London’s top indexes jump as Bank of England hikes rates again March 17, 2022 London’s top indexes jumped yesterday after the Bank of England lifted interest rates for the third meeting in a row. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index climbed 1.28 per cent higher to 7,385.34 points, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, rose 0.34 per cent [...]
The Notebook: Investors pile into ISAs ahead of touted capital gains tax raid September 18, 2024 Investors spooked by the rumoured hike in capital gains tax are piling into ISAs, writes Interactive Investor's Myron Jobson.
Services economy stalls as UK ‘drifts’ toward recession October 5, 2022 Britain’s all important services economy is stagnating, driven by consumers cutting spending in response to soaring inflation, a closely watched survey out today shows. S&P Global and the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 50 last month from 50.9 in August. The reading means the UK services economy [...]
Britain is unwell: Four charts explaining the UK’s long-term sick problem July 27, 2024 The topic of sick leave was back in the headlines this week after a health adviser to the government declared that the long-term sick must be forced to look for jobs to cut welfare costs and reduce the UK’s reliance on immigration.
Shares nosedive across Europe as burning Ukrainian nuclear plant terrifies traders: FTSE lowest since October March 4, 2022 All major markets across Europe are reacting this morning with horror to the fire at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant amid shelling by Russia in the area. Although the situation is reportedly under control, stock indexes were down across the continent, with London’s top index, the FTSE 100, dropping to its lowest point since October [...]
Breakdown in social cohesion to put global economy in a vice, warn world’s top business brass January 11, 2022 A breakdown in social cohesion will cause volatility to ripple throughout the world, putting the global economy in a vice. The risk of social upheaval has intensified sharply since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis and now poses a real threat to eroding multilateral cooperation and derailing the global economy, according to a survey of [...]
Ministers warned that failing to solve £360m in pandemic rent arrears could lead to ‘mass homelessness’ November 22, 2021 Ministers are being warned this morning that a failure to tackle the £360m in rent arrears accrued during the pandemic could cost the Government over £2.6bn because of the danger of “mass homelessness.” The Big Issue said it costs the Government £9,266 for every person made homeless, whereas the price of preventing homelessness is £2,263. [...]
Protestors block London Esso oil facility ahead of new UN climate report April 4, 2022 Protestors have blocked an Esso oil facility near Heathrow Airport with two bamboo structures in a bid to stop new fossil fuel developments. In a fourth day of protests, demonstrators from Extinction Rebellion and the Just Stop Oil Coalition have been blocking the exits to several oil facilities across the country, beginning with seven on [...]
Bailey’s wage dilemma is real, but the Bank has dragged its feet on inflation February 10, 2022 It is often argued the signal central banks’ bond buying programmes send to markets is more effective at shaping financial conditions than the purchases themselves. It is all about influencing expectations by sending the message that monetary policy will stay loose. Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey’s message to workers to temper pay [...]
Q&A: what is COP15 and why should investors care? December 1, 2022 The UN biodiversity summit COP15 is taking place in Montreal, Canada, next month. We explain why it matters. COP27, the UN climate summit, is well-known as the world’s biggest conference on climate change. But many people may be unaware of what COP15 is and why it’s important. In this quick Q&A, we look at why [...]