UK defence and aerospace firms risk being outpaced in STEM skills shortage August 4, 2022 The UK’s defence and aerospace sectors are continuing to be squeezed by a shortage in STEM talent, leaving ‘high-trust’ businesses vulnerable to being outpaced by overseas counterparts. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills revealed earlier this year that 43 per cent of STEM vacancies were hard to fill due to a shortage of applicants, [...]
More jumbo Bank of England rate hikes on a knife edge if UK tips into long recession August 4, 2022 More super-sized rate hikes in the coming months from the Bank of England are on a knife edge if the economy slumps into a prolonged recession, City economists are betting. Consumers and businesses may struggle to absorb further 50 basis point rate rises, likely prompting the Bank to slowdown its rate hike cycle, experts said [...]
Sofa seller ScS cautions cost-of-living pressures have slowed orders down August 4, 2022 ScS has warned that cost-of-living pressures have already driven down orders although the sofa business still lifted its profit expectations for the rest of the year. The furniture retailer reported a 3.9 per cent increase in orders in the year to 30 July, compared with the previous year. The company said a stronger than expected [...]
Bank of England signs off biggest rate hike in nearly 30 years August 4, 2022 The Bank of England today ripped up the history books and hiked interest rates by the largest amount in its 25 years of independence. The nine-strong committee of rate setters, including governor Andrew Bailey, backed a 50 basis point rise by 8-1 in a bid to step up their battle against the worst inflation surge [...]
Van insurance premiums surge to record highs as inflationary pressures bite August 4, 2022 Van insurance premiums have surged to record highs, after increasing for six consecutive months in a row, due to soaring inflation and widespread price hikes in response to new rules banning the practice of “price walking”. The cost of insuring a van increased by 13.6 per cent during the first six months of the year, [...]
Bitcoin flat as China tensions increase August 4, 2022 The crypto markets are broadly flat this morning, with the price of bitcoin having fallen 2 per cent to $22,873 over the past 24 hours
Defence giant Meggitt’s order book value teeters around £1bn ahead of takeover August 4, 2022 Meggitt’s orders are up nearly 50 per cent, teetering around the £1bn mark, as the British defence manufacturer undergoes a foreign takeover. The London-listed firm’s order book has been valued at £996.9m in the six months to 30 June, up from £671.4m in the same period last year, Meggitt revealed today. Revenue has jumped more [...]
Bank of England’s interest rate rise at noon: Brokers and agents across the City give their two cents August 4, 2022 The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, and the rest of the monetary policy committee will hike interest rates 50 basis points today at 12pm. The main reason? Living costs are up 9.4 per cent over the last year, crimping households and businesses and threatening to plunge the UK economy into recession. Energy [...]
UK construction output in ‘contraction territory’ for first time since pandemic August 4, 2022 The UK’s construction output has fallen for the first time since last January, according to US analytics giant S&P Global. Despite healthy employment rates in the country, civil engineering and housing activity declined in July amid spiralling inflation which has hit raw materials, fuel and labour. Gareth Belsham, director of property consultancy and surveyors Naismiths, [...]
D-Day in the City: Bank of England set to make history today by raising interest rates by record 50bps August 4, 2022 Today the Bank of England could make history by raising interest rates by 50bps for the first time since the Monetary Policy Committee was set up back in 1997. In June, the vote was a split decision, and it is quite likely that this one could be too. Then, three members of the MPC voted [...]