Storm Henk will spike insurance claims this time, but extreme weather events require longer-term thinking January 5, 2024 Storm Henk will undoubtedly cause a spike in insurance claims, but response to rising extreme weather events require a new approach going forward, experts have warned. The storm that battled the UK this week has caused flooding, damaged property and delays to travel as a result of rain and winds up to 80mph. This will [...]
House prices rise for third straight month as market readies for 2024 rebound January 5, 2024 The UK housing market continues to beat expectations despite higher interest rates, with fresh figures today showing prices have risen for the third straight month.
More misery for London retail as footfall flatlines January 5, 2024 London retailers took yet another battering over December as footfall fell -1.4 per cent on a year-to-year basis, according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Festive cheer did not appear to be enough to drag shoppers back to the capital’s high streets, with the figure widening from -0.4 per cent the [...]
Moving markets: Five things shaping the FTSE 100 today January 5, 2024 Moving Markets Today: Asian Equities Mixed, Apple at Eight-Week Low, Oil Prices Rally, Gold Set for Weekly Drop, All Eyes on Eurozone CPI and U.S. NFP Figures Major U.S. indices, including the S&P and Nasdaq, face a three-week decline, while Dow gains traction from financials. Asian markets waver, possibly ending a nine-week global winning streak. [...]
Don’t give up on St James’s Place, Hargreaves Lansdown, Abrdn and Schroders just yet, says broker January 4, 2024 There are signs of hope for asset and wealth management firms in 2024 despite structural issues battering the industry, according to one broker, as the prospect of near-term interest rate cuts offers a boost to investment performance.
UK banks set for strong earnings in 2024 despite margin pressures, S&P says January 4, 2024 UK banks are set to see strong earnings in 2024, according to ratings agency S&P, due to robust credit fundamentals and easing margin pressures.
US labour market resilient as traders nervy on interest rate cut bets January 4, 2024 New applications for unemployment benefit fell to its lowest level since October last week, the US Department for Labor reported today.
Sainsbury’s injects £200m for staff pay as bumper Christmas helps stave off Lidl and Aldi threats January 4, 2024 Some 120,000 employees at Sainsbury’s and Argos are set to have their hourly wage increase, as the supermarket injects £200m into improving pay. Staff at the ‘Big Four’ grocer will now be handed £12 per hour, in line with the Real Living Wage. For workers in London this will leap to £13.15. Sainsbury’s has increased [...]
Inflation easing – but wage growth still a threat, Bank of England panel warns January 4, 2024 The figures suggest that the surprisingly fast progress on bringing inflation down to the two per cent target still has further to run.
BP and Equinor bin New York wind farm as surging costs derail yet another green energy project January 4, 2024 BP and Equinor have scrapped the contract to deliver the project at a strike price of $107.5 per MWh