Bank of England set to hold policy amid Brexit and lockdown uncertainty December 16, 2020 The Bank of England is set to leave interest rates on hold when it announces monetary policy tomorrow, according to analysts, after expanding its bond-buying programme sharply last month. Economists said there was little reason for the Bank to act. The latest lockdown measures have not been as damaging as feared, while the BoE asset-purchase [...]
Before the Bell: Coronavirus mutation unsettles the market as London faces Tier 3 December 15, 2020 European markets underwent a rather mixed session yesterday, with the FTSE100 underperforming after it was announced that London and a good part of the south east of England was being put into tier 3 restrictions at midnight tonight, due to a new strain of the coronavirus which was spreading at a faster rate. “This of [...]
S&P: No-deal Brexit could threaten UK credit rating December 14, 2020 The UK’s credit rating could come under pressure if there is a no-deal Brexit that badly dents the country’s economic recovery, ratings agency S&P Global has said. It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen pledged to extend Brexit talks beyond Sunday. The pound rose sharply today amid [...]
FTSE 100 lags but pound jumps as markets weigh Brexit latest December 14, 2020 The FTSE 100 lagged behind its European peers as the pound rose the most in nearly two months after the UK and EU agreed to extend post-Brexit trade talks. Elsewhere, stocks climbed strongly amid signs of progress in US stimulus talks, and as the country prepared to roll out the first coronavirus vaccines. London’s main [...]
Britain has ‘most to lose from Brexit’, says French finance minister December 14, 2020 The French finance minister Bruno Le Maire has said that he believes the UK has more to lose from Brexit than the EU. “The British people will be the biggest losers from Brexit … Brexit, to use an expression of the late John Le Carre is a political, economic and historical folly,” Le Maire told France info radio. Le [...]
Brexit will not affect UK vaccine supplies, says business secretary December 14, 2020 UK Business Secretary said that a no-deal Brexit will not affect supplies of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine.
Pound jumps more than one per cent after Brexit talks extended December 14, 2020 Investors have driven the pound up more than one per cent against the dollar and euro amid optimism about the extension of Brexit talks. Yesterday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen agreed to “go the extra mile” and extend the deadline for trade talks. Von der Leyen said [...]
Before the Bell: Deadlines come, and deadlines go December 14, 2020 Uncertainty over the prospect of a stimulus deal or economic aid package saw US markets finish last week on the back foot, as US politicians once again put party politics ahead of the people they are supposed to represent. “With a deadline fast approaching by year end US lawmakers are once again split down the [...]
London retains finance jobs as Brexit fails to deliver blow to the City December 14, 2020 Warnings that Brexit would deliver a major shock to the City’s financial services jobs have failed to pay off, with international banks maintaining the bulk of their UK staff since the 2016 referendum. A survey of 24 major international banks and asset managers by the Financial Times found that the majority had increased their London [...]
Supermarkets begin stockpiling food in case of no-deal Brexit December 13, 2020 The UK’s largest supermarkets have begun stockpiling food and other products, after being warned about the potential of a no-deal Brexit by the government. Supermarkets and ministers are reportedly worried about the prospect of consumers panic buying before 1 January if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, while food producers are warning of [...]