Stars align for shoppers: Experts predict a consumer boom amid low inflation and cheap energy October 6, 2015 All the ingredients for a consumer boom are appearing, experts say, as turbulence in Asia keeps commodity prices and inflation down. Oil prices remain low amid global oversupply and market worries about slowing demand in China. Meanwhile, Beijing’s devaluation of the yuan means lower inflation – in the form of cheaper goods from China [...]
Bank of England governor Mark Carney warns of financial risk posed by climate change September 29, 2015 Bank of England (BoE) governor Mark Carney has warned the City of climate change's threat to economic stability. Read more: Tackling climate change is possible without hindering economic growth Carney used a speech at a Lloyd's of London dinner to give a stark warning of the huge risks to financial security posed by global warming. [...]
Oil accelerates FTSE over 6,000 – London Report September 24, 2015 RISING oil prices helped the FTSE 100 crack back above the 6,000 mark yesterday, as energy stocks helped the London index climb. The FTSE 100 index, which had fallen 2.8 per cent in the previous session, closed up 1.6 per cent at 6,032.24 points. Oil prices stabilised yesterday as a decline in US inventories offset [...]
The end of cheap oil: Have prices troughed? September 22, 2015 Having fallen by more than 50 per cent since last summer to under $50 per barrel, Opec has said that it expects oil prices to rise to $80 per barrel by the end of the decade. The oil cartel, which decides on the collective production policy of countries like Saudi Arabia and the Gulf [...]
Energy costs fall to dampen rises over Eurozone September 16, 2015 A STEEP drop in energy prices held down prices in the Eurozone in August, according to figures released yesterday by Eurostat, with officials dropping further hints that stimulus measures could be beefed up if necessary. Energy prices fell 7.2 per cent in July compared with the same month last year, dampening overall annual inflation which [...]
As the UK inflation rate falls back to zero per cent, does this reinforce the case for keeping interest rates low? September 15, 2015 Ruth Miller, UK economist at Capital Economics, says Yes We probably haven’t seen the back of negative inflation in the UK. Petrol prices have fallen further this month. The British Gas price cut will show up in September’s figures. Meanwhile, the strength of sterling should continue to put downward pressure on import prices. Admittedly, the [...]
Red tape drives up costs for small businesses ahead of inflation September 15, 2015 The cost for small businesses of complying with regulations is soaring ahead of inflation, despite improvements in the economy and pledges by the government to cut red tape, a leading business group has warned. The Forum of Private Business, which represents thousands of small businesses across the UK, said that 86 per cent of members [...]
UK business facing £98.6bn fraud bill September 15, 2015 UK BUSINESSES are losing an estimated £98.6billion annually to fraud, according to a report undertaken by the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Counter Fraud Studies, and accountancy fi rm PKF Littlejohn. Professor Mark Button, co-author of The Financial Cost Of Fraud 2015 report and director of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies, says: “The key [...]
Gains beat pain for Costain with record orders August 20, 2015 ENGINEERING consultancy Costain yesterday reported growth in both revenue and profits for the first half of the year, citing growth in infrastructure as the main reason behind the increase. Half-year revenue was £601.5m, up from the previous total of £504m, while profit had risen by 42 per cent to £10m. The company, which is currently [...]
High yield stands out as last pocket of return as bond markets make losses this year August 19, 2015 Nearly all bond sectors are in the red this year. With losses across the sector, high yield is standing out as the last area of decent return, according to experts. BOND MARKET LOSSES Four out of six Investment Association bond sectors have made losses in sterling terms this year, including global and emerging market [...]