London’s FTSE 100 hit by slumping energy prices and downturn jitters September 7, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 today was ensnared by investors fretting over a slowdown in the world economy and falling energy prices. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.86 per cent to 7,237.83 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, edged 0.05 per cent lower to [...]
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 [...]
Fund exodus slows as UK retail investors pull £129m in July September 7, 2022 An exodus of UK retail investors slowed in July as just £129m was pulled out of funds by cautious punters, a sharp decrease from £4.5bn in June, according to new industry figures.
Property giant warns about growing fears of rapid slowdown in ‘a market teetering on the brink’ September 7, 2022 One of the UK’s biggest property groups has urged the new Prime Minister to address Britain’s housing crisis calling for “radical change”. The National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) told Morning Wire there is now growing fears of a rapid slowdown in a market which is “teetering on the brink”. And the NAPB added that [...]
GB Group shares surge as it confirms takeover interest September 7, 2022 Shares in software firm GB Group surged today as it confirmed a potential takeover swoop from US private equity firm GTCR, making it the latest British tech firm to fall into the sights of a foreign buyer.
Phones ringing in Canary Wharf as new Chancellor Kwarteng summons Britain’s bank and insurance chiefs September 7, 2022 The brand new Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, will set out the Government’s new economic approach to the bosses of UK’s major banks after he summoned the banking heavyweights to the Treasury for talks on his first full day in office. Along with the chief executives, the new occupant of No 11 Downing Street invited the leaders of [...]
Independence is ‘vital’ for effective regulation, say watchdogs September 7, 2022 The UK's top financial regulators have doubled down on their continued independence from political influence today as they warned that pursuing short term growth by "lowering" regulatory standards could threaten financial stability.
Yields on UK government debt scale to over 10-year high September 6, 2022 Yields on UK government debt hit their steepest level in over a decade today driven by investors fretting over the health of the country’s economy. The return on the benchmark 10-year gilt kissed 3.125 per cent, passing July 2011’s record. Five-gilt yields also climbed to the highest since August 2009, scaling to 3.061 per cent, [...]
Short sellers pile into UK firms amid political turmoil September 6, 2022 Short sellers piled into bets against UK firms in August as political turmoil and a looming recession continue to drag on London’s markets, new data has revealed. The UK made up 23.46 per cent of all short positions in Europe at the end of August, up from 22.6 per cent in July, followed by Germany [...]