Confidence among UK business leaders falls after months of gains July 5, 2019 UK bosses were markedly more pessimistic about the economy in May than a month earlier, a new survey has shown, ending a trend of rising confidence levels since the start of the year. Read more: UK service sector ‘close to stagnation’ The confidence tracker from the Institute of Directors (IoD), a body for business leaders, [...]
Runners and riders: Who’s in line to take the top job at the IMF? July 4, 2019 George Osborne has become the surprise front-runner to take Christine Lagarde’s old job as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after reports emerged that he was eyeing the role. Read more: George Osborne vying for top role at IMF The post at the international lender of last resort has become vacant after Lagarde was [...]
Amateur hour? The City reacts to Christine Lagarde’s new job at the ECB July 4, 2019 After three long days of horse trading in Brussels, member state leaders on Tuesday plumped for Christine Lagarde to take the helm at the hugely powerful European Central Bank (ECB). Read more: City economists warn Lagarde poses ‘credibility risk’ as ECB chief The decision took many pundits by surprise. Of the names touted to take [...]
Eurozone retail sales see surprise fall in May July 4, 2019 Retail sales in the Eurozone unexpectedly fell for the second month in a row in May, in a sign that consumer spending is weakening in the struggling area. Read more: Eurozone manufacturing falls to three-month low as downturn drags on The volume of retail trade fell by 0.3 per cent in May compared to April, [...]
Low-emission car registrations fall for first time in two years July 4, 2019 UK registrations of alternatively-fuelled cars fell in June for the first time since April 2017, with a major industry body blaming confusion over low-emission zones and incentives. Read more: Hybrid and diesel car sales fall in May amid government policy confusion Overall new car registrations in the UK fell for the fourth month in a [...]
City economists warn Lagarde poses ‘credibility risk’ as ECB chief July 4, 2019 City economists digested the news of Christine Lagarde’s nomination as European Central Bank (ECB) president yesterday with some warning of a “credibility risk” while others welcomed her expected dovish stance. Read more: IMF chief Lagarde among surprise picks for EU top jobs European Union member state leaders surprised pundits on Tuesday night by picking Lagarde, [...]
George Osborne vying for top role at IMF July 4, 2019 George Osborne is mulling a bid to become the next head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to reports, after its current managing director Christine Lagarde was tapped for the top job at the European Central Bank (ECB). Read more: IMF chief Christine Lagarde among surprise picks for EU top job Currently editor of [...]
DEBATE: Is Christine Lagarde a smart pick to take over from Mario Draghi at the European Central Bank? July 4, 2019 Is Christine Lagarde a smart pick to take over from Mario Draghi at the European Central Bank? Yes, says Pierre Ortlieb, an economist at OMFIF Christine Lagarde’s tentative appointment reflects the challenges that the ECB will face in its third decade. Post-crisis unconventional monetary policy and the Bank’s prominence in the continent’s capital markets have [...]
FTSE 100 hits 11-month high on interest rate cut hopes July 3, 2019 The UK’s FTSE 100 stock index has hit an 11-month high today, boosted by the growing chances of interest rate cuts, a falling pound, and hopes of a resolution to the US-China trade war. Read more: Dollar falls as Fed holds interest rates but strikes dovish tone Meanwhile the pound has fallen to its lowest [...]
UK service sector ‘close to stagnation’ as economy slows July 3, 2019 The UK service sector came close to registering zero growth in June as Brexit uncertainty dented demand, according to data provider IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS). Read more: UK construction sector suffers worst output in 10 years The poor performance indicates the economy has slipped into contraction for the [...]
