Economic News
North Korea is rebuilding a rocket test site
New satellite images of North Korea from the Center for Strategic Studies’ Beyond Parallel project and 38 North suggest that the country's government is rebuilding a rocket launch site it had vowed to dismantle.
Thursday preview: ECB, US-China trade firmly in focus
The market spotlight on Thursday will be firmly on the European Central Bank, as rate-setters in Frankfurt present the latest staff macroeconomic projections, possibly setting the stage for a new package of medium-term loans for the bloc's banking sector to be unveiled.
BoE's Cunliffe calls attention to quick growth in leveraged corporate loans
The top Bank of England official charged with avoiding that any future financial crisis will morph into a repeat of the economic rout of 2008 called attention to the recent strong growth in high risk loans to companies.
Tobacco stocks rise after FDA boss Gottlieb quits
Shares in tobacco companies rose on Wednesday after America's chief drug and tobacco regulator unexpectedly resigned overnight.
US trade deficit widens sharply in December
America's total trade deficit jumped at the end of 2018, as the shortfall in its trade on goods yawned wider.
Italy to sign up to China's 'Belt and Road' initiative
Italy will announce its support for China's 'Belt and Road' initiative in what would be the policy's first endorsement from a G7 nation, according to a report on Wednesday from the Financial Times.
US and UK trade digs over food standards post-Brexit
Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, has claimed that there is a “smear campaign” against American agriculture as he said US food standards would not lead to lower quality food than under current European Union standards.
'Sleepwalking' into a cashless society could leave millions behind
An immediate transition to a cashless society in the UK could leave behind over 8m people as some consumers lack the ability to pay for goods digitally said the latest report from Access to Cash.
Brexit delay 'inevitable' as Brussels talks meander
Theresa May's government has continued to struggle in talks with the European Union and a senior cabinet minister has said that a Brexit delay is now "inevitable".
OECD cuts global economic growth forecasts; warns against no-deal Brexit
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has warned that the global economy is weakening, with UK economic growth forecast to dip below 1% this year for the first time in a decade.