What is driving the FTSE 100 surge? January 17, 2025 The FTSE 100 has hit a new all-time high today, with the index within touching distance of 8,500 for the first time. Since the start of the week, London’s main index has grown almost three per cent, outperforming the Nasdaq, the S&P 500, and the Dow Jones. The strong performance from the FTSE 100 came [...]
‘Here for the long haul’: Reeves defends her position after market turmoil January 17, 2025 Rachel Reeves has insisted she is “here for the long haul” as she defended her position as Chancellor in the wake of bond market turmoil and rising government borrowing costs. The UK’s Chancellor has faced criticism for embarking on a trip to China last weekend while government borrowing costs surged and the value of the [...]
FTSE 100 hits all-time high as investors bet on interest rate cuts January 17, 2025 The FTSE 100 has hit a new all-time high this morning, surpassing the previous peaks it reached in spring last year, as investors ramp up their bets on an interest rate cut by the Bank of England next month. The value of London’s 100 largest listed companies has grown 3.2 per cent in the last [...]
Ex-Bank of England governor Mark Carney enters race to be Canadian PM January 17, 2025 Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has entered the race to replace Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. “I’m doing this because Canada is the best country in the world, but it could still be even better,” said Carney as he formally announced his bid in Alberta. The announcement came after months of speculation over [...]
Barclays analysts: Lloyds and Natwest shares are ‘too good to ignore’ January 17, 2025 "A repricing higher in UK rates expectations sees us lift our NII estimates," Aman Rakkar and Grace Dargan wrote in a note published today.
Reeves ramps up pressure on regulators in bid for growth January 16, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds are set to meet with a group of watchdogs today as they kickstart plans to cut red tape from the economy and drive growth through regulation. The chiefs of various regulatory agencies, including Competition and Markets Authority, Ofcom and Ofwat, have been summoned to Downing Street. Officials [...]
UK economy: Interest rate cut a ‘certainty’ in February after weak data January 16, 2025 Economists expect the Bank of England to back a third rate cut next month after two important pieces of economic data were published this week.
Pressure on Reeves after more sluggish growth – but it’s not all doom and gloom January 16, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ handling of the UK economy is likely to come under further scrutiny after the publication of another set of lacklustre GDP figures. The UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half of last year. It is now on track to be stagnant in the second half, having grown [...]
Vacancies back to pre-pandemic levels as UK jobs market slows January 16, 2025 The number of vacancies in the UK economy has fallen back in line with pre-pandemic levels, according to new figures from the REC.
FTSE 100 rises and gilts recover but Reeves isn’t out of the woods just yet January 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves was dealt some welcome good news after a surprise drop in inflation that saw gilt yields fall at the fastest pace in over a year on Wednesday, but some economists fear the development represents a temporary reprieve with inflation at risk of rebounding in the coming months. New figures from the Office [...]