UK inflation leaps to 10.4 per cent smashing Bank of England and City forecasts March 22, 2023 UK inflation has surpassed forecasts and stayed in the double digits, in a sign the Bank of England will need to keep hiking interest rates to tame prices, official figures out today reveal. The rate of price increases jumped to 10.4 per cent in February, up from 10.1 per cent in January, according to the [...]
Central banks need to steady their course despite choppy weather March 22, 2023 Much ado about nothing? Hardly. The loss of Credit Suisse, and the wipeout of Coco bond holders, will have consequences for years to come – but for now at least it appears as if the guardrails are holding. Attention will now inevitably turn to the Federal Reserve and, the day after, the Bank of England. [...]
Milk, meat and fruit worst affected as supermarket groceries DOUBLED in cost over last year, Which? says March 22, 2023 The cost of some everyday groceries has more than doubled over the last year, consumer brand Which? has found. The company analysed inflation on more than 25,000 food and drink products at eight major supermarkets – Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. Which? looked at the average price of the products in the three [...]
Nearly every sector of UK economy powers away from feared recession March 22, 2023 Nearly every sector of the UK economy is powering away from a recession that was much-tipped at the turn of the year, a new survey out today shows. Some 11 of the 14 sectors monitored by Lloyds Bank are producing more than they did a month ago, the highest number in nearly a year. The [...]
Mini budget continues to wreak havoc on the UK housing market as annual sales dive 18 per cent March 21, 2023 UK property transactions fell four per cent in February as the fall out from last September’s mini budget continued to drive down the UK’s housing market. Sales of residential property fell 18 per cent during the year with just 76,920 transaction across the UK, as buyers were forced to deal with higher borrowing costs as [...]
Can effective regulation make cryptoassets and stablecoins useful? March 21, 2023 Lord Holmes explains how effective regulation can help to unlock potential while safeguarding consumers and the financial system.
Bank of England and Fed to ignore Credit Suisse chaos and hike interest rates this week March 21, 2023 The Bank of England and US Federal Reserve are this week expected to ignore the on-going financial market chaos which resulted in Credit Suisse being pawned off in a shotgun sale and hike interest rates. City analysts have tipped Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Bank Governor Andrew Bailey to prioritise fighting inflation instead of shielding [...]
Hunt must commit Treasury and BoE to review of rate rise impact, Labour shadow City minister urges March 21, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been urged to commit the Treasury and the Bank of England to a review of “sharp interest rate rises” in light of the ongoing banking turmoil. Shockwaves have rocked the financial sector in the past weeks with the collapse of the US arm of tech bank SVB – plus the buyout [...]
UK borrowed record £16.7bn for February but Jeremy Hunt handed interest bill boost March 21, 2023 The UK borrowed a higher than expected £16.7bn in February, a record for that specific month due to the government spending billions on helping families with the cost of energy bills, official figures out today reveal. Office for National Statistics (ONS) numbers indicate Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to cap typical household energy bills at £2,500 [...]
European markets to open higher after Credit Suisse drama as investors split on central bank rate hikes March 21, 2023 European markets are set to open higher on Tuesday as investors bet that banking turmoil will put a halt to central banks’ battle to contain inflation The FTSE and Frankfurt’s DAX were called up 0.59 per cent while the CAC in Paris was called up 0.47 per cent. After the drama of the past few [...]