As predicted by many analysts the UK’s GDP figure for the last quarter available came in at 0.7% taking annual growth up to 2.7%. One interesting stat from the print concerns the UK saving ratio which is now at 5.1% for 2013, versus 7.3% in 2012. The UK’s balance of payments came in way below […]
Despite the lacklustre retail figures over the Xmas period and the harsh (and very wet) weather experienced in January and February in the UK, retail sales have posted a very healthy increase in the latest print, courtesy of the UK’s official stats body the ONS. The monthly figure was a very credible 1.7% increase, whilst
In the overnight-early morning session the focus was mainly on the speech given by the RBS governor Stevens in which he delivered a very upbeat narrative on the state of the Australian economy causing the Aussie indices to rise significantly and the Aussie to rise versus the majority of its major peers. This commentary came
From the Conference Board overnight we received the latest print regarding China’s economic performance with the LEI showing a reading of 282.4, up by 0.9 on the month. From the UK the latest inflation figures are in showing that the UK’s CPI inflation rate has fallen to its lowest level since 2009 at 1.7% year
UK inflation reaches five year low as UK house prices reach five year high Read More »
There was mixed news regarding the various European Markit Economics PMIs that have been published this morning. The French Composite PMI reading for services and manufacturing has grown significantly, the print came in at 51.6, the rate of expansion was the sharpest in 31 months. Similarly, although Germany’s reading was down on that in February
France leads the way with a sharp increase in its Markit Economics Composite Read More »
The US Federal Reserve published some encouraging news as it stated yesterday evening that nearly all major US banks can survive a market crash; 29 out of 30. All of the big banks with the exception of Zions Bancorp stayed above the 5% requirement for top-tier capital in the latest round of stress tests. Russian
In the overnight session very positive news came courtesy of the New Zealand’s stats office as the economy enjoyed a 0.9% rise over the quarter up to December 2013. In Europe Germany published its latest producer prices showing a fall of 0.9% year on year. As the Swiss central bank announces no change to its
The UK’s unemployment count was published earlier this morning and it revealed that the unemployment rate remained the same at 7.2%, this despite more persons being employed although there was a marked drop in the amount of full time employees, versus an increase in self-employment. The ONS is claiming that there are in fact an
Overnight the RBA published its recent policy meeting minutes in which it committed to more of the same whilst noting the slight weakness reappearing in the USA economy. However, analysts and investors failed to take anything contained in the report as an open door for rate rises or asset purchase schemes, therefore the Aussie has
Italian trade balance collapses as deflation becomes a real and present danger to the EU Read More »
In the UK the news that the property market is beginning to fire on all cylinders was re enforced by two news items, firstly there is a return to what’s termed gazumping and secondly prices in the London capital, according to Rightmove, have reached a new recorded high of £555K. However, it actually gets worse
UK house prices increase, consumer confidence improves in New Zealand Read More »
