M Local selloff: Morrisons’ ill-fated attempt to build a convenience arm has become a lesson for the industry August 26, 2015 It was a cold day in February 2013 when Morrisons’ former chief executive Dalton Philips was faced with a tough decision. Film rental chain Blockbuster had just collapsed and Morrisons was one of several suitors circling a portfolio of 50 stores administrators had put up for sale. Read more: It's a deal – Morrisons [...]
Black Monday 2015: Don’t panic, the outlook after the stock market crash remains positive – despite volatility August 24, 2015 Yesterday’s dramatic moves in stock markets around the world, coming on top of the pronounced market volatility of recent weeks, will have concerned investors, with the lack of a single clear trigger making it harder to assess the potential for this volatility to be sustained. While the fluctuations we’ve seen over the last few [...]
Pound jumps on shock rebound in core inflation August 18, 2015 THE POUND hit a seven-week high against the dollar yesterday as investors reacted to a higher-than-expected inflation figure. Official data showed the consumer price index (CPI) – which gauges the price of a typical basket of goods and services – rose 0.1 per cent in the year to July, from zero a month earlier. While [...]
Don’t fear low inflation: It’s great news for consumers while it lasts August 18, 2015 The latest retail figures in the UK showed good growth. Things are also looking up in the US and in much of the euro area. The world economy has settled into a period of steady growth with very little inflation in the major economies. Indeed, just yesterday, official figures revealed that consumer price index inflation [...]
UK inflation: Pound hits seven-week high as inflation unexpectedly hits 0.1 per cent in July August 18, 2015 The pound hit a seven-week high against the greenback this morning as investors cheered a better-than-expected inflation figure. Official data showed the consumer price index rose 0.1 per cent in the year to July, from zero a month earlier, beating economists' expectations for no change. Nevertheless inflation still remains well below the Bank of England's target [...]
UK inflation: Business groups IoD and BCC split over when BoE should raise rates August 18, 2015 Two of Britain's biggest business groups have clashed over when the Bank of England (BoE) should raise interest rates, after today's inflation data. Official data released this morning showed inflation unexpectedly rose 0.1 per cent in the year to July. But this remains well below the BoE's target for two per cent. At the same [...]
With just one member voting for a rate rise, is the Bank of England MPC right to be so dovish? August 6, 2015 Nina Skero is an economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, says Yes Given the absence of inflationary pressure in the UK, and the pound’s current strength against most major currencies other than the dollar, holding the base rate steady at 0.5 per cent is a sound decision. Inflation continues to hover around [...]
Bank of England’s Ian McCafferty says interest rates could rise this year “data dependent” August 5, 2015 The Bank of England's Ian McCafferty reportedly said interest rates could rise before the end of this year depending on the strength of future economic data. "Financial markets still believe that an interest rate rise is unlikely until May or June next year, and economists suggest February or March," The Courier said he told the Dundee [...]
Bank of England braced for historic Super Thursday – London Report August 2, 2015 THIS WEEK includes s-called Super Thursday when the Bank of England’s policy announcement, meeting minutes from the monetary policy committee and the latest Inflation Report will – for the first time – all be released simultaneously. HSBC gets the week off with a bang today with interim results, Standard Life tomorrow and Legal & General [...]
Eurozone inflation holds steady at 0.2 per cent in July July 31, 2015 The Eurozone's annual inflation rate held steady at 0.2 per cent in the year to July, unchanged from the previous month, a flash estimate by Eurostat showed today. Nevertheless inflation remains well below the European Central Bank's (ECB) target of just under two per cent, meaning there's still plenty of work for the ECB's €60bn a [...]