Dovish Powell hints at more rate cuts in US August 22, 2025 The Federal Reserve is likely to cut US interest rates at its next decision in September, Jay Powell has said, despite the country’s softening labour market being in conflict with upward pressure in prices from Donald Trump’s tariffs. In an eagerly anticipated address at the Jackson Hole symposium, the Fed chair highlighted slower economic growth, [...]
UK gilt yields suffer from dwindling investor appetite August 22, 2025 UK gilt yields have gradually moved higher over August, as investor concerns over government borrowing costs and wider economic conditions continue. While daily movements have been small, the monthly performance shows a notable sharp spike in yields, with long-dated gilts in particular recording a steep increase. UK yields are now 1.5 per cent higher than [...]
Consumer confidence weak but rate cuts offer some reprieve August 22, 2025 The Bank of England’s fleet of interest rate cuts have helped lift consumer confidence in personal finance, a leading survey has suggested, but the prospect of high inflation has left sentiment vulnerable. Bank officials are closely monitoring the effects of looser monetary policy on consumption and confidence levels across the UK. GfK’s flagship consumer confidence survey [...]
UK online SMEs confident despite economic headwinds August 21, 2025 A wave of online small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs are showing confidence in their future, despite wider economic pressures, a new report from eBay UK suggests. The study found that nearly four in five, or 78 per cent, of online small businesses expect to see growth over the next 12 months, with a third [...]
Blackrock encourages investors to increase exposure to hedge funds August 21, 2025 Institutional investors should increase their exposure to hedge funds in order to generate potentially higher returns, Blackrock has said. In the latest paper of the firm’s Investment Institute, strategists encouraged more money to be placed in hedge funds, as ongoing economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions erode returns on traditional investment assets, such as bonds and [...]
Rachel Reeves’ stealth tax raid to slap extra £7,000 on high earners August 21, 2025 Rachel Reeves would force Britain’s high earners to face a mounting tax burden if she opts to extend the freeze on income tax thresholds in the autumn Budget. The Chancellor would slap an extra £7,000 in income tax on Brits earning over £100,000 if the freeze is maintained, analysis from wealth manager Rathbones reveals. An [...]
Retail giants warn Reeves her tax plans risk UK living standards August 21, 2025 Tesco, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis, along with other UK retail heavyweights, have issued a direct warning to chancellor Rachel Reeves, arguing that her government’s tax policies could undermine its key promise to raise living standards. The retailers claim they are being forced to raise prices in the face of mounting costs, and that additional taxes [...]
Consumer confidence still a ‘far cry’ from optimism of summer 2024 August 21, 2025 Consumer confidence ticked up slightly in August but remains far below where it was last summer, when Labour was elected in landslide victory. Brits’ expectations over the next three months of their personal financial situation have improved one point to minus six, a seven-point drop from August 2024, according to new figures from the British [...]
Scotch Whisky is trapped in a tax riddle August 21, 2025 The UK's nonsensical spirit tax regime is an own goal that punishes industries like Scotch Whisky, writes Mark Kent.
‘Yesterday man’: How Powell’s Fed exit will open the door to Trump August 20, 2025 With Jerome Powell’s term as chair expiring in 2026, President Trump is closing in on Fed control after months of animosity, says Helen Thomas The great central banker jamboree takes place this weekend at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.This annual symposium organised by the US Federal Reserve brings together the top mindsin economic academic thought – and [...]