US Federal Reserve presses on with interest rate hike amid banking chaos March 22, 2023 The US Federal Reserve today looked past the ongoing wobbles in the global banking system and hiked interest rates for the ninth time in a row, extending its aggressive fight against inflation. Chair Jerome Powell and the rest of the federal open market committee (FOMC) today bumped the world’s most important interest rate 25 basis [...]
Hurricane Ian sees global insurance sector suffer more than $100bn loss for the fifth time since 1970 March 22, 2023 The global insurance sector suffered natural catastrophe losses of more than $100bn (£81bn) for just the fifth time in 2022, after taking a major hit from Hurricane Ian, new research shows. Natural catastrophes caused $275bn worth of damage in 2022, costing insurance companies $125bn, the research from reinsurance company Swiss Re shows. The hit [...]
Budweiser hints at future price rises as cost inflation starts to bite March 22, 2023 Budweiser has hinted that it might have to raise its prices in the UK and Ireland in the future as cost inflation continues to hit companies’ bottom lines. Brian Perkins, group president of Budweiser Brewing Group in UK and Ireland, told City A.M., that “no company has been immune to cost inflation”. Explaining the dilemma [...]
FTSE 100 close: Inflation shock tames London index as investors brace for Fed decision March 22, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 nipped higher today despite investors betting the Bank of England will be forced to keep raising interest rates to tame higher than feared inflation. The capital’s premier index closed up 0.41 per cent at 7,566.84 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the [...]
Banking stocks on course for another good day as fears of global crisis recede: Most in green… apart from UBS March 22, 2023 European banking stocks were on course for another strong morning on Wednesday after a rollercoaster couple of days for the sector induced by Credit Suisse’s buy-out by UBS. Most European banks were in the green on Wednesday: SocGen was up 2.5 per cent, BNP Paribas 1.5 per cent, Deutsche Bank 1.2 per cent and Santander [...]
Flare illuminating the utility issues of blockchain March 22, 2023 Hugo Philion, CEO and co-founder of Flare, discusses the limitations of blockchain and how a flood of data may be the solution.
UK inflation shock was bad for the Bank of England – and disastrous for families March 22, 2023 These were not good inflation numbers for the Bank of England. They were even worse for families. Nearly everyone has been taken aback by the Office for National Statistics calculating the annual rate of headline inflation (the consumer price index) snapped a three month falling streak to climb to 10.4 per cent last month. That [...]
Bitcoin back above $28k on important day for markets March 22, 2023 Bitcoin’s lack of robust support at $28k seems to have disappeared as the flagship crypto is trading strongly above $28,200 this morning.
The imperfect tonic: Fever-Tree to raise prices amid soaring cost inflation March 22, 2023 Up market tonic maker Fever-Tree has revealed plans to hike its prices, as it continues to navigate a surge in production costs. The company said made a loss in earnings for the year with revenues down 0.2 per cent to £116.2m from £118.3m the prior year. The London-listed adult drinks company said it felt the financial [...]
UK house prices: Growth down while rents soar by their highest in seven years March 22, 2023 Private rent paid by tenants in the UK rose 4.7 per cent in the 12 months to February 2023, up from 4.4 per cent in the 12 months to January 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics which also reported that house prices increased 6.3 per cent in the same period. Annual private rent [...]