9 h. ago Asian shares sell off as US curbs on Nvidia chip sales to China fuel trade fears; UK inflation slows to 2.6% – business live

Gold surges nearly 2% to new record high; UK food inflation slows and fuel prices fall while clothes prices riseFinancial markets are betting on an interest rate cut from the Bank of England meeting at its May meeting, estimating an 86% probability.They have fully priced in three quarter-point rate reductions this year.A sharp pickup in inflation from April is all but guaranteed. Ofgem’s 6.4% increase to its price cap, after a large fall last year, means we expect the energy component will add 0.7ppts to CPI inflation in April. A significant increase in water bills means the contribution from the core goods category is also set to rise. In addition, we expect businesses to pass on some of the increase in labour costs caused by the recent rises in employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the National Living Wage onto consumers. Inflation is likely to peak in the autumn, before starting to cool as the contribution from the energy category fades.The MPC has lowered Bank R...

Economics

56 h. ago ‘The sky won’t fall’: China plays down Trump tariff risks as stock markets rally

Chinese customs official says trade has diversified away from US in recent years and plays up its ‘vast domestic market’Business live – latest updatesChina has played down the risk of damage to its exports from Donald Trump’s tariffs, with an official saying the “the sky won’t fall”, as stock markets rose on Monday amid signs of a retreat on electronics restrictions.The world’s second-largest economy has diversified its trade away from the US in recent years, according to Lyu Daliang, a customs administration spokesperson, in comments reported by state-owned agency Xinhua. Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago Stock markets rise on signs of Trump tariff retreat; British Steel races to keep furnaces burning – business live

Chinese exports jump as official says ‘the sky won’t fall,’ despite warning from US officials that smartphone and laptop exemption from import tariffs on China will be short-livedMatt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said:Just when it seemed the tariff chaos couldn’t get any worse, tech investors have spent the weekend scrambling to make sense of a whirlwind of confusing - and at times contradictory - messages coming out of the White House. Despite the drama, European markets have taken an easing stance on US tech components as a positive in a broad-based rally this morning, with the FTSE 100 up 1.5% in early trading.This time, it’s chips, smartphones, and other tech components taking centre stage. While there were early signs on Friday night that some broad exemptions might be in play, it turns out tariffs are still very much on the table. But here’s the twist: despite the messy rollout, what’s caught investors’ attention is the news that these products won’t...

Economics

67 h. ago Tariffs live: UK suspends some tariffs to ease business tension as trade deal ‘days away’

Breakthrough between UK and the US over tariffs could be reached in the coming days

Economics

4 d. ago Tariffs live: US central bank threatens to step in as Trump still defends levies

President insists policy ‘doing really well’ despite China hiking tariffs on American goods to 125 per cent

Politics

4 d. ago Tariffs live: Trump insists policy ‘doing really well’ despite China hiking levies on American goods to 125%

Beijing will ignore further US action as ‘there is no possibility of market acceptance for US goods’ at current tariff level

Politics

4 d. ago White House says there is ‘great optimism’ in the economy despite ongoing market volatility – business live

Markets pick up slightly after earlier falls amid increasing fears of recession while White House insists Trump’s tariffs are ‘proven economic formula’US stocks fall again after rally following Trump’s shock retreat on tariffsWhat are bonds and why have they spooked Donald Trump?The US dollar slumped on Friday as waning confidence in the US economy prompted investors to ditch US assets to the benefit of safe havens like the Swiss franc, yen and euro, as well as gold.The yellow metal recorded a new all-time peak in early Asia trade, and the franc notched a fresh decade high, Reuters reports.There has been a pronounced ‘sell US’ vibe flowing through broad markets and into the classic safe-haven assets, with the USD losing the safe-haven bid. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago Tariffs live: White House insists countries need US markets to survive as ‘phones ringing’ to make trade deals

The share markets reacted after China lifted tariffs on US goods to 125 per cent and said it would ignore any further US levy increases in the escalating trade war

Economics

5 d. ago Tariffs live: Global markets unstable while Trump says US ‘doing really well’ on trade policy

The share markets reacted after China lifted tariffs on US goods to 125 per cent and said it would ignore any further US levy increases in the escalating trade war

Politics

5 d. ago Tariffs live: China hits US with fresh levies and vows it will ‘fight to the end’ in Trump trade war

