By Greg Smith on Monday, March 22nd, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – BoE hold, Consumer confidence up Last week, the Bank of England left Base Rate at 0.1% and maintained the current pace of asset purchases. Overall, the signal from the BoE is that policymakers are comfortable with the rise in bond yields because it reflects optimism about the economic recovery. Consumer confidence appears to […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, March 15th, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – BoE to hold policy This week, Bank of England (BoE) policymakers are likely to make it clear that monetary policy will remain supportive. They may comment that markets are wrong to worry about a rise in inflationary pressures. Some policymakers have said that the rise in bond yields may be a justified reaction […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, March 8th, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – Steps out of lockdown Today marks the first steps out of lockdown for England with schools reopening. Two people from different households can also meet outside and care home residents can have one regular visitor. The next step will come at the end of March with the rule of six (or two households) […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, March 1st, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – Chancellor Sunak’s Budget Chancellor Rishi Sunak will deliver the Budget on Wednesday with suggestions that tax increases will be signposted. Government borrowing has surged over the past year and Sunak has highlighted the need to make this more sustainable. Some think that a corporation tax increase could be signalled within this Budget. […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, February 22nd, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – Johnson to unveil lockdown roadmap With new Covid cases falling, attention continues to turn towards the easing of lockdown restrictions. Tonight, Boris Johnson will unveil an easing ‘roadmap’ for England. This is expected to be cautious and prudent. Media reports suggest that schools will reopen on 8th March. There are suggestions that restrictions […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, February 8th, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – Bank of England held rates The UK continues with the relatively speedy distribution of vaccines. Along with the US, this raises hopes of an easing of lockdown restrictions. The UK government has promised a ‘roadmap’ on the easing of restrictions on 22nd February. The expectation is that measures will start to be eased […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, February 1st, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – Bank of England to hold rates The Bank of England policy update will be a key focus for UK financial markets. The Bank will also update its forecasts and issue its quarterly Monetary Policy Report. Markets expect rates to be left on hold at 0.1% with the target level for asset purchases at […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, January 25th, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – Unemployment to rise The target remains to have the top four priority groups vaccinated by mid-February with over 5 million vaccinations so far. The Covid lockdown restrictions may continue for longer with only a gradual relaxation with concerns about the new variants. The PMI figures suggest that the impact of restrictions on the […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, January 18th, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – Data shows lockdown impact The fall in GDP for November was smaller than expected, at -2.9%. This was mainly due to a fall in services activity. Manufacturing and construction both rose. There were also revisions to previous months which suggest the rebound from Spring was stronger than previously thought. This week, we will […]
By Greg Smith on Monday, January 11th, 2021
in Blog, Market Insights
GBP – Lockdown affected GDP A successful rollout of vaccines is hoped to move us toward pre-Covid normality. The new Covid variant is however resulting in a serious escalation in infections and hospitalisations. The government is targeting two million jabs a week to reach about 13 million of the most vulnerable by mid-February. The hope […]
