FTSE 100 close: London flat after US jobs figures fuels Fed rate speculation August 7, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 opened the week in sluggish fashion as investors take in fears across the pond that the Fed could hike rates again. The capital’s premier blue chip index closed on 7,556.41 points, 0.11 per cent down, while the FTSE 250, which is more aligned with the domestic market, was also broadly flat on [...]
Unlocking what makes AI tick – part one August 4, 2023 Dr Chris Kacher with part one of his epic overview on how artificial intelligence works, and its future within blockchain technology.
FTSE 100 close: London markets flat as WPP shares slide on tumbling profits August 4, 2023 FTSE 100 was flat on Friday ending the week in subdued fashion, as advertising giant WPP’s tumbling profits led to its share price sliding. London’s flagship index was hovering between being up and dipping into the red throughout the day, and finished up at the close by almost half of one per cent. Meanwhile the [...]
The Bank of England needs to stop rising interest rates to avoid a painful recession August 3, 2023 After all the interest rate rises and inflation predictions, the Bank of England risks an unnecessarily deep recession, writes Damian Pudner.
Are central banks to blame for the inflation crisis? August 1, 2023 As we enter what looks like the final leg of central banks’ interest rate rising journeys, it’s as good a time as ever to trace why they have been jolted into action after over a decade of ultra loose policy and whether their response to the inflation crisis has been effective. Coming out of the [...]
Ex Fed chair Ben Bernanke to lead review into Bank of England forecasting July 28, 2023 Ben Bernanke, ex-chair of the Federal Reserve, has been appointed to lead a review into the Bank of England’s forecasting during times of significant uncertainty. The review aims to strengthen the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) approach to forecasting during times of uncertainty, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bernanke, a Nobel prize winning economist [...]
FTSE 100 close: British Gas owner propels to top of London index after record profit July 27, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 bumped higher today after a manic morning of company earnings gave a lift to market sentiment. The capital’s premier index added 0.21 per cent to reach 7,692.77 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, climbed 0.45 per cent to 19,273.37 points. [...]
European Central Bank hoists interest rates to joint record high of 3.75 per cent July 27, 2023 The European Central Bank (ECB) today lifted interest rates for the ninth time in a row, following the US Federal Reserve’s rise last night. It means the eurozone’s key interest rate now stands at 3.75 per cent, its highest level in 22 years. President Christine Lagarde and the rest of the governing council opted for [...]
Bitcoin offers muted response to interest rate hike July 27, 2023 Bitcoin was trading close to $29.5k - up by around one per cent on yesterday, while Ethereum’s Ether is in the green by 1.1%.
Federal Reserve sends US interest rates to 22 year high in possible final hike July 26, 2023 The US Federal Reserve today launched what many on Wall Street think will be the final interest rate hike in its current tightening cycle. Members of the federal open market committee (FOMC) backed a 25 basis point increase to leave the federal funds rate at a range of 5.25 per cent and 5.5 per cent. [...]