Greater investment than predicted as UK economy grows by just 0.1 per cent June 30, 2023 The UK economy grew marginally over the first quarter of the year, driven by increases within the services sector, according to official data. UK gross domestic product (GDP) edged up by 0.1% between January and March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The ONS had already indicated growth of 0.1% in May, but on [...]
House price growth faces ‘significant drag’ from rate rises but London remains ‘buoyant’ June 30, 2023 House price growth may face “significant drag” from high interest rates as fresh figures show they remained relatively stable in June despite yearly growth being negative. The latest Nationwide House Price Index show house prices remained broadly flat in June, but down 2.5 per cent compared to last year, owing in part to 13 successive [...]
FTSE 100 close: Interest rate jitters drag down Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey June 29, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 slipped today as investors fretted over central banks keeping interest rates higher for longer. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.38 per cent to 7,471.68 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, fell 0.77 per cent to 18,270.73 points. Losses in [...]
HSBC lifts savings rates after government pressure June 29, 2023 HSBC UK and First Direct have unveiled plans to boost savings rates. Customers with HSBC UK accounts will see some savings interest rates increase from Friday 30 June, alongside a change to increase the higher-paying tier on the bank’s online bonus saver account. Those with an online bonus saver will be able to earn four [...]
Mortgages: Number of people securing a home shot up weeks before BoE hiked rates June 29, 2023 Mortgage approvals continued to show signs of improvement in May, rising to 55,500 for the month as a whole up across the UK – up from 49,000 for the month of April, new data shows. The data provided by the Bank of England (Boe) is a fresh kick in the teeth for prospective buyers, who [...]
Big US banks pass Fed stress tests months after SVB collapse in sign they’d ‘weather a severe recession’ June 29, 2023 The largest banks in the US sailed through the Federal Reserve’s annual stress tests, suggesting they would survive a sharp economic downturn. The Fed said the results demonstrate that large banks are “well positioned to weather a severe recession and continue to lend to households and businesses even during a severe recession.” Despite projected losses [...]
Mark Kleinman on banks, Ocado and London’s IPO market June 29, 2023 Mark Kleinman is City editor at Sky News Politics could push ministers to punish banks This is a cost of living crisis, not a banking crisis: if I had a fiver for every time a senior bank executive had said that to me over the last 18 months, I’d never need another mortgage of my [...]
London’s wealthy put homes up for renting as mortgage rate rises bite June 28, 2023 London’s wealthy are placing their homes up for rent as they struggle to reach their ideal asking price on pads across upmarket boroughs such as Chelsea and Mayfair. Following the Bank of England’s decision to hike interest rates by 0.5 per cent, figures from estate agent Knight Frank show affluent sellers in some of London’s [...]
Andrew Bailey, Christine Lagarde and Jerome Powell warn inflation fight not yet done June 28, 2023 Andrew Bailey and the cream of the global central banking crop today warned they may need to keep heaping pressure on the global economy before they can declare victory over high inflation. Speaking at the European Central Bank’s (ECB) annual monetary policy conference in Sintra, Portugal, the chiefs of the Bank of England, Federal Reserve [...]
Mortgage mayhem: Homeowners forced to sell up at discount prices as rates soar June 28, 2023 Red hot mortgage rates are leading to sellers accepting lower prices for their properties, fresh data shows, creating further pain for the housing sector. As the market continues to grapple with the Bank of England’s recent 0.5 per cent interest rate hike, figures by estate agent Zoopla show that 42 per cent of sellers are [...]