Boris Johnson compares Ukrainian resistance to invasion to Brexit vote March 20, 2022 The Prime Minister said it was the instinct of Brits to “choose freedom,” just as it was the Ukrainian instinct to resist invasion. Boris Johnson has come under fire for comparing the UK vote on Brexit to those impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, speaking at the Conservative Party’s spring conference. “When the British people [...]
Treasury to reveal £40bn tax boost as Sunak faces calls to further tackle cost of living March 20, 2022 The Chancellor is preparing for a £40bn boost to the Treasury from higher tax receipts as industry and campaign groups call for more solutions to tackle the cost of living. Rishi Sunak is expected to reveal better borrowing figures than previously forecast, alongside higher tax revenues and a slimmer debt-to-GDP ratio in 2021-22. The figures [...]
Has the Ukraine war sped up the clean energy revolution? March 18, 2022 As energy security rises up the political agenda, we look at what Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means for climate change investing. Russia’s shocking invasion of Ukraine is having horrendous consequences, and our thoughts are with the millions of people affected. As climate change investors, we also have to consider the impact of the conflict on [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Gordon Brown joins 50 charities urging action on cost of living crisis, u-turn on ‘unthinkable’ below-inflation benefit rise March 17, 2022 Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined around 50 charities urging the government to urgently address the cost of living crisis, and change its mind on a below-inflation benefits rise. Pressure was growing on ministers this week not to go ahead with the rise of 3.1 per cent in the Spring statement, as inflation is set [...]
Think tanks call for government to ensure secure gas supplies as market crisis deepens March 16, 2022 Think tanks call on government must ensure gas supplies are resilient this winter following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and spiking wholesale costs.
US Federal Reserve hikes rates for first time since 2018 as lift off begins March 16, 2022 The US Federal Reserve today hiked the world’s most important interest rate for the first time since 2018 in what is expected to be the first step in one of the fastest tightening cycles in recent history. Fed Chair Jerome Powell and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised rates 25 basis points to between [...]
Interview: Former rate setter Andrew Sentance on Governor Bailey’s ‘off the cuff’ remarks and where the BoE went wrong March 16, 2022 It is often a mark of how dire an economy’s situation is when incremental rises in interest rates hit the front pages. The worst cost of living crunch in a generation has, however, sent the Bank of England to the front of many households’ minds. Those outside of the City care less about the vagaries [...]
Fintechs call for open banking body to be ‘weaponised’ and simplified as CMA mulls its future March 16, 2022 Fintech firms have called for open banking’s governing body to be “weaponised” and simplified, as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) prepares to deliver a verdict on its future next week.