Omicron and virus curbs deals blow to Brits’ confidence December 17, 2021 The emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has dealt a blow to Brits’ optimism, according to a closely watched survey published today. Consumer confidence edged back one point over the last month to minus 15 in December, research by GfK found. The dip has been driven by households’ confidence in their personal finances over [...]
Bank of England defies expectations and hikes rates for first time in three years December 16, 2021 The Bank of England today defied the City’s expectations and hiked interest rates for the first time in three years. The Bank’s rate setting committee voted 8-1 in favour, including governor Andrew Bailey, of lifting rates 15 basis points from a record low 0.1 per cent to 0.25 per cent, making it the first major [...]
FTSE: Lloyds, Barclays and Natwest shares surge on Bank of England surprise interest rate hike December 16, 2021 London markets are up around one per cent this lunchtime after a surprise interest rate hike from the Bank of England saw Lloyds Bank, Barclays and Natwest shares take off. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index was still up 0.99 per cent after the rates call from Threadneedle Street, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index, [...]
Outcry: Chinese creditors sue collapsed Evergrande for $13bn December 16, 2021 Chinese creditors have sued collapsed property giant Evergrande for more than $13bn (£9.7bn) for alleged overdue payments.
PMI: Omicron curbs on daily life wreak havoc on UK economy December 16, 2021 Strict restrictions on Brits’ daily lives are wreaking havoc on the UK economy, reveals a closely watched survey released this morning. The flash purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a timely indicator of the health of the British economy, plummeted to 53.2 in December, a 10-month low and down from 57.6 in November, according to IHS Markit [...]
Taxman takes the festive cheer out of Christmas December 16, 2021 British households are set to be stung by a Christmas tax of over £190 on their festive shopping this year, reveals new research published today. The average UK household will have to cough up £191.75 on their festive shopping this year, according to the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA). John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, [...]
Some economists hold out hope for Bank of England rate hike December 15, 2021 The Bank of England would have hiked interest rates sharply to quash the over 10-year high inflation print if the UK was not in the teeth of the Covid-19 crisis, according to City economists. That’s the prediction from analysts at Bank of America, who today said: “In normal times, the BoE would likely already have [...]
Decade-high inflation print dials up pressure on Bank of England to hike rates December 15, 2021 Pressure on the Bank of England to hike rates is dialling up amid swelling energy bills causing inflation to skyrocket to its highest level in over a decade. The cost of living climbed to 5.1 per cent last month, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today, smashing analysts’ expectations and [...]
China’s Evergrande: not so grand financial statements? December 15, 2021 | City Talk Evergrande Group is the latest listed company to unexpectedly find itself on the verge of bankruptcy. When businesses are thrust into public view for the wrong reasons, my first thought is always whether trouble could have been coming. To see if the Chinese property development giant’s travails could have been anticipated, I looked at its [...]
Soaring fuel and clothes prices push inflation to 5.1 per cent, its highest level in a decade December 15, 2021 Spiralling prices in transport and retail have pushed inflation to its highest level for a decade piling pressure on the BoE to hike rates.