NatWest customers reported money missing from their accounts after making a cash deposit. The bank has said an issue with its cash deposit machines has been now resolved
Customers shared their concerns on social media on Thursday 21st September 2023 that recently-deposited cash was not showing up in their account balance.
Early on Friday 22nd September 2023, NatWest said the issue had been resolved and that no-one would be left out of pocket.
Some customers had reported going overdrawn because of the issue and expressed concern they would be charged fees.
In a statement, NatWest said, ‘Cash payments to a small number of accounts have been delayed and the issue is now resolved and customer accounts are being updated’.
It is unclear how many people were affected by the issue.
UK interest rates have been left unchanged at 5.25% by the Bank of England (BoE).
The decision comes a day after figures revealed an unexpected slowdown in UK nflation in August 2023.
The Bank had previously raised rates some14 times in a row to tackle inflation, leading to increases in mortgage payments, business loans and consumer borrowing. But it also delivered higher savings rates.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who advocated for nonviolent resistance against racial oppression in the United States.
He is best known for his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, delivered at the March on Washington in 1963, where he called for an end to racism and a vision of a society where people are judged by the content of their character, not the colour of their skin.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assasinated in 1968.
‘I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear’. Martin Luther King Jr.
The maker of weight-loss drug ‘Wegovy’ has become Europe’s most valuable company, dethroning the French luxury conglomerate LVMH.
Is there an irony here…? Exploitation of the obese, or a genuine attempt to help? It is used in the fight against diabetes too.
It’s a business after all
Wegovy is a brand name for ‘Semaglutide‘, a prescription medicine used for weight loss in obese or overweight adults with other weight-related medical issues. It works by regulating appetite and reducing calorie intake, leading to weight loss and helping with weight management.
Wegovy was launched in the UK on 4th September 2023 and is available on the NHS as an ‘option‘ for weight management in line with NICE guidance, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. However, only people with the highest medical need may qualify for the drug, as it is in short supply and its use will be restricted – but celebrities have direct access – do they have the ‘highest medical needs’? Of course they do.
Clinical trials
Wegovy has been shown to be effective in clinical trials, achieving up to a 15% reduction in body weight after one year. It has also been found to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in obese people with cardiovascular disease by 20%.
To get Wegovy on the NHS, eligible adults would need a referral to an NHS specialist weight management service, which would usually be made by a GP. Alternatively, Wegovy can be obtained privately, but it may be expensive and not covered by insurance.
Watercolour image of a generic medicine bottle. Wegovy is a brand name for ‘Semaglutide‘, a prescription medicine used for weight loss in obese or overweight adults with other weight-related medical issues.
Shares rose after the Danish pharmaceutical giant, Novo Nordisk, launched the popular drug in the UK.
At the close of trading on Monday, 4th September 2023, the company had a stock market valuation of $428bn (£339bn).
The drug is now available on the National Health Service in the UK and also via private outlets.
Obesity treatment
Wegovy is an obesity treatment that is taken once a week which tricks people into thinking that they are already full, so they end up eating less and losing weight.
Famous personalities such as Elon Musk are among the reported users of the drug, which has gained traction in Hollywood and with the public more widely since it was approved by regulators in the US in 2021.
Wegovy and Ozempic – a diabetes treatment with similar effects – have been described as ‘miracle’ drugs. Would that be a ‘miracle for the user or for the pharmaceutical company – or both perhaps?
Experts warn the drug is not a quick fix nor a ‘substitute for a healthy diet and exercise’.
In trials, users often put weight back on after stopping treatment.
‘Supply restriction as production ramps up’
There has been a global shortage of the drug, so only limited is awailable for the NHS in the UK.
The company said it will continue to restrict global supplies as it works to ramp up manufacturing.
While the findings still have to be fully reviewed, experts agreed the results were potentially significant.
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet and the ‘Bard of Avon’ (or simply ‘the Bard’).
