News And Announcements
House prices rise for fifth month in a row - Halifax
UK house prices rose for the fifth month in a row in February, according to figures released on Thursday by Halifax.
Spring Budget garners mixed reaction
The chancellor’s spring Budget received a mixed reaction on Wednesday, as business groups and economists digested the government’s latest plans to bolster the UK’s faltering economy.
Chancellor trims National Insurance in pre-election Budget
The chancellor of the exchequer cut National Insurance and pledged to overhaul the tax regime for non-domiciled residents on Wednesday, in what was likely his last Budget before the next general election.
US private sector adds fewer jobs than expected in February - ADP
Private sector employment in the US rose less than expected in February, according to figures released on Wednesday by ADP.
Upturn in housebuilding boosts UK construction sector - PMI
The UK’s hard-pressed construction sector strengthened last month, a closely-watched survey showed on Wednesday, led by a turnaround in housebuilding.
German trade surplus widens as exports rally
German exports rallied in January, official data showed on Wednesday, reversing the sharp falls seen at the end of last year.
Eurozone construction activity still subdued despite Feb uptick - PMI
The contraction in eurozone construction sector continued halfway through the first quarter of the year, despite a slight uptick in activity last month, according to a purchasing managers index (PMI) released on Wednesday.
Gold price hits record high
Gold prices hit a record high on Wednesday amid rising expectations of a US rate cut in June.
Hunt to cut National Insurance by 2p in Budget - report
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will reportedly use his Budget on Wednesday to cut national insurance by a further two percentage points for 27m workers in a move worth £450 on average.
UK car registrations rise YOY in February, business and fleet sales drive growth
New car registrations rose 14. 0% to 84,886 units last month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, delivering the best February performance since 2004.
China sets 2024 GDP growth target at 5pc
China revealed its growth target for 2024 overnight on Tuesday, aiming for a GDP rise of “around 5%”, as per the Government Work Report released during the annual National People’s Congress.
UK services sector growth eases in February
The UK services sector continued to grow in February, albeit at a slower pace, according to a survey released on Tuesday.
China services growth slows in February - Caixin
Growth in China’s services sector slowed in February, according to a survey released on Tuesday.
UK retail sales subdued in February as wet weather provides a drag
UK retail sales growth slowed last month as volumes were dampened by the wettest February on record, according to the British Retail Consortium-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor released on Tuesday.
US manufacturing conditions improve in February - S&P
US manufacturing conditions improved in February at the fastest pace since July 2022, according to a survey released on Friday.
UK manufacturing downturn continues amid Red Sea disruption
The downturn in the UK manufacturing sector continued in February amid disruption from the Red Sea crisis, according to a survey released on Friday.
EZ manufacturing activity eases slightly in Feb - PMI
Eurozone manufacturing activity slowed slightly in February, but signs continued that contraction in the sector was easing, according to flash estimates from a survey published on Friday.
House prices return to growth for first time in more than a year
Annual house prices in the UK returned to growth in February for the first time in more than a year following a dip in borrowing costs, according to figures released by Nationwide on Friday.