PMI: House building shrinks for first time since beginning of pandemic July 6, 2022 A slowdown in the UK economy triggered by the cost of living crisis has led to house building stalling, a closely watched survey published today reveals. Activity in the UK house building sector dropped for the first time since May 2020, when the country was in the teeth of the most onerous pandemic restrictions, according [...]
Pound still at lowest level since start of pandemic amid government chaos July 6, 2022 The British pound is at its lowest level since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 as the UK government faces a political crisis. The pound has slid 0.6% today to $1.1883 as a wave of ministers resigned from Boris Johnson’s government. Sterling initially dropped more than a cent to below $1.20 for [...]
Zahawi to review planned Corporation Tax hike as PM clings on July 6, 2022 New chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has vowed to review a planned increase in Corporation Tax for the UK’s largest companies as Boris Johnson tries to cling onto power. Zahawi told the BBC today that “nothing was off the table”, including a potential scrapping of a planned increase in Corporation Tax for the UK’s largest firms from [...]
Bank of England will sign off steeper rate hike if inflation persists, chief economist warns July 6, 2022 The Bank of England will ramp up the pace of its tightening cycle if inflation continues to motor ahead, its chief wonk said today. Speaking at the London and Qatar centre for global banking and finance conference at Kings College, Huw Pill, chief economist at the Bank, said its latest forward guidance reflects “my willingness [...]
Consumer confidence plunges to Covid lockdown lows as households’ financial worries spiral July 6, 2022 Consumer confidence in the economy has plunged to its lowest point since the start of the pandemic as Sainsbury’s top boss warned the worst was yet to come. According to Which? research published today, only eight per cent of consumers felt the UK economy would improve over the next 12 months. However, nearly eight in [...]
Bank of England economy warning sends London markets lower July 5, 2022 London markets were dragged lower today by the Bank of England warning the UK economy is headed for a tough time over the coming year. The capital’s premier index shed nearly three per cent to close at 7,025.47 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the [...]
Euro tumbles to 20-year low against the dollar on rising recession risk July 5, 2022 The euro has tumbled to its lowest level against the dollar in two decades caused by investors ditching European assets on fears the bloc will tip into recession soon. The currency used by 19 European countries – soon to be 20 when Croatia joins the union next January – fell around 1.3 per cent against [...]
doceo Watch List July 5, 2022 Discount Watch: 9 That’s the number of trusts whose discounts hit 52-week highs over the last seven days – an improvement on last week’s 14. Of the nine, three make an appearance for the second consecutive week: UK investor Diverse Income Trust (DIVI); Baillie Gifford European Growth (BGEU); and European big box investor Tritax EuroBox (EBOX). Sector-wise, property and private equity [...]
HgCapital and a dash of HG Sauce July 5, 2022 Inflation on the up; recession threat rising; markets in the land of the bears – just three of the issues confronting the private equity sector today. Standard operating procedure for investors in private equity investment trusts when faced with such a backdrop? Assume heavy NAV markdowns, a dearth of realisations and significant widening of discounts. [...]
Cautious consumers send chill through UK services economy July 5, 2022 Consumers are rolling back spending at pubs, bars and restaurants in response to rampant inflation whacking their budgets, reveals a closely watched survey published today. New business growth in Britain’s services industry, its economic engine, slowed to its worst level in 16 months in June, according to S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI). The cool [...]
