Construction plunges August 5, 2008 Construction activity fell to a record low in July, driven by the collapse of the housing market and the stuttering economy, the latest survey showed yesterday. According to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s construction PMI, building levels fell to 36.7 last month, from 38.8 in June. Any reading below 50 means the sector [...]
Construction plunges August 5, 2008 Construction activity fell to a record low in July, driven by the collapse of the housing market and the stuttering economy, the latest survey showed yesterday. According to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s construction PMI, building levels fell to 36.7 last month, from 38.8 in June. Any reading below 50 means the sector [...]
The British energy giant set to light up America July 28, 2008 National Grid boss Steve Holliday has ambitious US plans, he tells Roger Baird It is entirely appropriate that Steve Holliday, the 51-year-old chief executive of National Grid – which runs Britain’s power network – is a bundle of energy. The engaging, former fly-half club rugby player gesticulates constantly and frequently bounds across his large London [...]
Inflation could hit 6 per cent on fuel bill price hike July 16, 2008 Inflation could reach 6 per cent by the end of the year if an anticipated 30 per cent hike in energy bills hits consumers later this year, according to BNP Paribas economist Alan Clarke. His prediction comes after the official consumer price index inflation rate jumped to a record 3.8 per cent in the year [...]
Farnborough struck by industry gloom July 15, 2008 Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways was the talk of the Farnborough Airshow yesterday after it unveiled a $20bn (£10bn) order for 100 planes – but it was a quiet debut for Europe’s biggest industry show. Etihad CEO James Hogan said the airline had placed orders for 35 787 Dreamliners and 10 777s from America’s Boeing for [...]
Inflation surge bites July 15, 2008 Bank of England rate setters face another tough decision as fresh evidence emerges that soaring inflation and sluggish high street sales continues to put pressure on consumer’s pockets and the wider economy. Prices charged by manufacturers at the factory fate rose by 10 per cent in June – the highest rate since comparable records began, [...]
Interest rate fears as gas prices surge July 1, 2008 Centrica hikes prices by record 35 per cent in move that will further squeeze consumers British Gas owner Centrica said yesterday it would raise gas prices by a record 35 per cent and electricity prices by 9 per cent as it passes on rising energy costs to householders. The country’s largest energy supplier, with 16m [...]
Boomtime for Credit Suisse November 3, 2005 Credit Suisse became the latest big bank to report soaring profits on the back of stronger financial markets. The Swiss bank reported a 42 per cent rise in third quarter profits to Sfr1.92bn (£846m) thanks to growth across its investment banking, private banking and asset management divisions. Oswald Grübel, chief executive, called the results “satisfactory”. [...]
Jobs cutting will speed up, says CBI October 27, 2005 Manufactures expect to cut jobs over the next quarter at a faster rate than the last three months to October, according to the CBI. “The decline in headcount was broadly in line with expectations, though firms expect to cut jobs at a moderately faster rate over the next three months,” the business group announced in [...]
Bank warns of hard times October 26, 2005 Bank of England governor Mervyn King has warned that the British economy is about to embark on a bumpy ride over the coming years after the stability enjoyed in recent times. At a hearing in front of a House of Lords parliamentary committee, King said people should not expect the Bank to “fine tune the [...]