Pound surges and UK debt costs tumble on Sunak’s first day as PM October 25, 2022 Rishi Sunak on his first day as prime minister promised “hope” everyday after addressing the UK’s economic challenges, but it already seemed that way for the pound today. Sterling surged as much as 1.8 per cent against the US dollar, pushing it far above the $1.03 record it reached after former PM Liz Truss’s disastrous [...]
Sterling tumbles as markets brace for more turmoil October 21, 2022 Sterling has tumbled in the wake of Liz Truss’s resignation this morning as traders brace for another period of political turmoil in the UK.
UK borrowing costs drop as Kwarteng hints at mini budget U-turn October 13, 2022 UK borrowing costs collapsed today driven by chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng sending the strongest signal yet he will roll back elements of last month’s mini budget. Rates on UK gilts dropped across the curve after they yesterday climbed to their highest level since the day the Bank was forced to step in. Yields on the 30-year [...]
London’s FTSE 100 dragged down by industrial giants as pound weakens against US dollar October 10, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 dipped today driven lower by investors ditching industrial giants on concerns over a slowdown in commodity demand amid a global economic slowdown. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.45 per cent to close below the 7,000 mark, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the [...]
Pound slumps against US dollar after Fitch sounds alarm on UK finances October 6, 2022 The pound slumped against the US dollar today while UK debt sold off after one of the world’s top credit rating agencies issued a sombre warning to investors about the country’s finances. Sterling weakened 1.55 per cent against the greenback to buy 1.115. It fell by a slightly smaller amount against the euro too. The [...]
Kwarteng trashes market bets on earlier OBR report and fiscal plan October 4, 2022 The pound today climbed to its highest level against the US dollar in two weeks despite chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng trashing market expectations of a sooner-than-expected fiscal plan. Sterling surged 0.78 per cent against the greenback to buy $1.141. It has now regained all its losses since Kwarteng’s mini-budget rocked the currency last month. UK borrowing [...]
IMF “monitoring developments” in UK after currency fall and mini-budget September 27, 2022 The International Monetary Fund gave Kwasi Kwarteng and Liz Truss a slap on the wrist this evening, with a spokesman saying it did not “recommend large and untargeted fiscal packages” amid inflation concerns. The warning from the IMF comes after another day of currency fluctuations, triggered by a so-called ‘mini budget’ of tax cuts announced [...]
Hedge funds reap rewards after bets against bonds September 27, 2022 A crop of hedge funds have been reaping bumper profits from a plummeting pound this week after wagering against government bonds and sterling ahead of Kwasi Kwarteng’s tax cutting ‘mini-budget’ on Friday.
Pound slides after Bank of England bats away emergency rate hike pressure September 26, 2022 Sterling collapsed to an all time low this morning as investor confidence evaporated in the wake of the government’s plans to slash taxes and ramp up borrowing in a ‘mini-budget’ last week.
Sterling’s freefall is global but there are still markets where the Pound buys you more than last year September 22, 2022 The pound has tanked again against the dollar and is now down 18 per cent year-on-year. As the Bank of England prepares to hike interest rates later today, Sterling has endured a rough ride on the currency markets over the last 12 months. As a result, this is making holidays more expensive in 48 out [...]