The Bank of Thailand has opted to keep interest rates on hold at 3.5%, despite the worst floods the country has seen in decades which are set to hamper growth. Thailand, which is South-East Asia’s second largest economy, is expected to see growth of just 2% this year as a result of flood damage, compared [...]
The Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its growth prospects for Asia amid the euro zone debt crisis and sluggish US growth. The IMF is now forecasting growth for Asia of 6.3% in 2011 and 6.7% in 2012. This is slightly lower than the 7% growth for both years it estimated in April. According [...]
The Munich-based Ifo think tank has today revealed confidence among German firms fell for the third consecutive month in September. The closely-watched Business Climate Index dipped to 107.5 this month from August’s reading of 108.7 – this represented the lowest level since June 2010. However, the fall was not as bad as the 106.5 economists [...]
In its latest assessment of the UK economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said growth will be around 1.5% this year. The Washington-based Fund warned that stubbornly high inflation continues to be a threat to the economy and is forecasting inflation to remain well above the 4% mark in 2011 before falling to 2% [...]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned euro zone policymakers to take immediate action to prevent the debt crisis spreading outside Europe. The warning comes as Spain’s borrowing costs rose to a 9-year high today as fears continue to grow over the debt crisis in the euro zone. There are fears that Spain, which is [...]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging Italy to introduce austerity measures to lower the country’s debt. Its warning comes as there are fears that the euro zone’s third largest economy could be dragged into the euro zone’s debt crisis as it has the second highest sovereign debt ratio in the region. As a result, [...]
It has been confirmed that French Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, is to become the first ever woman to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The 55-year-old has been the front-runner since the position became available when Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former managing director of the IMF, was forced to step down after being accused of sexually assaulting [...]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned the Spanish Government to continue with its efforts of cutting public spending and reducing unemployment. Like many other Governments across the globe, Spain is taking steps to reduce the deficit but the IMF warned the economy still faces “considerable” risks. In an annual report, the Washington-based Fund said: [...]
Later today, Greece’s Prime Minister, George Papandreou, faces a confidence vote after the crisis-torn country needs to introduce further austerity measures in order to avoid the euro zone’s first sovereign debt default. EU leaders are insistent that the PM secure support for the measures that are a condition of the latest instalment of financial aid. [...]
Treasury Minister, Mark Hoban, has today said the ongoing “instability” in the euro zone could hold back the recovery of the UK economy. While banks in the UK only have a small exposure to Greek debt compared with France and Germany, it could still have a considerable impact on the economy. Mr Hoban was responding [...]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of risks facing the world economy. However, on a positive note, it maintained its global growth forecasts, expecting the world economy to grow at a rate of 4.3% this year and 4.5% in 2012. In its World Economic Outlook, it upgraded its growth forecast for Germany from 2.5% [...]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its growth prospects for the world’s third largest economy. The Fund expects the Japanese economy to contract by 0.7% in 2011, much lower than its previous estimate of 1.4%. The IMF said it lowered its growth forecasts because of March’s earthquake and tsunami. The twin disasters caused billions [...]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has today published its annual assessment for the UK economy and is estimating growth of 1.5% this year, down from 1.7% in April. The estimate is roughly in line with other forecasts for the UK economy with the British Chambers of Commerce expecting growth of 1.3%, the Organisation for Economic [...]
Some of Britain’s top economists are calling for Chancellor George Osborne to come up with a plan B for the UK economy. It has been suggested that the Chancellor’s massive spending cuts are too harsh for the fragile economy and a plan B on economic policy is required. The comments come shortly after the OECD’s [...]
Chancellor George Osborne has showed his support for Christine Lagarde to take over as chief at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Mr Osborne believes the 55-year-old Economy Minister is an “outstanding candidate” for the position and is set to formally nominate her. The chief role at the IMF is available after Dominique Strauss-Kahn was forced [...]
