FTSE 100 close: London markets measured after strong week July 21, 2023 London markets stayed flat throughout Friday after a strong week, closing slightly higher and extending earlier gains caused by lower than expected inflation. The bluechip FTSE 100 was measured throughout the day and closed in the green at 7,658.53, while the midcap FTSE 250, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, [...]
Brits finally sober up to high inflation and interest rate hikes as confidence slides July 21, 2023 Brits have finally sobered up to the damaging impact high inflation and the Bank of England’s interest rate hikes to tame it is having on their finances, a closely watched survey out today shows. Consumer confidence has dropped for the first time since January, down six points to minus 30 in July, according to research [...]
UK inflation to fall to lowest level since March 2022 but Bank of England still tipped to hike interest rates July 17, 2023 UK inflation is on course to drop to its lowest level in over a year, but lingering underlying price pressures will heap expectation on the Bank of England to keep on hiking interest rates, new figures out this week are tipped to show. The rate of price growth in Britain is expected to have dropped [...]
UK inflation tipped to trim to lowest level in over a year as food prices begin to ease June 19, 2023 UK inflation is poised to recede to its lowest level in over a year, pushed lower by food and energy price rises easing, markets are betting. Fresh cost of living figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday will top investors’ minds in a busy week of data that will shape movements in [...]
FTSE 100 close: London markets round off the week higher as investors boosted by improved consumer confidence May 19, 2023 Markets closed higher on Friday as investors were boosted by an increasingly positive consumer outlook in the UK. The capital’s premier index jumped 0.40 per cent to 7,773.80 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, remained roughly steady at 19,300.04 points. Investors were [...]
Consumer confidence continues to recover as double-digit inflation fails to deter Brits from splashing cash May 19, 2023 Consumer confidence in the year ahead is continuing to recover despite persistent cost-of-living pressures, a long-running survey suggests. GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index rose by three points in May to minus 27, the fourth monthly increase in a row from January’s minus 45. Confidence in personal finances over the coming 12 months saw a “robust” five-point [...]
Britain firmly on path away from recession as hiring and growth ramp up May 19, 2023 Britain seems almost certain to dodge a recession this year as two new surveys out today reveal businesses are hiring at the strongest pace in half a year and families are upbeat about their finances. Numbers from Lloyds Bank show nearly every sector of the UK economy stepped up headcount last month. Hiring was led [...]
Services sector reaches 13-month high but UK growth ‘lopsided’ as consumers raid the storecupboard April 21, 2023 Growth of Britain’s services sector has reached a year-high in April, a closely watched survey has revealed. Figures released this morning in S&P Global/CIPS flash UK purchasing managers’ index, show output rose to 53.9 in April from 52.2 in March. The survey showed that private sector growth had increased for the third consecutive month, beating [...]
UK economy in ‘early stages of recovery’ as families shrug off inflation and interest rate hikes April 21, 2023 Britain’s economy could be in the early stages of a recovery, with consumers holding up pretty well under the pressure of high inflation and interest rate increases, a closely watched survey out today indicates. Families’ outlook on how well the economy will perform over the coming year is improving, while confidence in their own personal [...]
UK inflation poised to slip out of the double digits for first time since last summer April 16, 2023 UK inflation is poised to slip out of the double digits for the first time since last summer in what could be the beginning of the cost of living crisis gradually releasing its grip on families over the rest of the year. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday are expected [...]