Linchpin to Biden’s $1.75 trillion infrastructure bill pulls support December 19, 2021 A key linchpin in ensuring President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion infrastructure bill’s safe passage yesterday ruled himself out of backing it. US senator Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat who represents a crucial vote for Biden’s bill, said he would not support the package. “I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation,” Manchin told [...]
Concerns over looming circuit breaker lockdown to weigh on London markets this week December 19, 2021 Concerns over whether the UK is heading for a pre-Christmas circuit breaker lockdown are likely to loom over investors this week. Ministers are reportedly drawing up plans to saddle Britain with tighter restrictions on socialising and household mixing to curb the rapid spread of Omicron. Health secretary Sajid Javid yesterday refused to rule out imposing [...]
New record of 830,000 Covid booster jabs administered in a day December 19, 2021 The number of jabs being delivered to patients in England has hit a new record with 906,656 people receiving vaccines yesterday.
Competition watchdog investigates complaint over treatment of whistleblower December 19, 2021 The UK's competition authority has reportedly launched an internal investigation into claims a director pressured a whistleblower to retract claims.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid refuses to rule out new restrictions before Christmas December 19, 2021 Health Secretary Sajid Javid has refused to rule out a circuit breaker lockdown being introduced before Christmas.
Inflation has been Odyssey of 2021 for a behind the curve Bank of England December 17, 2021 Odysseus famously stuffed his ears with beeswax to avoid being lured by the sirens. Thousands of households across Britain were likely doing something similar to stop themselves from wincing at the final inflation reading of the year. Prices are now 5.1 per cent higher than they were a year ago. For anyone with an appetite, [...]
Omicron and virus curbs deals blow to Brits’ confidence December 17, 2021 The emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has dealt a blow to Brits’ optimism, according to a closely watched survey published today. Consumer confidence edged back one point over the last month to minus 15 in December, research by GfK found. The dip has been driven by households’ confidence in their personal finances over [...]
Londoners squeezed by relentless cost of living in the capital December 17, 2021 Londoners are being squeezed by the relentless high cost of living in the capital, reveals a new study published today. Polling by Ipsos MORI funded by London Councils found around one in five of all Londoners think the cost of living is the most pressing issue impacting them. Private renters and young people living in [...]
Bank of England defies expectations and hikes rates for first time in three years December 16, 2021 The Bank of England today defied the City’s expectations and hiked interest rates for the first time in three years. The Bank’s rate setting committee voted 8-1 in favour, including governor Andrew Bailey, of lifting rates 15 basis points from a record low 0.1 per cent to 0.25 per cent, making it the first major [...]
FTSE: Lloyds, Barclays and Natwest shares surge on Bank of England surprise interest rate hike December 16, 2021 London markets are up around one per cent this lunchtime after a surprise interest rate hike from the Bank of England saw Lloyds Bank, Barclays and Natwest shares take off. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index was still up 0.99 per cent after the rates call from Threadneedle Street, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index, [...]