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison if he is convicted of the most serious charge. Sixty-two-year-old Strauss-Khan was arrested at the weekend after being accused of sexually assaulting a hotel maid in New York. Mr Strauss-Kahn denies the charges and is [...]
Official figures have today revealed the 17-member euro zone economy grew by 0.8% in the January to March period – up from 0.3% in the previous quarter. Germany, which is the largest economy in Europe, grew by 1.5%, while France reported growth of 1%. Other good performers were Estonia, growing by a staggering 2.1% but [...]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has today warned that the euro zone debt crisis could still spread, despite bailouts for Greece, Ireland and Portugal. A report by the IMF said: “Contagion to the core euro area, and then onwards to emerging Europe, remains a tangible downside risk.” There are already further fears for Greece after [...]
M&S Money launches 3% cash ISA
M&S Money has launched an Advantage Cash ISA paying 3 per cent, and which allows transfers in from other ISAs. It can be opened with a minimum deposit of £100 lump sum followed by minimum monthly deposits of £25. The 3% rate is variable, but there is no short-term bonus so the return won’t plummet [...]
Google suspends UK Compare Mortgages site
Google has closed its UK mortgage comparison site which it launched in July last year, after it proved to be less popular than expected. Mortgage comparison sites are designed to allow visitors to compare mortgages quickly and easily without having to visit each lender’s individual site. Google was competing with several well-established comparison sites, including [...]
AA launches ‘black-box’ policy for young drivers
The AA is launching an innovative car insurance policy called Drivesafe which could help younger drivers save up to £850 a year. Younger drivers already pay substantially higher premiums than other motorists and these costs are increasing. A new study by Confused.com suggests insurance costs for younger driver have gone up by 5.7 per cent [...]
ATOL scheme updated to protect online bookers
ATOL, a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, is being extended to protect up to six million more holidays a year. The scheme ensures that holiday makers do not lose out financially if a travel company collapses, and that they are not stranded abroad. An increase in the number of holidays booked [...]
Home repossessions lowest for four years
The number of UK homes repossessed fell to 36,200 in 2011, significantly below the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ forecast of 40,000, and lower than 2010 when 37,100 homes were repossessed. With interest rates remaining low and lenders adopting a sympathetic attitude to customers in financial difficulty, repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007. However, [...]
Monthly pay lasting just 17 days
Workers are running out of money just 17 days after receiving their monthly pay, according to new research by the Halifax bank. This means that the average UK worker spends half the month worrying about money. The study, based on the responses of more than 2,000 adults, found that 10 per cent of workers start [...]
Women disadvantaged by auto-enrolment changes
Government proposals to increase the auto-enrolment threshold to £10,000 could put 1.8 million women at risk of missing out on a pension, the TUC has warned. Under the auto-enrolment scheme, which will be phased in from October, private sector employers will automatically enrol workers between the age of 22 years and the state pension age, [...]
Emergency household repairs company Homeserve is taking longer than expected to get back on track after its operations were suspended last October. The company expected customer numbers to fall by 5% this year but it has increased this estimate to 8% and announced the loss of 200 jobs. It estimates that renewal revenue in 2013 [...]
Sale rumoured for Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks
There is growing speculation that National Australia Bank (NAB) may sell Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank after the Australian parent company announced a strategic review of the two banks’ operations. The Australian economy is performing well and NAB reported strong profits for the final quarter of 2011 but with the UK economy at a virtual [...]
More women experiencing debt difficulties
Women in Debt, which offers female-focused debt advice, has warned that the number of UK women facing serious debt has grown significantly over recent years. The organisation believes that more women will need advice on solving debt problems in the future because they are building up an unsustainable level of indebtedness. Women in Debt’s director, [...]
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Greek yields up on Wolfgang Schaeuble comments
Germany’s Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, has said Greece is at “risk” of default if funds are not provided soon. In a letter dated 6 June to the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Minister said a new package was required as the current one is “insufficient”. “A return by Greece to [...]