12 h. ago Fed chair warns of high inflation and slower growth as Trump tells him to cut interest rates – live

Federal Reserve chair says ‘we face a highly uncertain outlook’ as president tells him to cut interest ratesPeople in the US: how have your shopping habits changed due to Trump’s tariffs?Trump insists he won’t back down from global trade war as markets slumpThe Trump administration is taking aim at Brown University with threats to freeze $510m in grants, widening its promise to withhold federal funding from schools it accuses of allowing antisemitism on campus, according to multiple media outlets including Reuters and the New York Times.University officials said they had not yet been formally notified, but the school was among dozens warned last month that enforcement actions could be coming as the administration seeks to crack down on academic institutions . Continue reading...

Events

14 h. ago Trump’s tariffs will likely mean ‘higher inflation and slower growth’, says Fed chair

While the US economy remains robust, Jerome Powell cautions there is high uncertainty over its directionUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s global tariffs assault is set to raise prices and slow down economic growth, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has warned, defying the US president’s demands for an immediate interest rate cut.While the US economy remains robust, Powell cautioned that there is high uncertainty over its direction. “Downside risks have risen,” he told an event in Arlington, Virginia, on Friday. Continue reading...

Economics

15 h. ago Trump dismisses China tariff retaliation and implores Fed to cut interest rates as stock market dives: Live

Trump’s trade war escalates as China strikes back with 34 percent tariffs on all U.S. goods, sending stocks sliding further after worst day since 2020

Politics

45 h. ago Asian countries riven by war and disaster face some of steepest Trump tariffs

Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos hit with rates over 40% as experts say the real target is ChinaBusiness live – latest updatesDeveloping nations in south-east Asia, including war-torn and earthquake-hit Myanmar, and several African nations are among the trading partners facing the highest tariffs set by Donald Trump.Upending decades of US trade policy and threatening to unleash a global trade war, the US president announced a raft of tariffs on Wednesday that he said were designed to stop the US economy from being “cheated”. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Odds of Bank of England interest rate cut strengthen after inflation falls to 2.8%

Bigger-than-forecast decline in annual rate in February is positive news for Rachel ReevesBusiness live – latest updatesThe odds of the Bank of England cutting interest rates in May have been strengthened after inflation cooled by more than forecast last month.In a boost for Rachel Reeves on the day of the chancellor’s spring statement, the Office for National Statistics said inflation as measured by the consumer prices index eased to 2.8% in February from 3% in January. Continue reading...

Economics

9 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

2 w. ago Next UK interest rate cut may not come until August after hawkish Bank of England hold – as it happened

Monetary Policy Committee votes 8-1 to leave UK interest rates unchanged at 4.5%Bank of England says companies freezing hiring plans as it keeps interest rates on holdIn the property world, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund is buying a quarter of Covent Garden.The Norges Bank Investment Management has entered a partnership with landlord Shaftesbury, and will pay £570m for a 25% stake in the Covent Garden estate.This investment underscores our belief in the strength of London with the portfolio complementing our other high quality West End investments.Covent Garden is one of the world’s most recognised retail, leisure and cultural destinations and we look forward to supporting Shaftesbury Capital’s management team, with their strong track record of delivering the growth potential of this prime West End estate.”“The reforms I have announced will ensure everyone who can work gets the active support they need, including through an extra £1 billion for personalised health, skills and employ...

Politics

2 w. ago Next UK interest rate cut may not come until August after hawkish Bank of England hold – business live

Monetary Policy Committee votes 8-1 to leave UK interest rates unchanged at 4.5%Bank of England says companies freezing hiring plans as it keeps interest rates on holdIn the property world, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund is buying a quarter of Covent Garden.The Norges Bank Investment Management has entered a partnership with landlord Shaftesbury, and will pay £570m for a 25% stake in the Covent Garden estate.This investment underscores our belief in the strength of London with the portfolio complementing our other high quality West End investments.Covent Garden is one of the world’s most recognised retail, leisure and cultural destinations and we look forward to supporting Shaftesbury Capital’s management team, with their strong track record of delivering the growth potential of this prime West End estate.”“The reforms I have announced will ensure everyone who can work gets the active support they need, including through an extra £1 billion for personalised health, skills and employ...

Economics

2 w. ago UK politics live: Bank of England holds interest rates after Trump tariffs spark global uncertainty

It comes amid an ongoing battle with inflation and uncertainty partly caused by the threat of tariffs by Donald Trump

Politics

2 w. ago Bank of England leaves interest rates on hold despite ‘intensifying’ trade war uncertainty – business live

Monetary Policy Committee votes 8-1 to leave UK interest rates unchanged at 4.5%In the property world, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund is buying a quarter of Covent Garden.The Norges Bank Investment Management has entered a partnership with landlord Shaftesbury, and will pay £570m for a 25% stake in the Covent Garden estate.This investment underscores our belief in the strength of London with the portfolio complementing our other high quality West End investments.Covent Garden is one of the world’s most recognised retail, leisure and cultural destinations and we look forward to supporting Shaftesbury Capital’s management team, with their strong track record of delivering the growth potential of this prime West End estate.”“The reforms I have announced will ensure everyone who can work gets the active support they need, including through an extra £1 billion for personalised health, skills and employment support for sick and disabled people.“We’ve already put in place measures to make ...

