Venezuela: Oil rich nation is sinking deeper into crisis – and could be heading for a default on its debt February 26, 2016 Once the leading light of Latin America, low oil prices and state overspending have left the economy shattered. Now it’s heading for default on its debts. “I don’t think the market’s in any doubt that it will default, they just don’t know when,” says Paul Wetterwald, chief economist of Indosuez Wealth Management. “It is impossible to [...]
Eurozone inflation edges up to eight-month high in January as impact from cheap oil starts to wear off February 25, 2016 Eurozone inflation hit an eight-month high in January as the impact of cheaper oil prices began to wear off. Annual price inflation hit 0.3 per cent, EU statistical office Eurostat said this morning. While the inflation reading was slightly lower than a previous estimate of 0.4 per cent, it is the highest annual price growth [...]
EU referendum: HSBC has warned a Brexit will create a labour shortage, ramp up food and retail prices and harm banking industry February 24, 2016 It's safe to say HSBC has come off the fence when it comes to Brexit, predicting what can only be described as a Brexocalypse. Just don't try saying that out loud. The bank, which recently committed to staying in the UK, has issued a note warning that the UK leaving the European Union would have [...]
US inflation rate continues to climb easing Fed fears over interest rate hike February 19, 2016 US inflation continued to climb in January to a rate of 1.4 per cent, beating analysts' expectations. The rise will abate fears that the Federal Reserve increased rates prematurely in December ahead of a period of market volatility and weak economic data. Read more: US inflation rate climbs to highest since 2014 Consumer prices increased [...]
Credit cards at the ready: UK retail sales jump in January February 19, 2016 The UK's consumers put themselves into a buying frenzy in January, if official retail figures are anything to go by, with sales increasing 5.2 per cent on last year. And it seems Christmas was but a blip on consumers' radars: the quantity bought in the retail industry increased 2.3 per cent compared with December – [...]
Venezuela, “world’s worst performing economy”, appoints second finance minister in a month February 17, 2016 Nothing says stability like burning through two finance ministers in a month. And so it is of course hugely surprising that Venezuela – the country whose economy is in its worst state since 1940 and which recently topped a global misery index for the third year in a row – has done exactly that. President Nicolás Maduro – the [...]
As consumer price index inflation reaches a 12-month high, should we expect price rises to accelerate? February 17, 2016 Ben Brettell, senior economist at Hargreaves Lansdown, says Yes. Yes – but not by much, and not because of any inflationary pressures in the underlying economy. The headline rate of inflation continues to be largely driven by volatile fuel prices. Throughout 2015, fuel prices were registering double-digit falls compared with a year earlier. But given how [...]
ONS consumer price index: Motor fuel helps send UK inflation up by 0.3 per cent in January February 16, 2016 Petrol prices helped Britain's annual inflation rate inch up to a 12-month high in January, figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today showed. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.3 per cent in the year to January, up from 0.2 per cent in December, and in line with economists' expectations. This means prices rose 7.9 per cent [...]
Legal & General buys Marston’s headquarters and pubs for £35m February 9, 2016 Legal and General has snapped up Marston's headquarters as well as a portfolio of pubs for £34.6m, in another example of buoyant M&A activity in the sector. The pension fund manager said its property arm LGP has completed a sale and leaseback of seven Marston's pubs for £25.32m, reflecting a net initial yield of 4.15 per cent. Read more: Pubs [...]
Eurozone economy comes off the boil in January despite rebound in end-of-year retail sales February 3, 2016 The Eurozone's economic recovery slowed in January, but remains at a steady pace, new figures show today. Markit's economy-wide purchasing managers' index – compiled from a survey of firms – dropped to a score of 53.6 in January from the previous month's 54.2. While the figure is still above 50, which means the economy grew last month, it [...]