London’s economy powers through August in ‘growth mode’ as UK stalls September 12, 2022 London’s economy powered through August in “growth mode” despite the UK stalling, a new survey published today reveals. High street bank NatWest’s London purchasing managers’ index (PMI) remained in positive territory in August at 54.9. However, the PMI dropped sharply from 58 in July and was the weakest reading in nearly a year and a [...]
Bank of England to send rates to four per cent after Truss energy package September 11, 2022 The Bank of England could be forced to hike interest rates to their highest level since October 2008 to offset Liz Truss’s around £150bn energy support stoking inflation, City economists have warned. Sanjay Raja, senior economist at Deutsche Bank, said borrowing costs may be hoisted to restrictive territory to tame price pressures, possibly reaching a [...]
City eyes economic data dump for clues on BoE rate hike path September 11, 2022 City traders will be looking for clues shedding light on how far the Bank of England will need to hike interest rates in this week’s economic data dump. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index posted a decent performance last week, adding nearly one per cent to close at 7,351.07 points. Its mid-cap domestically-focused counterpart, the [...]
Liz Truss energy price freeze would peg inflation, BoE chief economist says September 7, 2022 LIZ Truss’s plan to freeze energy prices would prevent inflation from scaling to its highest level since 1980, but interest rates may have to stay higher for longer, the Bank of England’s top wonk said today. Huw Pill, the monetary authority’s chief economist, told the commons treasury committee that the new prime minister’s cost of [...]
Pound sinks to lowest level against US dollar since 1985 September 7, 2022 The pound today sunk to its lowest level against the US dollar since 1985, driven by investors sweating over the health of the UK economy and a borrowing splurge. Sterling fell to $1.1406 briefly today, marking another dismal milestone for the currency. The last time the pound fell that low was when Margaret Thatcher was [...]
Pound on crash course to record low against US dollar September 1, 2022 The pound is on course to plunge to a record low against the US dollar driven by the UK tumbling into a tough recession, City economists warned today. Sterling will drop to $1.05 by the middle of next year, but could fall close to parity with the greenback, according to consultancy Capital Economics. The downbeat [...]
Inflation could soar to over 22 per cent if gas prices stay high, Goldman warns August 30, 2022 Inflation could soar to the highest level since 1975 if global gas prices do not fall from their historic highs, a Wall Street investment bank warned today. The cost of living would climb to a peak of 22.4 per cent if the energy watchdog is forced to heap even more woe onto households by passing [...]
Brits ‘batten down hatches’ ahead of bleak winter August 30, 2022 Brits are “battening down the hatches” ahead of an exceptionally tough winter marred by sky-high energy bills, economists warned today. Households are cooling spending on credit cards and putting money aside in savings accounts to keep their finances intact to withstand a historic shock to their living standards. Brits spent £700m on credit cards last [...]
Bank of England may launch biggest rate hike since 1989 if energy bill support fuels inflation August 26, 2022 The Bank of England may have to launch the biggest rate hike since 1989 if the government injects huge sums of money into the economy to cope with the cost of living crisis, a Wall Street bank said today. Borrowing costs could rise 75 basis points in November to deal with a historic inflation peak [...]
World’s central banking elite gather in Jackson Hole amid darkening inflation clouds August 25, 2022 The world’s central banking elite are convening at the US Jackson Hole resort today with a bleak inflation backdrop looming over the annual event for the first time in decades. Chiefs of the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England will deliver remarks that will be closely watched by investors for clues on how [...]