Moving markets: Five things shaping the FTSE 100 today January 31, 2024 Asia markets mirror Wall Street's decline; most AI stocks, including Microsoft, Alphabet, and AMD, tumble; China's January factory activity contracts; attention shifts to Fed and BOE policy meetings.
UK insolvencies skyrocket to 30-year high in ‘striking’ reminder of ‘onerous’ environment January 30, 2024 The number of company insolvencies has soared to its highest level since 1993, as voluntary liquidations reached the most since records began in 1960. The Office for National Statistics revealed today that throughout 2023, there were over 25,000 company insolvencies, with every category of insolvency rising compared to the year before. Mark Ford, partner in [...]
Mortgage approvals hit six month high in fresh boost for house buyers January 30, 2024 Mortgage approvals rose again last month and climbed to the highest level in six months, in the latest signal that lower borrowing costs are helping aid recovery in the property market. New figures from the Bank of England show the number of buyers receiving a green light grew from 49,300 in November to 50,500 in [...]
UK economy: Consumer borrowing dropped last month in latest recession warning January 30, 2024 Consumer borrowing dropped sharply in December in the latest sign that the UK economy probably slipped into recession at the end of last year.
Mark Carney backed climate tech company raises £11m in series A January 30, 2024 Climate tech company Cultivo has raised $14m (£11m) in a series A funding round co-led by Massmutual Ventures and Octopus Energy Generation.
HSBC fined £57.4m by Bank of England over historic depositor protection failings January 30, 2024 The regulator said that among its failings, HSBC incorrectly marked 99 per cent of eligible beneficiary deposits as being “ineligible” for protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
High interest rates hurt but they might just be the medicine UK productivity sorely needs January 30, 2024 A post Global Financial Crisis policy of zero interest rates has facilitated investments which deliver poor returns, writes James Sproule Productivity is often seen as the key for sustainable growth. But it is hardly a secret that Britain’s productivity is stuck in the doldrums – and has been so since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) [...]
Moving markets: Five things shaping the FTSE 100 today January 30, 2024 Asian stocks stand firm in the wake of Wall Street's record highs, while oil prices surge amidst escalating Middle East tensions, shifting investor attention towards the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and Q4 tech earnings.
Wetherspoon’s pubs are more than drinking dens – they’re cultural glue in a world without much of it January 29, 2024 Come for the prices, stay for the history: in many of Britain’s towns, “Spoons” has become the chief steward of civic heritage, writes Adam Hawksbee
Private credit lenders might be storing up future problems, Bank of England official warns January 29, 2024 Foulger said some of the actions to support borrowers "delay or mask" vulnerabilities rather than addressing underlying issues.