Nasdaq hits record high as Wall Street rally continues June 23, 2021 US stocks rose today as the Nasdaq hit a record high after Fed officials calmed fears of a sharp tapering of monetary stimulus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the benchmark S&P 500 both gained 0.1 per cent at the open. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq advanced by 0.2 per cent to open at a record [...]
Could global growth this year be the fastest this century? June 23, 2021 The world economy is set for its fastest year of growth in the 21st century this year, according to our latest forecasts. We now think global GDP is set to expand by 5.9 per cent in 2021, having upgraded our previous forecast of 5.3 per cent. As lockdowns ease, the service sector – which includes businesses [...]
UK PMIs: Business continues to expand at rapid pace in June June 23, 2021 UK business activity continued its rapid growth in June as the post-Covid reopening boom continued apace, new figures today suggested. A flash reading of the IHS Markit Composite PMI, which combines services and manufacturing, came in at 61.7, down from 62.9 in May. Any score above 50 indicates growth. Despite the continued expansion, today’s readings [...]
Marlowe boosts annual profit by a third as acquisition spree continues June 23, 2021 Specialist health and safety firm Marlowe saw its annual pre-tax profit jump 31 per cent to £17.1m as a flurry of acquisitions deepened its presence in the market. Marlowe also pushed its revenue up by 15 per cent to £192m, as well as boosting its net cash before acquisition and restructuring costs to £28.3m. The [...]
BoE appoints former Citibank economist Catherine Mann to rate-setting panel June 22, 2021 Britain’s finance ministry has today named former Citibank economist Catherine Mann as the newest member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Mann’s three-year stint on the nine-member panel, which sets interest rates and oversees the BoE’s £895bn bond-buying programme, will replace Gertjan Vlieghe on 1 September, who is stepping down after six [...]
Soaring house prices and stock markets push wealth per adult to record £57,598 June 22, 2021 Despite the pandemic impact on economies around the world, global household wealth hit a new record last year, primarily due to soaring house prices and rebounding stock markets. The latest global wealth report by investment giant Credit Suisse showed today that wealth per adult rose 6 per cent last year, to hit a record £57,598. [...]
Tory central London MP calls for fresh package to support the West End June 22, 2021 A Conservative central London Tory MP is today calling for a fresh package of economic support to help the capital’s post-Covid economic recovery, with specific measures for the West End. Cities of London and Westminster MP Nickie Aiken today used a 30-minute parliamentary debate today to call for a removal of the £2m business rates [...]
Manufacturing output grows at fastest rate on record in last quarter June 22, 2021 Increased production of cars, foodstuffs, and drinks helped the UK’s manufacturing output grow at the fastest pace ever recorded in the last three months. According to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends survey, output grew in 15 out of 17 sectors, with volumes up 37 per cent in total over the period. That’s the fastest rate [...]
Packaging giant DS Smith sees profit tumble but e-commerce boom beckons June 22, 2021 Packaging giant DS Smith saw its profit slide in the last financial year as the boom in online shopping failed to offset the initial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite record growth in the second half of the year, the cardboard maker said that profit before tax fell 37 per cent to £231m last year. Full-year revenue [...]
Hospitality hiring crisis drives up wages by 14 per cent as venues turn to temporary workers June 22, 2021 Hiring bottlenecks in the UK’s hospitality sector are prompting pubs and restaurants to turn to temporary staff to keep up with demand. It has also forced companies to increase wages by as much as 14 per cent, according to new research from Indeed Flex, an online marketplace for flexible workers. Analysis of pub, bar and [...]