The UK Economy

We all know the recession is bad, but I was shocked today to see a headline that said  “One Shop Was Closed Every Hour Last Year.”  I immediately thought “That can’t be good for business.  How is that bloke going to make any income?  You’ve got to be open sometime.” Of course, then my rapier-sharp […]

Chastening has found itself a new meaning after the Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE:RBS) ended 2012 at a loss, its fifth since the financial crisis of 2008, as its profit was swallowed by a number of huge charges in what its Chief Executive said the way to “put right past mistakes”. In its report earlier […]

The full story and the fallout from the UK downgrade and the Pound Sterling falling. UK GDP Growth Grows Beyond Previous Estimate PUBLISHED:  27 Feb 2013 @ 12:11 The British economy grew more than expected, updated figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed earlier today. In its report, ONS showed UK’s gross domestic […]

The British economy grew more than expected, updated figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed earlier today. In its report, ONS showed UK’s gross domestic product increased by 0.3% in 2012 instead of the flat growth previously anticipated backed by a rise in output in the construction industry. UK’s quarterly performance had […]

Italian election leaves inconclusive result causing sharp market falls European markets have opened to falls following an inconclusive result in the Italian elections, with the Frankfurt and Paris exchanges falling by over 2%. Closing whilst election results were being announced New York’s Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1.55%. By late morning trading Europe’s major […]

Increasing pressure on UK Chancellor after Moody’s downgrade and sterling concern. The UK’s senior economics minister George Osborne has said the government will “redouble its efforts” to reduce the country’s debts after rating’s agency Moody’s downgrade the UK from AAA to Aa1. Speaking in a House of Commons debate Mr Osborne argued that the rating […]

Energy giant Centrica announces report highlighting its economic benefits Multinational utility company Centrica contributes £14.1bn to the UK economy according to a report by Oxford Economics. Published ahead of the companies full-year results, which are expected to show a 15% rise to £2.77bn, Centrica are hoping the report will fend off public criticism over profits […]

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 […]