US factory orders fall in September as trade war bites November 4, 2019 US factories suffered a steeper-than-expected fall in orders in September, survey data has shown, suggesting the country’s manufacturing sector is still being held back by the US-China trade war. Read more: US Fed lowers rates but signals it is done cutting Goods orders in the manufacturing sector fell 0.6 per cent last month compared to [...]
‘Distressing decline’: UK construction sector contracts again November 4, 2019 The UK construction sector shrank once again in October, survey data has shown, with civil engineering suffering its worst month in a decade as Brexit uncertainty continued to plague the industry. Read more: UK economy to hit decade low even with Brexit deal, report warns The construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a gauge of [...]
UK economy to hit decade-low even with Brexit deal, report warns November 4, 2019 Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal will fail to boost the slowing UK economy in 2020, a new report has warned, with weak global growth and continued uncertainty about Britain’s trading relationships set to outweigh any benefits from the agreement. Read more: Nigel Farage: Brexit party will run in every seat if Boris Johnson rejects olive branch [...]
Jobs paying below ‘real living wage’ fall to seven-year low November 4, 2019 The proportion of jobs that pay below the so-called real living wage has fallen to a seven-year low, analysis by professional services firm KPMG showed today. Read more: Sajid Javid promises to increase national living wage to £10.50 This year, 19 per cent of UK jobs paid below the voluntary rate of £9.00 per hour [...]
UK public spending set to hit 1970s levels after election, think tank says November 4, 2019 Government spending is set to surge back to 1970s levels whoever wins the upcoming General Election, research from the Resolution Foundation think tank has shown today. Read more: Hey, big spender: IFS boss Paul Johnson on the end of economic orthodoxy The Conservatives and Labour have discarded the economic orthodoxy of the last decade that [...]
ECB warned over bond-buying’s effect on stock markets November 3, 2019 The European Central Bank’s (ECB) money-printing programme risks causing significant damage to stock markets, Wall Street analysts have warned new president Christine Lagarde. Read more: Mario Draghi defends his record at final ECB meeting The message of caution came as the ECB restarted its “quantitative easing” (QE) programme on 1 November, through which it digitally [...]
Sir Philip Green in talks to secure £300m by Christmas November 3, 2019 Embattled retail magnate Sir Philip Green is in talks with lenders about borrowing more than £300m that he needs by Christmas to pay off a loan secured against his flagship Oxford Street Topshop store. Read more: Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia reveals huge losses amid CVA controversy Among the possible suitors is US private equity company [...]
Ex-Wework CEO Adam Neumann accused of pregnancy discrimination October 31, 2019 Ousted Wework chief executive Adam Neumann has been accused of discrimination by his former chief of staff, who has said she was belittled at the company for getting pregnant and then ultimately fired when she raised concerns. Read more: Wework could be worth ‘zero,’ says Bill Ackman Medina Bardhi alleged in a filing to the [...]
Chaos at People’s Vote as staff threatened with sack October 31, 2019 The People’s Vote campaign was plunged further into chaos yesterday as workers were threatened with the sack and staff in turn held a vote of no-confidence in the organisation’s chair. Read more: People’s Vote staff on strike after director ousted The second referendum campaign group has been in disarray in recent weeks due to bitter [...]
Fosun set to buy up Thomas Cook name October 31, 2019 Chinese investment conglomerate Fosun looks set to snap up the Thomas Cook brand along with the intellectual property assets of the failed travel company. Read more: Thomas Cook bosses point finger at government as MPs slam high pay Fosun is the frontrunner to purchase the Thomas Cook assets, having pulled ahead of rivals such as [...]