China has lifted tariffs on US goods to 125 per cent and said it would ignore any further US levy increases in the escalating trade war

Events

5 d. ago More Brits rush to buy gold which hits record high price as Trump tariffs war wipes trillions off shares

Investors are also piling into buying the Swiss franc and the yen while the US dollar has slumped amid the US president’s trade chaos

Economics

5 d. ago GDP jump offers Rachel Reeves some light as UK enters Trump tariff tunnel

Growth defied forecasts that chancellor had hobbled economy, but trade war casts long shadowUK economy far exceeds forecasts to grow 0.5%Business live – latest updatesEarlier this year Rachel Reeves was being written off for having jeopardised Britain’s economy. The chancellor’s tax-raising autumn budget had sapped business investment, spooked the financial markets and put the jobs market at risk.The latest official figures showing stronger-than-expected economic growth of 0.5% in February will therefore come as a boost for the embattled chancellor, in a sign that the economy was in better health than her critics claimed. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago The price of gold has hit a record high. Here’s why and the ways to invest

The precious metal has long been considered a ‘safe haven’ during times of uncertainty - and the current trade war is no different

Economics

5 d. ago Tariffs live: China raises levies to 125% on US as Trump trade war escalates

British and European markets show signs of recovery as US president threatens to go ahead with ‘reciprocal’ levies

Politics

5 d. ago Gold hits record high as Donald Trump trade war with China intensifies

The price of the precious metal rose to above $3,200 an ounce as investors flock to the so-called 'safe haven' asset in the wake of the trade war between Washington and Beijing

Events

5 d. ago China raises tariffs on US goods from 84% to 125%, finance ministry says – business live

China’s finance ministry said it will resolutely take countermeasures against Trump tariffs and fight to the endUS stocks fall again after rally following Trump’s shock retreat on tariffsLife in Shanghai, China’s commercial capital, goes on but anti-US sentiment is hardeningThe US dollar slumped on Friday as waning confidence in the US economy prompted investors to ditch US assets to the benefit of safe havens like the Swiss franc, yen and euro, as well as gold.The yellow metal recorded a new all-time peak in early Asia trade, and the franc notched a fresh decade high, Reuters reports.There has been a pronounced ‘sell US’ vibe flowing through broad markets and into the classic safe-haven assets, with the USD losing the safe-haven bid. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago Tariffs live: Gold prices hit record high after Trump admits concerns over transition ‘costs’

Falling stocks across Asia follow Wall Street sell-off as US president threatens to go ahead with ‘reciprocal’ levies

Economics

5 d. ago FTSE 100 opens higher as Macron warns Trump tariff suspension only a ‘fragile pause’ – business live

European markets open following a mixed picture across Asia with the Nikkei showing another fallUS stocks fall again after rally following Trump’s shock retreat on tariffsLife in Shanghai, China’s commercial capital, goes on but anti-US sentiment is hardeningThe US dollar slumped on Friday as waning confidence in the US economy prompted investors to ditch US assets to the benefit of safe havens like the Swiss franc, yen and euro, as well as gold.The yellow metal recorded a new all-time peak in early Asia trade, and the franc notched a fresh decade high, Reuters reports.There has been a pronounced ‘sell US’ vibe flowing through broad markets and into the classic safe-haven assets, with the USD losing the safe-haven bid. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Trump tariff suspension only a ‘fragile pause’, says Macron, as gold soars amid market jitters – business live

Nikkei plunges 5.4% but other Asian markets see mixed results as some reverse many of historic rally’s gains after US president’s tariffs reprieveUS stocks fall again after rally following Trump’s shock retreat on tariffsLife in Shanghai, China’s commercial capital, goes on but anti-US sentiment is hardeningThe US dollar slumped on Friday as waning confidence in the US economy prompted investors to ditch US assets to the benefit of safe havens like the Swiss franc, yen and euro, as well as gold.The yellow metal recorded a new all-time peak in early Asia trade, and the franc notched a fresh decade high, Reuters reports.There has been a pronounced ‘sell US’ vibe flowing through broad markets and into the classic safe-haven assets, with the USD losing the safe-haven bid. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago Tariffs live: Asian markets tumble after Trump admits concerns over ‘costs and problems’

Falling stocks across Asia follow Wall Street sell-off as US president threatens to go ahead with ‘reciprocal’ levies

Economics