Let’s be honest, we can’t keep blaming supermarkets for the sky-high food prices May 4, 2023 Supermarkets get all the blame for the sky-rocketing food prices. But they've tried to keep prices as low as possible against inflationary pressures and supply chains disruptions, writes Matthew Lesh
Federal Reserve bumps interest rates 25 basis points higher in what may be its final hike May 3, 2023 The US Federal Reserve today hiked interest rates for the tenth time in a row in what could be its final move.
Porsche sees jump in profit and sales as luxury brands float above recession fears May 3, 2023 Porsche, the German-based car manufacturer, reported a 25 per cent jump in its profit this quarter as luxury car demand remains unperturbed amid a gloomy global economy. The luxury car marque saw its operating profit jump 25.4 per cent to €1.8bn (£1.59bn), beating analysts’ predictions, while sales rose 25.5 per cent in the first quarter [...]
FTSE 100 close: London index claws back losses ahead of US Federal Reserve interest rate decision May 3, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 regained ground this today after nursing sharp losses yesterday driven by fears over the global banking system flaring up again. The capital’s premier index jumped 0.2 per cent to 7,788.38 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, climbed 0.27 per [...]
Coca-Cola HBC’s revenue fizzes almost 25 per cent – but Russia exit still hurts a year on May 3, 2023 Coca-Cola HBC AG, the bottling company of the soft drink giant, reported strong revenue growth at 22.2 per cent, but it continues to take a hit from withdrawal of its business in Russia last year. Net sales revenue were up 24.4 per cent, but the firm stated that foreign exchange movements, particularly currency devaluation in [...]
Lloyds profits swell by nearly 50 per cent as bank boosted by interest rate rises but guidance remains unchanged May 3, 2023 Lloyds first quarter profits rose 46 per cent as the bank became the latest UK lender to see its bottom line boosted by a hike in interest rates. The lender’s pre-tax profits came in at £2.3bn compared to £1.5bn the same quarter last year. Charlie Nunn, chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group said: “The group [...]
A green price to pay: Why offshore wind’s rising costs pose a challenge for renewables May 3, 2023 Offshore wind generation is now facing real cost challenges for building new turbines raising the prospect of higher prices.
Stephen King interview: Inflation is ‘profoundly undemocratic’ and must be stopped May 3, 2023 What kind of world do we live in today? From an economists’ view, one that’s a lot different from just a handful of years ago. War in Europe. Strained global trade. Government debt stocks at multi decade highs (certainly in the UK). All fixtures of our present day lives. But there’s two things that have [...]
London house prices: First-time buyers need household income of nearly £100k to buy May 3, 2023 Londoners’ desire to get on the property ladder has helped fuel the housing market in the capital, despite households now needing an extra £12k in income to be able to afford their own place. Figures released by Zoopla, show that in April house price growth in London rose by 0.5 per cent, as demand and [...]
Explainer: Rishi Sunak eyes a revival of Help to Buy May 2, 2023 Just over a month ago, we were reporting the phasing out of Help to Buy, which was closed to new entrants last year. Now, Rishi Sunak is considering relaunching the policy. Talking of u-turns. The scheme was introduced in 2013 by George Osborne to help first-time buyers get onto the housing ladder. It offered lower [...]