Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open October 19, 2016 The global economic picture is looking rosier as the UK labour market holds up in the face of the shock vote to quit the European Union and the Chinese economy is showing signs of stabilising. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. US futures are mixed ahead of the [...]
Jobs market holds up as experts await Brexit hit October 19, 2016 The UK labour market is holding up well in the face of the shock vote to leave the EU, though experts say it is just a matter of time before wages come under pressure and jobs stutter. Employment and pay growth managed to beat expectations in figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) [...]
The pound’s doing what the pound does best October 19, 2016 Of course it was too good to be true. Yesterday, the FTSE 100 rose and the pound was up by more than one per cent against the dollar and the euro. But those who said such a mighty jump to the giddy highs of $1.23 and €1.12 (compared to $1.48 and €1.30 back in June), [...]
Leaked government documents reveal £75bn cost of hard Brexit October 19, 2016 Theresa May has come under fire for regurgitating pre-referendum economic warnings to claim leaving the EU Customs Union would cost the UK £75bn and inflict travel chaos across the country. According to The Guardian, the Prime Minister has circulated papers to top cabinet colleagues on her Brexit planning committee outlining the potential mutli-billion pound cost of a [...]
China reports “better than expected” economic growth October 19, 2016 China’s economy is showing signs of stability after the nation’s government reported growth at an annual rate of 6.7 per cent in the last quarter. The growth figure for the three months to September was in line with forecasts and at the same rate as the previous two quarters. Read more: Chinese trade tumbles amid [...]
Inequality doesn’t matter if we’re all paid according to the value we create October 18, 2016 Log on to Netflix and you can catch old episodes of Dirty Jobs, where you can watch host Mike Rowe visit plumbers, pig farmers, and steel mill workers and try his hand at some of the less sexy but utterly fascinating jobs that help make the world around us possible. All of these people work incredibly hard, [...]
Thank competition – not magical central bankers – for years of moderate inflation October 18, 2016 Tempers are fraying at the highest levels of economic policy-making in the UK. Theresa May, at the Conservative Party conference, emphasised the “bad side effects” for savers of the Bank of England’s policy of near-zero interest rates, a position reinforced by former Tory leader William Hague in the Telegraph this week. A few days ago, Mark [...]
Brexit deal and EU trade policy in the spotlight as EU-Canada deal falters October 18, 2016 The EU’s entire trade policy was brought into question today after political squabbling looked set to cast another delay to the landmark EU-Canada free trade agreement. Following a regional parliament in Belgium voting against the deal last week, trade ministers from the other 27 EU countries were forced to issue an ultimatum to the Belgian [...]
Sterling and FTSE 100 jump as inflation hits two-year high October 18, 2016 Sterling recovered some poise today, soaring higher after inflation jumped to a two-year high. The FTSE 100 also jumped back above 7,000 in early morning trading, fading only slightly to end the day up 0.7 per cent at 6,994 as traders and investors digested the news that prices rose by one per cent in the year to [...]
Autumn Statement 2016: Infrastructure boom to provide Brexit boost for construction sector October 18, 2016 The construction industry looks set to be the shining light of the UK’s post-Brexit economy as the industry benefits from an infrastructure spending spree over the next decade. Researchers at BMI Research, part of the Fitch Group, which also owns the powerful ratings agency, said the construction sector will grow at a rate of 2.8 [...]