What you need to know before the US open May 15, 2014 A subdued open is expected for US markets today, with stocks futures suggesting little change. Consumer prices rose 0.3 per cent in April from March, predominantly on food prices, meaning the annual rate of inflation’s risen to two per cent. And jobless claims have shown that just 297,000 signed on for unemployment benefit for the [...]
Retailers cheer as Easter buyers flock to shops May 12, 2014 SHOPPERS flooded back to high streets and shopping centres this April, with sales surging during the late start to Easter, according to a major trade group. This mornings’s figures on retail sales from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG show a 5.7 per cent jump in spending last month, when compared to the same [...]
Why ECB pressers are suffering a bout of word “inflation” May 8, 2014 The European Central Bank is still ignoring the elephant in the room. We've got a policy decision and presser coming up from the central bank this afternoon, but analysts aren't exciting anything too exciting at either event. Yet Robert Kuenzel of Daiwa Capital Markets Europe says that the ECB "clearly understands that it is already [...]
Sterling’s enduring strength: Not the bad news some fear April 28, 2014 A strong pound brings opportunities for the discerning trader NEWS of a stronger pound is often accompanied by alarmist warnings over the consequences for the UK economy. Entrepreneur and economist John Mills has recently campaigned for a devaluation of sterling to boost British manufacturing competitiveness in the long term. And many fear that a stronger [...]
Here’s why 2014 could still prove a great year for Bitcoin bugs April 25, 2014 The past few months have proved to be a tough time for cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The MtGox exchange suffered a dramatic fall from grace, while the price of the digital currency has fallen by 37 per cent the year to date. However, things may be looking up for Bitcoin as venture capital money continues pour in [...]
Here’s why 2014 could still prove a great year for Bitcoin bugs April 25, 2014 The past few months have proved to be a tough time for cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The MtGox exchange suffered a dramatic fall from grace, while the price of the digital currency has fallen by 37 per cent the year to date. However, things may be looking up for Bitcoin as venture capital money continues pour in [...]
UK retail sales jump unexpectedly in March April 25, 2014 Shoppers in the UK have been buying more than expected, particularly when it comes to clothes and shoes, with retail sales increasing 0.1 per cent in March and 4.2 per cent year-on-year. Month-on-month, that’s down from the 1.3 per cent increase seen in February (which was revised down from 1.7 per cent), but well ahead [...]
Shoppers stay away from UK high streets over Easter April 22, 2014 BRITISH shoppers did not hit the high streets in their expected numbers over the first days of the Easter bank holiday weekend, but there were signs that more people had headed to the shops yesterday. Retail data firm Springboard says that average footfall across high streets, shopping centres and retail parks was down 7.6 per [...]
End of wage squeeze on horizon as inflation falls to 2009 levels April 15, 2014 CONSUMER prices are now rising at the slowest pace in four and a half years, a dramatic turnaround which could end the pressure on family incomes from years of above-target inflation. Official figures released yesterday show that the consumer price index (CPI) rose by only 1.6 per cent in the year to March, the lowest [...]
Inflation falls to four and a half year low April 15, 2014 Inflation keeps moving lower, having fallen below the Bank of England's two per cent threshold in January for the first time in four years. Headline consumer price inflation has come in at 1.6 in the year to March, down from 1.7 per cent last month. Analysts expected to see inflation at that level today – [...]