Manufacturing activity in China eased last month, two separate surveys have revealed today. Firstly, the official China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) said its purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 50.9 in June from May’s reading of 52 – the lowest level since February 2009. The reading was also lower than expectations of a [...]
Manufacturing activity in China eased last month, two separate surveys have revealed today. Firstly, the official China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) said its purchasing managers index (PMI) dipped to 52 in May from 52.9 in April. While the reading was better than expectations of 51.6, it represented the lowest for nine months. Secondly, [...]
The National Bureau of Statistics has today revealed Chinese property growth eased in March. China‘s property prices have remained stubbornly high despite several Government incentives to avoid a property bubble. The country continues to grapple with high inflation in property and food prices. However, property prices slowed in March with fewer cities recording an increase, [...]
China‘s property prices have remained stubbornly high despite several Government initiatives to avoid a property bubble. The Government recently announced plans to introduce a property tax. Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said it is preparing for the “trial reform on property tax as required by the central Government”. It has also made it more expensive to [...]
The property market has become unbalanced, caused by excessive lending, and low interest rates. Both of which have allowed for a surge in property prices over the past decade as people were able to buy in excess of their means. The current state of the market, where First Time Buyers are excluded, is a symptom [...]
China, which is the world’s second largest economy, experienced growth of 10.3% in 2010 – much higher than expected, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. While the growth is staggering, it has again raised fears of the economy overheating, which is adding to inflation pressures. In addition, fourth quarter growth was better than expected, [...]
China’s property prices rose for the fourth consecutive month in December, albeit at a slower pace. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, prices rose 0.3% in December, taking the annual rate to 6.4% – although this is half of the peak reached in April 2010 – when prices surged 12.8%. However, prices have remained [...]
As Ireland looks set to accept a multi-billion euro loan, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and EU officials have commenced their investigation of Ireland’s bank books. Yesterday, Governor of the Irish central bank, Patrick Honohan, said the country is expected to accept a “very substantial loan”. The news comes as speculation has been mounting all [...]
There is speculation that Ireland is looking to its banks for emergency funding – the Irish Independent reported on Monday. The report comes as Ireland’s Government continues to reject claims that it is seeking emergency financial support via the EU rescue fund – established by European Governments and the International Monetary Fund after the Greek [...]
It appears the world’s third largest economy is cooling after official figures revealed Chinese annual GDP slowed from 11.9% in the first quarter to 10.3% in the March to June period, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said today. The reading was marginally lower than the 10.5% expected by analysts. China’s economy has been growing [...]
Figures today revealed Chinese exports grew by 43.9% in June compared with a year earlier. The figure, which exceeded expectations, comes after China overtook Germany as the world’s biggest exporter earlier this year. Germany had held the top spot since 2003. Meanwhile, imports increased by 34.1% year-on-year in June. As a result, China posted a [...]
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has today elected to lift interest rates from 4.25% to 4.5%, as widely expected. Australia was the first economy to raise rates from a 50-year low as the economic downturn eased. Other major economies opted for lower interest rates to boost their economies. Furthermore, it is one of the [...]
The assumption that downsizing from the family home as old age approaches can help fund a comfortable retirement has been challenged by Standard Life. The insurer has recently conducted an “extensive analysis” of the UK property market to calculate how much retirement income downsizing can generate, and is warning those whose retirement dreams are dependent [...]
City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has today announced banks will face stricter stress testing to ensure they can survive a further 4 years of falling economic growth and a 13.3% unemployment rate. Stress tests were introduced following the financial crisis to ensure that banks had sufficient capital to allow them to continue operating [...]
Official figures have today revealed that Ireland’s economy grew by 0.3% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter and has therefore exited recession. The economy has been one of the worst performers in the western world this year but has now emerged from what was one of Europe’s worst recessions. However, despite the [...]
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, [...]
About | Privacy | Disclaimer | Resources | XML Feeds | Press Releases | Directory | Contact us
