Eurozone inflation unexpectedly turns negative in September September 30, 2015 Large falls in energy prices pushed the Eurozone back into deflation for the first time in six months, according to an initial estimate from the official statistics agency. Consumer prices across the single currency bloc fell to minus 0.1 per cent in September, more than economists expected, and down from plus 0.1 per cent a [...]
Pound wobbles as UK GDP growth is revised lower for the second quarter September 30, 2015 Mixed news from the Office for National Statistics, after its final estimate of UK GDP held second-quarter growth at 0.7 per cent, but revised year-on-year growth for the quarter down to 2.4 per cent, from the 2.6 per cent it originally thought. The pound fell to a five-month low against the US dollar to $1.51 [...]
Global markets on track for worst quarter since 2011 September 30, 2015 The commodity price rout, fresh concerns over the Chinese economy as well as its shock devaluation, and the prospect of the first interest rate rise from the US Fed since 2006 are some of the factors which made this summer a white knuckle ride for investors. Given this, it's hardly surprising that global markets are [...]
Nationwide: Annual UK house price growth edges up September 30, 2015 Annual UK house price growth rose in September for the first time since May, figures by Nationwide have shown – although the figure was a far cry from the same period this time last year. Prices rose 3.8 per cent in the year to September – up from August's 3.2 per cent, but considerably lower [...]
The business case for boardroom diversity: Diverse boards outperform male-only peers by £430bn September 30, 2015 Boardroom diversity boosts business, as diverse boards are outperforming their all-male peers by billions. Listed companies in the UK, US and India with at least one woman on their board beat male-only boards by $430bn in 2014, according to a report from Grant Thornton which measured the difference in returns on assets. Although this isn’t [...]
VW emissions scandal: Volkswagen’s reputation has been driven off cliff September 30, 2015 Volkswagen has had better weeks. As the first major car maker caught up in the diesel emissions scandal, the public’s feelings towards the previously loved German marque have plummeted. YouGov’s Buzz score – measuring whether people have heard positive or negative news about the brand in the past two weeks – has declined over [...]
UK house prices: Home lending mortgage products reach post-crisis high September 30, 2015 The number of mortgage products on the market for homebuyers to choose from are at their highest level since 2008, as competition among lenders intensifies, new figures show. A total of 15,838 mortgage products were available in August, up 10 per cent on July when there were 14,395 products and the biggest monthly percentage rise [...]
European M&A at highest levels for eight years September 30, 2015 M&A deals are getting bigger and better as a set of data shows their value is rising even as their numbers are falling. According to research from law firm CMS, the value of deals in the first half of 2015 was at its highest level since 2007 – up 17 per cent – from 14 [...]
UK consumers’ confidence hit by school return September 30, 2015 Consumer confidence in Britain has taken a knock in the past month due to back-to-school blues, according to German-based market research company GfK. The index, released today, measuring changes in personal finances during the past 12 months has decreased by two points this month to one, but still nine points higher than September 2014. The [...]
Revolution Bars report increase in profits after successful IPO September 30, 2015 Revolution Bars yesterday posted an increase in revenues and profits in its first results since floating on the London Stock Exchange. The group reported a 2.9 per cent increase in sales, to £111.8m, and profits before tax of £2.9m at the end of June, up from £2.6m in 2014. Shareholders would be paid their first [...]