrial action. "Yes I would, because I think Southern rail have behaved in a terrible manner, and [...]
#TubeStrike: Here are 13 pictures of soggy commuters and stationary Tube trains January 9, 2017 London's Tube network may have ground to a halt during today's Tube strike, but the capital's commuters showed their stoical side, with millions heading to work despite the disruption (not to mention this morning's rain). Transport for London (TfL) insisted this afternoon that 70 per cent of stations were open – but that didn't stop commuters [...]