FTSE 100 close: London index nips higher as Bank of England rate hike bets step up July 11, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 crept higher today as another set of hotter than feared wage numbers pushed pound sterling to its highest level in 15 months. The capital’s premier index nipped 0.12 per cent higher to 7,282.51 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, [...]
Why record wage growth could seal another jumbo interest rate rise from Bank of England July 11, 2023 It seems strange to cheer what economists call a “loosening in the labour market”. What that basically means is: employment growth is slowing, joblessness is on the up, vacancies falling and wage growth receding. Most of those requirements were met in today’s release from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In a shock to the [...]
H&T shares up: Pawnbroker lending rockets as cash-strapped Brits sell valuables July 11, 2023 Britain’s biggest pawnbroker H&T saw its share price soar this morning, following news that lending grew 22 per cent as punters have been forced to flog off goods to secure extra funds during the cost of living crisis. Ahead of its interim results, which are due to be published in early August, H&T said that [...]
Mortgage rates climb to 15-year high following surprisingly strong wage growth July 11, 2023 The typical rate available on a two-year fixed mortgage has climbed to a 15-year high, surpassing the levels seen last Autumn in the wake of the disastrous mini-budget. According to Moneyfacts, the average two-year fixed residential mortgage rate hit 6.66 per cent, marginally higher than the 6.65 per cent seen last October. This was the [...]
Shock record wage growth amplifies risk of 14th straight Bank of England interest rate rise July 11, 2023 Workers’ pay is rising faster than expected and at among the quickest paces on record in a sign that the Bank of England will deliver a 14th straight interest rate rise next month, official figures out this morning reveal. Pay excluding bonuses rose 7.3 per cent over the three months to May on an annual [...]
The FTSE 100 has done us all dirty… again July 11, 2023 The FTSE 100 has done us all dirty yet – again. Over and over it marches us up a hill only to send us back down again. Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney is often referred to as the “unreliable boyfriend” of monetary policy making for his comments signalling he and the MPC would [...]
Thames Water hangs on, but its future, and the health of our waterways, remains unclear July 10, 2023 Thames Water’s reprieve this morning may have refreshed the company’s coffers, but the firm remains parched of funding for its future ambitions.
FTSE 100 close: London index muted as interest rate fears linger July 10, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 kicked off a new week just about in the green today as a reduction in UK debt costs gave the index a reprieve from a torrid time of late. The capital’s premier index edged 0.23 per cent higher to close at 7,273.80 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250, which tends to [...]
Bank of England won’t hesitate to hike rates if inflation persists, warns Andrew Bailey July 10, 2023 The Bank of England will have to keep on lifting interest rates if wages keep rising at a near record pace and businesses continue to pass on swelling costs, Governor Andrew Bailey has signalled today. In a speech delivered at the annual Mansion House bankers’ dinner, Bailey said price pressures emanating from the labour market [...]
Bitcoin ETF race heats up as crypto spot trading volumes rise July 10, 2023 Data from CryptoCompare shows the price of Bitcoin (BTC) dropped slightly from around $30,500 to roughly $30,200 over the past week.