UK consumer confidence picks up despite global growth fears November 23, 2014 Consumer confidence in the UK has bounced back in October, a major UK bank has said. Lloyds Bank’s confidence index climbed five points in October to 151 points, according to figures released by the bank today. The figure marks the survey’s second highest post-crisis level. Those surveyed were more upbeat about their employment situation, personal [...]
Global business confidence slumps to a five-year low: Europe, Japan and key emerging markets November 23, 2014 Global business confidence has slumped to a five-year low due to slow growth in Europe, Japan, and key emerging markets. The Markit global business outlook survey results released today shows business optimism falling sharply in October. However, UK companies were the most upbeat about the year ahead. A sharp downturn in business optimism has been [...]
Iran nuclear talks: Agreement unlikely before Monday deadline November 23, 2014 Tomorrow is the deadline for an agreement between Iran and western nations over Iran's controversial nuclear enrichment program, but a deal looks unlikely. The purpose of talks currently talking place in Vienna is to persuade Iran to curb its nuclear enrichment program in return for an easing of UN-imposed sanctions. The UK is [...]
10 themes Goldman Sachs thinks will dominate markets in 2015 November 20, 2014 It's the most wonderful time of the year – the time banks, analysts and other finance futurologists dust off their crystal balls and start trying to work out what the market's going to be thinking about next year. Goldman Sachs has got in there early, with its "Top 10 market themes for 2015" research note. [...]
PMI signals “weakest Eurozone growth” for more than a year November 20, 2014 The speed of recovery in the Eurozone has slowed down again in November, Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), published this morning, suggests The flash composite index, which measures output in the region, fell to 51.4, its lowest in 16 months, and down from 52.1 in October. The figure is still above the 50 mark, below [...]
Fifa faces FBI call after triggering criminal probe November 18, 2014 FOOTBALL’S world governing body Fifa was last night urged to pass its files to the Serious Fraud Office and the FBI after lodging a criminal complaint with Swiss authorities over World Cup bidding. Fifa president Sepp Blatter yesterday asked the Swiss attorney general to investigate “possible misconduct” in relation to the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, [...]
Is a space war about to take off? Experts say mysterious Object 2014-28E could be a satellite-killer launched by Russian military November 18, 2014 A strange vehicle floating above our atmosphere could be Russia's first piece of space weaponry launched since the end of the Cold War. Called Object 2014-28E, it has been making unusual movements towards other Russian space vehicles over the past few weeks, and last night it was spotted moving over Guatemala. It is [...]
Warning lights are flashing on the global economy: The reform laggards will suffer November 17, 2014 DAVID Cameron has warned of an unstable global economy. He says red lights are flashing on the dashboard. They are, but only in some parts of the world. Elsewhere, recovery looks firmly entrenched. Hot on the heels of US Treasury secretary Jack Lew’s comments about a “lost decade” in Europe, the Prime Minister’s remarks show [...]
Dyke Fifa report publication plea November 17, 2014 FOOTBALL Association chairman Greg Dyke has urged world governing body Fifa’s most influential figures to demand full publication of an investigation into alleged World Cup bid corruption. Dyke has written to all 25 members of Fifa’s executive committee following outcry at last week’s summary report – which cleared Qatar and Russia – saying: “We cannot [...]
Warning lights are flashing on the global economy – and it’s the reform laggards who will suffer November 17, 2014 DAVID Cameron has warned of an unstable global economy. He says red lights are flashing on the dashboard. They are, but only in some parts of the world. Elsewhere, recovery looks firmly entrenched. Hot on the heels of US Treasury secretary Jack Lew’s comments about a “lost decade” in Europe, the Prime Minister’s remarks show [...]