66 m. ago World markets and US dollar suffer worst monthly losses since 2022 as Trump trade war riles investors – business live

Shares slide after President Donald Trump says new reciprocal tariffs expected this week will include all nationsWall Street shrinks in response to price pressures, stoking fears of Trump tariffsEurope’s main stock indices are a sea of red, as investors react to Donald Trump’s declaration that the reciprocal tariffs he is set to announce this week will include all nations.Italy’s FTSE MIB index has dropped 1.4%, France’s CAC is down 1%, and Germany’s DAX has lost 0.95%.The tariffs imposed by the U.S. government and the fear of new announcements as early as Wednesday are creating a bleak atmosphere on trading floors worldwide. Just last Wednesday, the DAX was above 23,000 points, but it now appears that the index may soon test the 22,000 mark.The risk appetite seen in the initial weeks of the year has dissipated as investors and asset managers pull back, reduce positions, and refrain from taking on large new ones. The inclination to buy the dips has nearly vanished. Continue reading...

Economics

66 h. ago US consumer confidence hit by tariff fears; Thames Water’s finance chief leaving within days – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOver in Germany, the number of people out of work has risen at the fastest rate since October of 2024.The German labour office said the number of unemployed increased by 26,000 in seasonally adjusted terms to 2.92 million. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected that figure to rise by 10,000.“March marks the start of the so-called spring recovery on the labour market. This year, however, the economic slump is noticeably slowing it down.”One bright spot was the impressive 1.9% q/q (CE forecast 0.7% q/q) rise in consumers’ real incomes in Q4. The 4.2% rise in 2024 as a whole suggests households experienced the strongest real income growth in nine years.With consumer spending hardly rising, at 12.0% in Q4 (up from 10.3% in Q3), the saving rate remains unusually high, suggesting households are choosing to save rather than spend the bulk of those gains. Continue reading...

Economics

67 h. ago Tariff uncertainty risks ‘significant economic damage’; Thames Water’s finance chief leaving within days – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOver in Germany, the number of people out of work has risen at the fastest rate since October of 2024.The German labour office said the number of unemployed increased by 26,000 in seasonally adjusted terms to 2.92 million. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected that figure to rise by 10,000.“March marks the start of the so-called spring recovery on the labour market. This year, however, the economic slump is noticeably slowing it down.”One bright spot was the impressive 1.9% q/q (CE forecast 0.7% q/q) rise in consumers’ real incomes in Q4. The 4.2% rise in 2024 as a whole suggests households experienced the strongest real income growth in nine years.With consumer spending hardly rising, at 12.0% in Q4 (up from 10.3% in Q3), the saving rate remains unusually high, suggesting households are choosing to save rather than spend the bulk of those gains. Continue reading...

Economics

69 h. ago China’s Xi urges global CEOs to protect trade supply chains; UK’s 2024 growth revised higher, but households hoard cash – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOver in Germany, the number of people out of work has risen at the fastest rate since October of 2024.The German labour office said the number of unemployed increased by 26,000 in seasonally adjusted terms to 2.92 million. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected that figure to rise by 10,000.“March marks the start of the so-called spring recovery on the labour market. This year, however, the economic slump is noticeably slowing it down.”One bright spot was the impressive 1.9% q/q (CE forecast 0.7% q/q) rise in consumers’ real incomes in Q4. The 4.2% rise in 2024 as a whole suggests households experienced the strongest real income growth in nine years.With consumer spending hardly rising, at 12.0% in Q4 (up from 10.3% in Q3), the saving rate remains unusually high, suggesting households are choosing to save rather than spend the bulk of those gains. Continue reading...

Economics

2 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 28 March: New name for WH Smith high street stores, retail sales beat hopes

The WH Smith name is to disappear from the high street after 233 years.

Politics

2 d. ago China’s Xi urges global CEOs to protect trade supply chains; UK’s 2024 growth revised higher – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsToday’s UK national accounts data also shows that people stashed away more of their money into savings at the end of last year.The household saving ratio, which measure the proportion of income that is saved, rose to 12% in October-December 2024, up from 10.3% in the third quarter of last year.One bright spot was the impressive 1.9% q/q (CE forecast 0.7% q/q) rise in consumers’ real incomes in Q4. The 4.2% rise in 2024 as a whole suggests households experienced the strongest real income growth in nine years.With consumer spending hardly rising, at 12.0% in Q4 (up from 10.3% in Q3), the saving rate remains unusually high, suggesting households are choosing to save rather than spend the bulk of those gains.Non-food stores – the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores – rose by 3.1% over the month. This put monthly sales volumes at their highest level since March 2022.“The exceptional volatility in rec...

Economics

2 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 28 March: WH Smith sells high street stores, retail sales beat hopes

The WH Smith name is to disappear from the high street after 233 years.

Politics

3 d. ago China’s Xi urges global CEOs to protect trade supply chains; WH Smith sells high street stores – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares in WH Smith have dropped by 2.4% in early stock market trading in London, as traders digest the sale of its high street stores for £76m.Less encouragingly, the UK’s trade deficit has widened.finished manufactured goods (£1.8bn)semi-manufactured goods (£1.2bn)oil (£0.6bn)other fuels (£0.3bn)“The UK’s current account deficit with the rest of the world widened slightly in the latest quarter, driven by falling exports of goods.Our balance of payments statistics for recent years have been updated to incorporate improved measurement of foreign direct investment and corrected trade data.” Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago UK politics live: Business secretary calls for ‘cool heads’ after Reeves vows not to ‘escalate US trade wars’

A 25 per cent tariff on vehicles imported to the US will come into effect on 2 April, the US president announced

Politics

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 27 March: Next on a roll after £1bn profit, car industry stocks shaken by tariffs

The hot streak for Next continued today after the retailer racked up £1 billion profit and upgraded guidance.