Economics

2 w. ago UK politics live: Badenoch pessimistic about local election chances as interest rates decision expected

Chancellor to lay out plans a week after Labour slashed welfare bill by £5bn

Politics

2 w. ago Bank of England expected to leave interest rates on hold today; global debt exceeds $100tn – business live

Monetary Policy Committee set to announce interest rate decision at noonIn the property world, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund is buying a quarter of Covent Garden.The Norges Bank Investment Management has entered a partnership with landlord Shaftesbury, and will pay £570m for a 25% stake in the Covent Garden estate.This investment underscores our belief in the strength of London with the portfolio complementing our other high quality West End investments.Covent Garden is one of the world’s most recognised retail, leisure and cultural destinations and we look forward to supporting Shaftesbury Capital’s management team, with their strong track record of delivering the growth potential of this prime West End estate.”“The reforms I have announced will ensure everyone who can work gets the active support they need, including through an extra £1 billion for personalised health, skills and employment support for sick and disabled people.“We’ve already put in place measures to make work pay...

Economics

2 w. ago Federal Reserve keeps interest rate unchanged, sees slower growth, slightly higher inflation ahead

The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday and signaled that it still expects to cut rates twice this year, though more policymakers forecast fewer cuts

Economics

3 w. ago FTSE 100 Live 14 March: Gold price milestone, GDP setback as Berkeley urges rate cut clarity

Recession fears stalked the City today after official figures showed the UK economy went back into reverse in January.

Politics

3 w. ago FTSE 100 Live 14 March: Gold price record, GDP falls as Berkeley urges rate cut clarity

Recession fears stalked the City today after official figures showed the UK economy went back into reverse in January.

Politics

3 w. ago Top shipping broker Clarksons says war and Trump tariff fears have hit revenues

Shares in FTSE 250 company fall by nearly a fifth as geopolitical turmoil pushes down freight ratesBusiness live – latest updatesThe world’s biggest ship broker has warned that geopolitical turmoil from war and Donald Trump’s tearing up of US foreign policy have hurt its revenues, sending its share price tumbling by nearly a fifth on Monday.Clarksons, which is listed on London’s FTSE 250 index of mid-sized companies, said the rates charged by shipping companies had dropped since the start of 2025, hit by concerns over the impact of tariffs. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago ECB cuts rates again and warns trade war fears are hurting Europe’s economy

Quarter-point cut to deposit rate, to 2.5%, comes as Trump prepares to impose tariffs on EU exports to USBusiness live – latest updatesThe European Central Bank has cut interest rates across the 20-member eurozone for the second time this year, and warned that trade war fears were hurting Europe’s economy.The Frankfurt-based rate setter cut its benchmark deposit rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 2.5%, in line with City economist expectations, as Trump prepared to impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from the EU, in line with similar actions taken against Canada and Mexico. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago European Central Bank cuts interest rates again, by quarter point – business live

Dollar slides after US president exempts carmakers from 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico; euro and sterling reverse earlier gainsThe eurozone saw the biggest slump in construction in three months in February, according to a separate survey.There was a marked reduction in new orders while cost pressures eased, according to a monthly report from Hamburg Commercial Bank.Unpleasant signals come from the Eurozone construction sector as the HCOB eurozone construction PMI in February shows deepening weakness that does not seem likely to fade soon. The recession now encompasses all three major Eurozone economies: Germany, France, and Italy.Although the ECB, particularly executive board member Isabel Schnabel, has signalled a pause in the rate-cutting phase to await further dynamics, the construction sector makes it clear that a delay in rate cuts in interest-sensitive areas can be fatal.Sharply declining order books rippled through the UK construction sector in February, which led to accele...

Economics

4 w. ago European Central Bank cuts interest rates for second time this year

Quarter-point cut to deposit rate, to 2.5%, comes as Europe fears Trump will soon impose tariffs on EU exports to USBusiness live – latest updatesThe European Central Bank has cut interest rates across the 20-member eurozone for the second time this year to bolster economic activity, as Europe braces for Donald Trump to impose damaging tariffs on EU exports to the US.The Frankfurt-based rate setter cut its benchmark deposit rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 2.5%, in line with City economist expectations, as Trump prepares to impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from the EU, in line with similar actions taken against Canada and Mexico. Continue reading...

Politics