Today the base rate rose to its highest level since the financial crisis 10 years ago, with the Bank of England increasing it to 0.75%. All 9 members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), chaired by Mark Carney, voted to raise the rate. This was widely expected by both the market and commentators, given that
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Stock-Market Volatility – February 2018 After a lengthy stretch of calm, stock market volatility has returned this week. On Monday, the Dow Jones index fell 1,175 points, the single largest one-day drop in history. This has affected the UK stock-markets also. The FTSE 100 has dropped over the last week, with six consecutive days of
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As we enter 2018 it is conceivable that the world’s leading economies will continue to display strength and resilience. The US economy is strong and the eurozone economies are improving along with an increase in global trade. This improvement among developed economies should also have a positive impact on the manufacturing economies of East Asia
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A question on people’s minds at the moment is ‘Are we about to experience a stock market downturn?’ given the length of time we have been in a ‘bull market’ and also in light of the uncertainty regarding Brexit etc. Here we discuss the key findings within our domestic and the international economies and what
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Current Position Inflation figures for June revealed an unexpected fall in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate to 2.6% after seven months of rising rates and May’s high of 2.9%. Possibly, inflation is now at, or close to, its post-Brexit-vote peak, and an interest rate rise may not be forthcoming after all. The recent inflation dip
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Following the announcement for a ‘snap-election’ on the 8th June, there has been speculative activity among traders with sharp moves in the value of the pound and UK companies. What Happened and Why? Theresa May is said to want greater power and leverage in the Brexit negotiations which she expects to be gained from a
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The new pension freedoms were launched in April 2015. It would be fair to say that these are a double-edged sword if used in wrong way. Unfortunately, like a credit card, it depends who is in control. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should! Used well, these can add real benefit, but used poorly
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This will be the last Autumn Statement. In future, the Budget Day will switch from spring to autumn, with a toned down statement on the economy delivered each March. This will give welcome breathing space between the announcement of budget changes and their introduction. Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement didn’t contain any major tax or
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As with Brexit, not may people foresaw Donald Trump emerging as winner of the US presidential election. There is obviously a considerable amount of discontent and frustration across Western democracies. This election result is a vote against the political establishment from a large part of society that is angry that government policy has done little
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Following the Brexit vote, Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer has sought to reassure British businesses amid uncertainty in the wake of the vote to leave the EU. He told members at the Conservative Party conference there may be a rocky road ahead. “We are ready to take whatever steps are necessary to protect this
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