From Sharm el-Sheikh and John Lewis’ Christmas advert to Remembrance Sunday and interest rate rises: Here’s what got us talking this week November 6, 2015 There was a march that turned violent. Middle age somehow got that bit longer. And in darkest Hounslow, people went nuts for bargain-basement housing. The Cenotaph service is open for anyone to attend (Source: Getty) 1) It's Remembrance Sunday this weekend How will you be commemorating the fallen? We have some ideas for you here. And [...]
Bill Gross says a December rate rise is “100 per cent” likely, after US jobs data exceed all predictions – here’s what other analysts think, too November 6, 2015 "Bond king" Bill Gross thinks a US December rate rise has just become practically certain, after US jobs data beat everyone's predictions. In October, the US added 271,000 jobs to its economy, way ahead of the 180,000 predicted and the highest monthly figure for the year so far. Meanwhile, unemployment fell to five per cent, from [...]
Dollar rises to seven-month high as non-farm payroll smashes expectations November 6, 2015 The US dollar rose to its highest in seven months as US non-farm payroll smashed expectations in October. The US economy added 271,000 jobs, against the 180,000 expected, pushing the .DXY US dollar index up 1.2 per cent to 99.15, its highest since April. Meanwhile, the dollar jumped 1.16 per cent against the pound, to 66.51p. The jobless [...]
Christmas adverts 2015: It’s not just about John Lewis – here are all the other adverts including Marks & Spencer, Burberry, Waitrose, TK Maxx, Curry’s PC World, Argos – but nothing from Tesco yet November 6, 2015 Yes, yes, we know, there's a mournful man on the moon and a girl with a telescope and the whole of the UK is crying. But Christmas is not just about the John Lewis advert. There are some other retailers with festive ads of their own to share. Here's the best Christmas adverts the UK [...]
Sterling falls off a cliff as Bank of England keeps interest rate hike at bay November 6, 2015 Mark Carney’s Bank of England pushed sterling off a cliff yesterday by suggesting that interest rates could stay anchored to their historic low until 2017. Having said earlier in the year that a rate hike could come towards the end of 2015 or start of 2016, the Bank’s governor appears to be diverging from the position [...]
Sammy or Hallie? Canary Wharf seal’s existential crisis continues after docklands’ ice rink opens November 5, 2015 Canary Wharf’s resident seal just can’t catch a break. The marine mammal, who has been fed on the finest salmon sashimi from Billingsgate Market for around ten years, has had his fair share of problems from washed-up debris to an ongoing identity crisis. Canary Wharf Group recently opened the financial district’s ice rink to much [...]
Bank of England: No UK interest rate rise under present conditions until 2017 November 5, 2015 If global market conditions remain as they are we are unlikely to see an interest rate rise in the UK until spring 2017, according to the latest inflation report from the Bank of England (BoE). The pound fell sharply on the news, and at pixel time was trading at 1.526 against the dollar. The BoE said since the [...]
Bank of England lowers UK growth outlook to 2.7 per cent as MPC votes 8-1 to hold interest rates November 5, 2015 The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) lowered their UK growth outlook to 2.7 per cent from 2.8 per cent today, as its more hawkish members failed to be convinced of the merits of a rate rise. Although some economists had expected Kristin Forbes or Martin Weale to join the ayes, Ian McCafferty was left alone voting to [...]
Investors hold back after Fed hint on rates – New York Report November 4, 2015 Investor caution after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen yesterday pointed to a possible rate hike in December weighed on Wall Street, retracing recent gains along with energy shares. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 50.57 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 17,867.58, the S&P 500 lost 7.48 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 2,102.31 and [...]
Yes, the Bank could hike before the US Fed – but only if it ignores China November 4, 2015 Who will raise interest rates first – the US Federal Reserve or the Bank of England? It’s not quite a Usain Bolt versus Justin Gatlin-esque fastest-man-on-earth debate. As rates have been so low for so long, perhaps long-distance runners Paul Tergat and Haile Gebrselassie are a better analogy, with the rate-hiking decision having more of [...]