London Week Ahead: Mark versus market in first public speech August 26, 2013 BANK of England governor Mark Carney’s keynote lunch speech to business leaders in Nottingham tomorrow has already been dubbed “Mark versus Market” – with market watchers dubious about Carney’s claims for long-term low interest rates. Rob Wood, economist at Berenberg Bank, said: “Growing momentum in the economy, rapidly rising house prices, and wide disagreements on [...]
Britain getting more confident about growth July 30, 2013 THE BRITISH economy was the most upbeat of any major European country in July, shooting upward in the past month, official EU statistics show. And GfK’s consumer confidence barometer for the UK also recorded a strong upswing, rising to minus 16, its highest level since April 2010. Though the measure is still negative, it has [...]
UK consumer confidence hits 39 month high in July July 30, 2013 UK consumer confidence has hit its highest level since April 2010, according to the GfK NOP index which rose by five points in July. Nick Moon, managing director of Social Research at GfK, comments: There is now no doubt that consumer confidence has recovered strongly from the unparalleled trough of the last five years. At [...]
London Report: UK’s corporate calendar packed in results season July 28, 2013 THE CORPORATE calendar is packed this week, as businesses including ITV, BP, Lloyds, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland update the market amid a swathe of other results. The week begins with figures from Fidessa Group, Hammerson, InterContinental Hotels Group, Intertek Group, JKX Oil & Gas, Keller Group, Senior, Vernalis, Reckitt Benckiser Group, National Grid, [...]
Hope for the high street as UK consumer confidence improves January 30, 2013 BRITISH consumers have started the year feeling less pessimistic about the country’s economic prospects, a widely-regarded survey revealed this morning. Research company GfK’s first consumer confidence barometer of 2013 found that expectations for the general economic situation over the coming year jumped by six index points. While still slumped in negative territory, this sub-index climbed [...]
CBI says retail sales bounced back in October October 30, 2012 UK RETAILERS reported a rapidly improving sales climate in October, according to data out yesterday, driving hopes for continued expansion. Thirty percentage points more retailers saw improving than worsening sales in October, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), up from a net balance of six per cent in September and well above firm [...]
UK consumers less downbeat September 27, 2012 UK consumer confidence grew in September, an index from market research firm GfK revealed today, but households were still gloomy. Their headline index grew from minus 29 in August to minus 28 in September, putting the index two points above September last year. “Even a one point increase…will offer some grounds for optimism to the [...]
Boost to consumer morale in Germany and Italy but French industry struggling September 25, 2012 GERMAN consumers will maintain their good spirits into October, just as Italian consumer sentiment also seemed to be improving, two sets of data showed yesterday. Consumer confidence was at an index score of 5.9 in Germany, according to a forward looking measure from researchers GfK, the same positive result as last month. GfK said this [...]
LONDON WEEK AHEAD July 29, 2012 RESULTS season continues with a slew of banks, energy and leisure firms due to update this week, while the Bank of England’s monthly decision on interest rates is due on Thursday. Today’s biggest news comes in the form of interims from under-fire banking giant HSBC and household goods behemoth Reckitt Benckiser. The Bank is set [...]
Consumer confidence stays low June 28, 2012 UK consumers remained down in the dumps about the economy last month, according to the latest GfK confidence figures. The survey showed an index score of -29 for the economy, in line with May’s reading and slightly down on the -25 figure seen this time last year. Brits are even gloomier about the country’s finances [...]