New bond lows
So Lake Ontario is now to be called Lake America and so a wag has said Canada Geese are also now called Donald Ducks… oh well, let’s await developments there… the loyalists fought-back against the American invaders in the 1812 war and won and the White House was burned-down in 1814. Let’s trust they...
FTSE flies but what’s inside?
Welcome to a new all-time high for the FTSE100. Remember, it’s just a number and it’s the contents which are important and what are powering the underlying indices. Banks have been very strong (Lloyds’ results yesterday saw the shares at their highest since 2009) and now Rolls Royce is a major component too.
Oils are...
The good, the bad and SpaceX
Some news’ improvement amongst the negative developments in the Middle East (again) - US inflation went down to 3.5%, somewhat unexpectedly. That should give some respite in interest rates and the strength of the Dollar. Meantime, here at home our economy grew by 0.1%, led by services.
It’s not much and it is primarily a...
Some growth but inflation bites
It’s been good to see some economic growth with an unexpected 0.3% figure in November. Services and production rose and construction fell. The results at least counter some of the previous slippage but won’t be giving a great annualised figure regardless – but all helping.
Likewise, whilst we read a colossal 700,000 graduates are unemployed,...
Uncertainty and wobbles on global stage
Some really positive news from the Middle East at last. Whatever you think of him, well done President Trump for being the catalyst – time to move onto Russia in earnest now. Let us hope that this awful conflict will also be over very soon now.
Sadly, economically at home, unemployment rises, wage growth slows,...
Savings, tax and stocks to hold?
Last week we were greeted with even higher inflation figures, apparently fuelled by higher aviation costs though primarily the problem remains reaction to the Government’s increases in Minimum Wage, National Insurance and other business costs and taxes. Curiously, at the same time the cost of oil and gas has been very weak but not...
‘Unexpected’ inflation really wasn’t
So we have been greeted with an ‘unexpected’ 3.6% inflation and unemployment rising at the same time that vacancies are diminishing (the lowest since Covid). Anyone reading these eshots and realising the increases in costs on employers would not have seen these two things as ‘unexpected’ at all.
Indeed, perhaps the Government should subscribe to...
Inflation remains stubborn
So, inflation remain stubbornly high at 3.4% despite people not feeling especially confident about spending. So much of our outgoings now go towards ‘tax’ of course and we don’t have any control over that (but government does)… So businesses and organisations are obliged to increase their prices to cover increased costs (especially employment but...
Inflation slows but is it the calm before the storm?
While the news inflation slowed in March to 2.6% is welcome and an interest rate cut is widely expected next month, it may simply be a brief glow of light to ward off the spectre of ‘stagflation’ a little longer.
The recent quakes from Trump’s tariffs have subsided for now and some analysts are upbeat...