Saba Capital: Does the US hedge fund have a point on UK investment trusts? January 21, 2025 US hedge fund Saba Capital triggered fury and an industry-wide defensive effort when it launched an activist campaign against seven UK investment trusts last month. The Manhattan-based hedge fund, led by Boaz Weinstein, has laid siege to the trusts, accused them of failing to perform, and pushed for shareholder votes to “elect new directors with [...]
Biden’s failure is a warning to Labour January 21, 2025 Rachel Reeves has said her economic proposals are inspired by Bidenomics, but even though America’s economy is prospering regular voters hated how Biden got them there – and that should worry Labour, says Will Cooling Yesterday brought to an end Joe Biden’s long goodbye from public life. A man who once convened private meetings with [...]
‘America first’: Donald Trump sworn in as 47th President January 20, 2025 Donald Trump has been sworn into office as the 47th president of the United States, with a claim that “America’s decline is over.” The Republican politician took the oath of office in the rotunda of the US Capitol building in Washington D.C. on Monday after below freezing temperatures saw the ceremony moved indoors. President Trump [...]
The FTSE 100 has hit another new high. Next stop 9,000? January 20, 2025 The FTSE 100 has hit another all-time high today of 8,548.59, the second time in two trading days the blue-chip index has hit a record. For the first time, the FTSE 100 passed the 8,500 barrier last week, off the back of hopes that the Bank of England might cut interest rates more aggressively than [...]
‘Reason for cautious optimism’: UK consumer confidence rebound on cards January 20, 2025 Consumer confidence is set for a pick-up this year as the economy starts to improve and the UK adjusts to higher costs, according to a new survey. While the end of last year was gloomy for both businesses and consumers, analysts at Deloitte have said there is “reason for cautious optimism” going into the summer. [...]
How City of London investors are bracing for Donald Trump 2.0 January 20, 2025 City investors are bracing for four more years of unpredictability on the global markets as Donald Trump returns to the White House as president. After banging the drum for punitive trade tariffs and US protectionism in recent months, Trump’s second term is expected to inflict more turmoil on global markets than outgoing president Joe Biden. [...]
Rolls-Royce worth £50bn again after FTSE 100 surge January 20, 2025 Rolls-Royce has returned to a market capitalisation of more than £50bn after its shares rallied. The Derby-headquartered FTSE 100 giant passed the milestone for the first time at the start of December 2024 before its share price fell back. However, Rolls-Royce has surpassed the £50bn barrier once again after a jump in its share price [...]
UK economy: Only three sectors report growth as Reeves’ woes deepen January 20, 2025 The number of sectors seeing higher output in December was at its lowest level since September 2023.
Labour’s appeal to regulators is about blame-shifting, not growth January 20, 2025 Labour has appealed to the regulators for ideas to boost the economy, but Britain can’t regulate its way to growth, writes Eliot Wilson After six months of a Labour government, it would be hard to argue the economy is healthy. The economy flatlined in July, August and September, the hike in employers’ National Insurance contributions [...]
It’s Blue Monday, so what does 2025 look like for insolvencies? January 20, 2025 Today is supposedly the most depressing of the year, and businesses appear to be lacking confidence too, says Sarah Rayment Today is Blue Monday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year, when the reality of gloomy weather, Christmas debt and post-holiday blues all kick-in. But it’s not just individuals feeling the effects, business confidence [...]