Letters: Weaning off Covid-19 cash March 21, 2022 [Re: Small business lending tumbles amid strong economic rebound, March 14] UK Finance data shows strong economic recovery from the pandemic led to borrowing among small businesses falling off a cliff last year. However, we observed a 58 per cent year-on-year increase in SMEs seeking finance in January 2022, demonstrating a rebound in activity and [...]
Extra 125,000 workers will pay National Insurance in ‘stealth tax’ hike March 20, 2022 An extra 125,000 people will have to pay National Insurance under Rishi Sunak’s current tax plans, new research has revealed. Research compiled by the Liberal Democrats, using figures from the House of Commons library, suggest that employees face an extra £1.1bn hit through a “stealth tax” if Sunak does not increase the current threshold by [...]
Soaring inflation is UK’s main financial concern March 20, 2022 Soaring inflation is the top financial concern for UK adults, in both the long and short term, according to new research from M&G Wealth. A quarter (25 per cent) of UK adults cited soaring inflation as their main financial concern over the coming year, according to a survey of 2,000 people. A further 18 per [...]
Bitcoin shows signs of maturing as world economies look likely to worsen further March 18, 2022 Jason Deane digs through an avalanche of news narratives to decipher what's affecting the price of Bitcoin this week.
Europe set to open higher as Bank of Japan keeps policy unchanged March 18, 2022 European and US stocks have continued to recover lost ground this week, despite there being little prospect of a ceasefire, or imminent cessation of hostilities, between Russia and Ukraine. “We did falter a little bit during the European trading session after the Kremlin poured cold water on reports of major progress on peace talks, calling [...]
London’s top indexes jump as Bank of England hikes rates again March 17, 2022 London’s top indexes jumped yesterday after the Bank of England lifted interest rates for the third meeting in a row. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index climbed 1.28 per cent higher to 7,385.34 points, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, rose 0.34 per cent [...]
The City View: P&O Ferries in hot water, and the Fed and BoE hike rates March 17, 2022 Today Andy Silvester returns to host The City View — he chats to City A.M.’s Economics and Markets reporter Jack Barnett about the Fed and Bank of England’s rate hikes, and the Monetary Policy Committee statement that further tightening of monetary policy may be needed in the next few months. Andy also takes us through [...]
UK could see double-digit inflation, chair of John Lewis warns March 17, 2022 Britain may see double-digit inflation, the chair of the John Lewis Partnership has warned. Dame Sharon White’s comments came after the UK registered inflation of five-and-a-half per cent, with the Bank of England predicting it could exceed seven percent, as to raised interest rates on Thursday. Speaking on BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme, she said: [...]
Expect four more BoE rate hikes this year, economists warn March 17, 2022 Better than expected economic growth and a tightening jobs market will coax the Bank of England into lifting rates four more times this year. That’s according to some analysts’ read of the Bank’s decision to hike rates for the third successive meeting today, sending borrowing costs 25 basis points higher to pre-pandemic levels of 0.75 [...]
Bank of England hikes rates for third successive meeting in bid to catch rampant inflation March 17, 2022 The Bank of England today hiked interest rates for the third successive meeting for the first time since 1997 as it tries to catch up with rampant inflation that is threatening to derail the UK economy. Rate setters at Threadneedle Street sent borrowing costs 25 basis points higher, taking them to pre-pandemic levels of 0.75 [...]