CENTRAL BANKS HIT THE BRAKES AS THEY RAMP UP EFFORTS TO TACKLE INFLATION
This week has been a busy one for central banks with the Bank of England and Bank of Japan going against the grain and opting for a less dramatic approach than the central banks of the US, Europe and Switzerland.
Read The Full Article
CENTRAL BANKS ARE HOPING A COOLING PROPERTY MARKET WILL HELP TACKLE INFLATION
This week saw further evidence that the global housing market is beginning to cool. New mortgage approvals and home completions are falling in the US.
Read The Full Article
GOVERNMENT CONCEDES TO WINDFALL TAX AS FULL REPORT INTO LOCKDOWN PARTIES IS PUBLISHED
This week we got the classic one-two of British politics, a big scandal followed by a big policy announcement. The publication of Sue Gray’s long- awaited report into partying in number 10 painted the government, and particularly the prime minister’s office, in a terrible light which no doubt will have political ramifications down the line.
Read The Full Article
MORE VOLATILITY AS MARKETS FLIP BETWEEN FEAR OF INFLATION AND FEAR OF RECESSION
This week we got a preview of the dynamic that will probably come to dominate markets through 2022, violent swings as investors flip from worrying about inflation to worrying about recession and back again.
Read The Full Article
GOVERNMENT BONDS RALLY AS INFLATION HOGS THE HEADLINES ONCE MORE
This week we have seen inflation dominate financial markets again. US inflation fell, slightly, although it remains at the highest level in decades. Markets are mulling whether this is a quirk in the data or a sign that inflation is peaking.
Read The Full Article
CENTRAL BANKS SPARK EXTREME VOLATILITY AND POINT TO THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
This week the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on markets as Russia suspended gas flows to Poland and Bulgaria. The move increases the risk of a large energy disruption in Europe, which until now had seen supplies remain stable.
Read The Full Article
UK ECONOMIC RECOVERY SLOWS AS CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS KNOCKED BY RISING PRICES
This week the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on markets as Russia suspended gas flows to Poland and Bulgaria. The move increases the risk of a large energy disruption in Europe, which until now had seen supplies remain stable.
Read The Full Article
UK ECONOMIC RECOVERY SLOWS AS CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS KNOCKED BY RISING PRICES
This week we got more evidence that the gloss might be coming off the economic recovery from the coronavirus. Following on from disappointing growth figures last week, this week there were reports of sharply slowing retail sales and a plunge in consumer confidence.
Read The Full Article
THE UK’S LONG-TERM ENERGY STRATEGY AIMS TO END RELIANCE ON FOREIGN ENERGY IMPORTS
This week we finally saw the long-awaited long-term energy strategy for the UK. The government’s plans to make 95% of the UK’s energy production low carbon foresees a huge increase in offshore wind production allied to a big increase in nuclear power, including a move to small modular reactors.
Read The Full Article
NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THIS WEEK GIVES MARKETS TIME TO DIGEST RECENT EVENTS
This week there was little in the way of new information to move markets very much – more inflation statistics were released but didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know.
Read The Full Article