The UK Economy

Business Secretary Vince Cable cites “positive” economic signs The downgrading of the UK’s credit rating has been described as “largely symbolic” by Business Secretary Vince Cable. Moody’s, which cut the UK’s rating from AAA to Aa1 on Friday, said that the country’s economic growth “will remain sluggish over the next few years”. In his response […]

The UK has lost its AAA credit rating following Moody’s downgrade Rating’s agency Moody’s has downgraded the United Kingdom from AAA to Aa1 following slow growth and increasing national debt, saying that it believes “the risks to the growth outlook remain skewed to the downside”. Whilst noting that it had “considerable structural economic strengths” Moody’s […]

Brammer plc (LSE:BRAM) may not be a household name, even to investors, but it is a company worth watching. Brammer released its preliminary results for the year ending 31 December 2012, this morning.  The results include an 11.9% increase in revenue to a record £639.6 million, up from £571.5 in 2011.  That alone might be considered reason […]

Finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20 member states pledged to take necessary actions to prevent the practice of tax base erosion and profit sharing, following the conclusion of the G20 summit in Moscow. The move came following the discovery in recent months that some multinational corporations had paid little or less taxes […]

UK Deputy Prime Minister calls for greater regional growth and for government to stop being “bewitched” by the City. Nick Clegg has said the UK economy needs to stop propping “up a nation of 100,000 square miles on the profits of just a single square mile”. Speaking at the Mansion House, Mr Clegg said the […]

British Pound Sterling fell to its lowest in nearly seven months against the US Dollar after Martin Weale, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England said in a speech engagement last Saturday, 16 February, that the “most natural means” to reduce the UK’s trading deficit is for the currency to […]

Both Germany and France saw their economies contract at the end of 2012 Newly released figures show that Germany, the Eurozone’s largest economy, contracted by 0.6% during Q4 of 2012, whilst France’s saw a 0.3% contraction during the same period. Germany and France’s GDP figures reflect wider problems within the Eurozone and Europe, with Spain, […]

The Confederation of British Industry expects the UK economy to grow by 0.3% in Q1 Predicting 0.3% growth in the first quarter of 2013 the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has today said whilst growth would be relatively flat it “might be edging upwards”. Speaking to the BBC about the predicted growth the CBI’s director-general […]

Outgoing Bank of England Governor responds positively to quarterly inflation report. The Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King, has said the UK economy is set for recovery. Whilst tempering his remarks by saying the “road ahead” will not be smooth, Sir Mervyn said that “there is cause for optimism”. Following measures in […]

This is the annual letter sent out by my friend Richard Poulden. This year – as every year – we wil hold a 10 minute debate at the UKInvestor Show – I am not sure of the subject matter yet but it is always sparky. I am not sure that I agree 100% on China […]