Economics

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 27 March: Next posts £1bn profit, car industry stocks shaken by tariffs

The hot streak for Next continued today after the retailer racked up £1 billion profit and upgraded guidance.

Economics

4 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 26 March: Inflation boost ahead of Chancellor statement, Ocado surges

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts and a boost to defence spending when she delivers a statement to parliament today.

Economics

4 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 26 March: Inflation cheer ahead of Chancellor statement, Vistry halts dividend

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts and a boost to defence spending when she delivers a statement to parliament today.

Economics

5 d. ago Odds of May interest rate cut rise after UK inflation falls to 2.8% – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as pound dips after February’s inflation reportFurther benefits cuts planned as Rachel Reeves forced to find extra £1.6bnFive economic factors that will govern Rachel Reeves’s spring statementSterling is weakening a little, after UK inflation fell by more than expected this morning.The pound has lost nearly a third of a cent against the US dollar to $1.2915.The market reaction to this data has been minimal, as the focus remains on the Spring Statement later today.The pound has dropped slightly, but GBP/USD is down less than 20 pips so far on Wednesday, the bond markets are not open, but we think that UK Gilts will also have a mild reaction to this data. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago UK inflation falls to 2.8% ahead of Rachel Reeves’s spring statement – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news.Further benefits cuts planned as Rachel Reeves forced to find extra £1.6bnFive economic factors that will govern Rachel Reeves’s spring statementHere’s a chart showing the various price changes that pulled UK inflation down to 2.8% last month.Core inflation has also slowed in February, despite prices rising steadily in the services sector.“The Bank of England will be reassured by today’s fall in underlying inflation, with core inflation easing. We expect underlying inflationary pressures to fall further over the coming months. That will hopefully allow the MPC to look through the expected near-term increase in headline inflation and resume cutting interest rates in the upcoming May meeting.“Goods inflation fell to 0.8% in February, however ongoing trade frictions could push prices higher. With the potential imposition of tariffs, the cost of imported goods could increase, creating additional cost pressures for both businesse...

Economics

5 d. ago UK retail sales slump in March; Lower Thames Crossing approval welcomed (and criticised) – business live

UK retailers gloomy, while tunnel to connect A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex has been approved.Lower Thames Crossing plan for Essex and Kent approved by governmentEuropean stock markets are higher this morning, as investors cling to hopes that Donald Trump’s plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on trading partners could be more targetted than feared.The pan-European Stoxx 600 index has gained 0.57% this morning, with gains on the German DAX (+0.5%), French CAC (+0.9%) and Italian FTSE MIB (+0.7%).US markets are beginning to show some belief that President Trump’s strong arm negotiating tactics on tariffs might not be quite as punitive for the US economy as feared.There are growing hopes that if they are more targeted, as rumoured, they might helpshore up domestic industry, while securing better terms for the US on the global trading stage.Tesla currently faces a number of challenges in Europe, ahead of the launch of its new Model Y mid-size SUV this month. The EV maker ha...

Economics

5 d. ago UK retail sales slump in March amid weak confidence, CBI says – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsEuropean stock markets are higher this morning, as investors cling to hopes that Donald Trump’s plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on trading partners could be more targetted than feared.The pan-European Stoxx 600 index has gained 0.57% this morning, with gains on the German DAX (+0.5%), French CAC (+0.9%) and Italian FTSE MIB (+0.7%).US markets are beginning to show some belief that President Trump’s strong arm negotiating tactics on tariffs might not be quite as punitive for the US economy as feared.There are growing hopes that if they are more targeted, as rumoured, they might helpshore up domestic industry, while securing better terms for the US on the global trading stage.Tesla currently faces a number of challenges in Europe, ahead of the launch of its new Model Y mid-size SUV this month. The EV maker has a smaller, ageing lineup while traditional automaker rivals and new Chinese entrants alike continue to launch new, of...

Economics

6 d. ago Tesla’s EU sales almost halve this year; Hyundai announces $21bn US investment to avoid tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShell chief executive Wael Sawan’s pay package rose by 8.5% last year, to £8.6m, attracting criticism from environmental campaigners.Sawan’s pay rose from £7.9m in 2023, Shell’s annual report shows this morning, due to increased bonus payments such as through its long-term incentive plan.“After a year of unchartered climate extremes and huge energy bills, which are set to spike again in many countries this year, Wael Sawan’s obscene pay packet will feel like a slap in the face for millions.“It’s maddening to know that Big Oil bosses like Sawan are raking it in, as they double down on the oil and gas that’s fuelling climate devastation, and continue to profit from an energy crisis that’s leaving so many of us poorer.” Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Trump attacks The Atlantic as ‘going out of business’ after officials texted editor Yemen war plans: Live

President’s third Cabinet meeting taking place as tensions rise over Usha Vance’s upcoming visit to Greenland

Politics

7 d. ago Trump’s hints at ‘flexibility’ on reciprocal tariffs cheers markets – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsStocks have opened higher in London, lifted by those hopes that Donald Trump will show flexibility when he announces new global tariffs next month.The FTSE 100 share index is up 0.5%, or 42 points, at 8688 points, which recovers most of Friday’s losses.“There was no lack of capacity from the substations. Each substation individually can provide enough power to Heathrow.” Continue reading...

Economics