US interest rate hike: The Fed will raise rates at least three times in the next year, fund managers predict December 15, 2015 Tomorrow, the Federal Reserve is expected to raise US interest rates above their near-zero levels for the first time since 2006. But the changes won't end there, according to most US fund managers. Bank of America Merrill Lynch's (BoAML) December survey shows how 58 per cent of them expect at least three rate hikes to take [...]
Turmoil: Analysts cut oil forecast as glut woes intensify December 15, 2015 Citi analysts are the latest to lower their expectations for the short term future of the oil price, predicting a “very weak first quarter”. The supply glut is now widely expected to run on well into 2016 due to Opec reiterating its dedication to unrestricted pumping, Iran charging into the market once sanctions are lifted [...]
Bank of England: UK households can handle an interest rate hike December 15, 2015 British households are well placed to handle an increase in interest rates, the Bank of England said today. The Bank’s annual survey of 6,000 households compiled by NMG consulting found households were “in a slightly better position to cope with an increase in interest rates than they were a year ago”. The survey revealed that if interest [...]
Eurozone employment edges up to six-year high December 15, 2015 Around half a million more people found jobs in the Eurozone in the three months to September, taking the number of people in work to six-year high. The number of people employed in the currency-bloc climbed 0.3 per cent compared with the three months to June to 151.5m, according to figures published by Eurostat, the statistical [...]
Where to invest in buy-to-let properties for the best rental and capital yields: Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff and north west versus London December 15, 2015 Buy-to-let investors worried there may be a bust coming can breathe a sigh of relief, for the moment at least – new figures show little sign of new measures such as a hike in stamp duty and mortgage interest tax relief putting a dampener on things. "If a buy to let bust really was just [...]
UK house price growth hits its highest since March – and that’s before buy-to-let investors began the rush December 15, 2015 UK house prices grew seven per cent in the year to October, their highest growth since March. The average house price rose to £287,000, up from £286,000 in September, the Office for National Statistics said, as the prospect for low interest rates continued to fuel the market. The largest increase was experienced in the East of England, [...]
UK inflation: We’re back in the black as inflation moves into positive territory December 15, 2015 UK inflation rose to 0.1 per cent in November, figures by the Office for National Statistics showed today – putting the UK back into positive territory for the first time since July. But analysts were less than optimistic about its ability to stay in the black. The figures showed rises in transport costs and alcohol [...]
UK pensions: What the secondary annuities market means for the five million people currently receiving income from an annuity December 15, 2015 People have much greater freedom and flexibility over their pension since new rules were introduced in April. These new rules allow people over age 55 to take lump sums or income from their pension, although any amounts over and above the tax-free cash sum – which is usually 25 per cent of their pot – are subject [...]
Global business won’t slow down for Christmas: How can businesses use mobile working to make the most of their employees over the holidays? December 15, 2015 As Christmas closes in, we all start to look fondly towards home. For business, ‘tis the season of empty desks, out-of-office emails and manic attempts to complete final tasks as employees rush out to catch the afternoon train. On the other hand, among those left in the office, it’s commonplace to see productivity plummet across [...]
UK wages unlikely to rise next year, think tank warns December 15, 2015 Workers in the UK are unlikely to experience a rise in their wages next year, according to a report by the Resolution Foundation. The think tank said pay will stagnate in 2016, unless productivity is steady and inflation goes up quicker than expected. Their current estimate is a pay increase of just one per cent. [...]