The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has today revealed UK manufacturing activity contracted last month. The closely-watched CIPS/Markit manufacturing PMI sank to 47.4 in October from September’s reading of 50.8. Today’s survey means the index has fallen below the crucial 50 mark – which separates growth from expansion. [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK economy expanded by a better-than-expected 0.5% in the July to September period. This compares with a 0.1% growth rate for the second quarter and was better than the 0.3% expected by most economists. The better performance was attributed to production sector output, which rose [...]
In an interim management statement today, banking giant Barclays said profits climbed 5% in the third quarter – boosted by cost-cutting measures. For the three months to the end of September, the bank said pre-tax profits were £1.34 billion, versus £1.27 billion for the same period a year earlier. However, revenues for the three month [...]
US banking giant Goldman Sachs has today reported a fall in third quarter profits. Goldman Sachs, which is the US’ largest investment bank, made a net loss of $393 million (£250 million) for the third quarter compared with profits of $1.9 billion a year earlier. The bank said trading was “significantly impacted” by the euro [...]
US banking giant Citigroup has today reported a rise in its third quarter profit. Citigroup, which is the third largest bank in the US by assets, said third quarter profit came in at $3.77 billion, or $1.23 a share, compared with $2.17 billion, or 72 cents a share, in the same quarter a year earlier. [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK trade deficit narrowed in August as export values hit an all-time high and imports fell. The goods trade gap shrank to £7.77 billion in August from £8.15 billion the previous month, said the ONS. Total exports of goods reached £25.5 billion, led by fuels [...]
Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today revealed Ireland’s economy experienced growth in the July to September period. The economy expanded by 0.5% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter – albeit, the figure was slightly below expectations. The former “Celtic Tiger” economy contracted in the second quarter after emerging from recession in [...]
Official figures have today revealed the Japanese economy grew faster than estimated in the third quarter due to stronger corporate spending. The world’s third largest economy grew by 1.1% in the July to September period, up from the first estimate of 0.9%. On an annual basis, the economy expanded by 4.5% from an earlier estimate [...]
The Australian economy, which is one of the few developed economies not to have fallen into recession like its counterparts throughout the world, has today reported a slowing in growth for the third quarter as the rise in the dollar hit export earnings and consumers were hit by higher interest rates. Official figures revealed the [...]
The recovery of Europe’s largest economy appears to be on track after Germany’s Statistics Office, Destatis, said growth in the July to September period was 0.7% – confirming an earlier estimate this month. A third and final estimate for the quarter will be available later this year. On an annual basis, the German economy grew [...]
British insurance giant Prudential has today announced profits grew 17% in the third quarter – driven by higher sales at its Asian and US markets. The results were better than expected and sent its shares up 0.6% in early morning trading. The insurer, which is Britain’s largest, said it has focused its attention on expanding [...]
Figures published by the Insolvency Service have revealed bankruptcies and personal insolvencies fell in the third quarter but nevertheless remained above pre-credit crunch levels. According to the Insolvency Service, there were 33,935 personal insolvencies in the July to September period – a fall of 3.7% compared with the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, there [...]
Figures have revealed that Spain’s economy stalled in the July to September period. The disappointing 0.2% annualised growth will be a blow to the economy, which is stalling due to measures taken by the Government to trim its spiralling budget deficit. The country is also battling with the highest unemployment rate in Europe. However, last [...]
Banking giant HSBC has today said third-quarter profits were well ahead of the same period a year ago with bad debts on the decline. The bank did not provide exact figures in today’s statement but did caution that the global recovery was “taking longer than previous cycles”. The bank, which is Europe’s largest, also expressed [...]
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which is 84% owned by the taxpayer, has today announced it has plummeted back into the red with a £1.4 billion ($2.3 billion) pre-tax loss during the third quarter. This compares with a loss of £1.8 billion in the same period a year earlier but also compares unfavourably with [...]
Supermarket giant, Morrisons has reported a modest increase in third quarter sales. The grocer, which is Britain’s fourth largest, said like-for-like sales grew 1.3% in the 13 weeks to 31 October – representing a rise of 1% from the second quarter. Meanwhile, total sales in the third quarter were up by 2.8% and 4.7% higher [...]
Oil giant BP has today announced its results for the July to September period. These were delayed by one week because of account complexities relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The company said third-quarter replacement cost profit dived 63% to $1.85 billion (£1.15 billion), this compares with the $17 billion loss reported in [...]
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which is 84% owned by the taxpayer, is set to reignite its dispute over bonuses after hiring John McIntyre. Mr McIntyre, the former Lehman Brothers banker, is a renowned figure in the City after successfully suing his former employer, Dresdner Kleinwort, for a £2 million bonus. He will join [...]
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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