Boris Johnson needs to find the Tory heartlands before he fights for them May 5, 2022 The biggest challenge facing the Conservative Party is not just the growing question of who leads it but also where in the country it can build an electoral majority. Put simply: is the future heart of conservatism likely to be in Southern home counties or in the post-industrial towns of the North and Midlands? The [...]
US Federal Reserve hikes rates at quickest pace in over two decades May 4, 2022 The world’s most influential central bank today hiked interest rates at the quickest pace since 2000 in a sign the era of cheap money is coming to an end. The US Federal Reserve lifted the financial system’s key interest rate 50 basis points to a range of 0.75-1 per cent as it scrambles to douse [...]
European firms hike prices at fastest pace on record May 4, 2022 Businesses in Europe are hiking prices at the fastest pace on record in response to swelling costs triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China lockdowns, revealed a closely watched survey released today. The fresh figures underscore the severity of inflationary pressures that are spreading through the world’s top economies. Data published on Tuesday by [...]
Steeper US Fed rate hike sends investors wobbling May 4, 2022 The prospect of the world’s most influential central bank hiking interest rates by double the amount it normally does weighed on London’s top indexes today. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index dropped 0.9 per cent to 7,493.45 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK [...]
Retail investors back passive funds to ride out market turbulence May 4, 2022 Retail investors piled into passive funds last month as they sought safety in blue chip stalwarts amid market turbulence, fresh data has revealed.
OPEC+ forecasts oil surplus as high prices and lockdowns bite into demand expectations May 4, 2022 OPEC+ anticipates oil supply to exceed demand later this year by nearly two million barrels per day amid reduced growth expectations.
Pension surplus jumps as inflation takes chunk of savers’ spending power May 4, 2022 The value of UK pension scheme’s assets are rising ahead of liabilities as inflation looks set to take a chunk out of pensioners’ spending power, fresh data has revealed.
Dealmaking slumps amid soaring inflation and shocks of war May 4, 2022 Global mergers and acquisitions slumped in the first four months of the year as soaring inflation and war in Ukraine rattled dealmakers globally, fresh data has revealed.
Supermarket sales slow over Easter as Brits start to cut back on grocery purchases May 4, 2022 Supermarket sales slowed last month as spending habits returned to normal after pandemic restrictions. Households are tightening their purse strings after the first tranche of higher bills hit budgets this spring while spending habits are also normalising after the easing of lockdown restrictions. Shoppers added slightly fewer items to their baskets over the last four [...]
Brits cling onto pandemic savings amid economic uncertainty May 4, 2022 Brits are clinging on to their pandemic saving war chests in a sign that the UK could be headed toward a recession this year, reveals official figures published today. Rampant inflation is failing to push households into drawing down money set aside during lockdowns, suggests data from the Bank of England. Savings – including those [...]