Defintion of the word ‘Bard’.
A bard is a poet, especially one who writes or recites epic or heroic poems. This is the most common and literary meaning of the word.
A bard is also a term for a professional poet-singer or minstrel in ancient Celtic cultures, who was employed by a patron to praise their deeds and ancestors, and to preserve historical and traditional knowledge in verse.
The ‘bards’ were highly respected and influential in Gaelic and Welsh societies, and their poems were often accompanied by musical instruments such as the harp.
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in a decision released Wednesday 20th September 2023, while also indicating it still expects one more hike before the end of the year and fewer cuts than previously indicated next year.
That final increase, if realised, would be it for now according to data released at the end of the Fed two-day meeting. If the Fed goes ahead with the move, it would be the twelfth rate hike since policy tightening began in March 2022.
No change priced in
Markets had fully priced in no move at this meeting, which kept the fed funds rate targeted in a range between 5.25%-5.5%, the highest in some 22 years. The rate fixes what banks charge each other for overnight lending but also affects many other forms of consumer debt too.
While the no-hike was expected, there was plenty of uncertainty over where the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), would go from here.
Judging from reports released Wednesday 20th September 2023, the bias appears towards more restrictive policy and a higher-for-longer approach to interest rates.
The possibilities of how high the XRP price can go has triggered heated debate among crypto community members over the past week. One particular forecast put the price of the cryptocurrency as high as $10,000 as Ripple advances in the payments sector. However, the validity of this prediction is still heavily debated, leading crypto analysts to weigh in on whether this price point is even possible.
Why The Sudden Bullishness On XRP Price?
Indicators and investors alike turned bullish for the XRP price following Ripple’s partial victory over the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in July 2023. The price of the coin had risen over 60% in the days following the ruling as interest soared.
The token’s rally has since slowed down since then, wiping the majority of its gains from the ruling. However, crypto analysts remain bullish. One analyst put the XRP price at $130, while another analyst sees it going as high as $500.
Investors like the coin
XRP’s trading volumes, which have been nearly consistent above $1 billion, also show that investors are heavily attached to the coin. This sustained bullishness is further fueled by Ripple’s exploits in the payments sector, as well as working with various countries on their Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
Other sources are more conservative and estimate that XRP price could range from $0.50 to $2.18 by the end of 2023, depending on the outcome of the SEC lawsuit, the development of the Ripple protocol, and the market conditions. Some sources also provide long-term predictions for XRP price based on historical trends.
For example, one source suggests that XRP could reach $14.21 by 2040 and $106.14 by 2050 if it follows Bitcoin’s growth trajectory over the past five years.
What is XRP?
XRP is a cryptocurrency that powers the Ripple network, which is a decentralized platform for cross-border payments. XRP aims to provide fast, cheap, and secure transactions for individuals and institutions around the world.
XRP price predictions are based on various factors, such as the demand and supply of XRP, the adoption and innovation of the Ripple protocol, the regulatory environment, the competition from other cryptocurrencies, and the overall market sentiment.
$10 – $100 range?
Is $10000 possible for XRP price?
According to some sources, XRP price could reach as high as $100-$500 in the next four to seven months, based on the recent ruling that XRP is not a security and the potential growth of Ripple’s partnerships in the payments space. However, this is a very optimistic scenario that assumes a high level of adoption and innovation of the Ripple network.
This is NOT investment advice
However, these predictions are not investment advice and should be taken with a ‘pinch of salt’. The cryptocurrency market is very volatile and unpredictable, and XRP price could be influenced by many factors that are beyond anyone’s control. Therefore, it is advisable to do your own research and analysis before making any financial decisions involving XRP or any other cryptocurrency or any investment.
NOTE: These are not recommendations. Investments may go up or down. Your money is at risk!
Water stress measures the amount of available supply a country uses to meet demand, and is expected to worsen as the climate warms.
A quarter of the world’s population is currently exposed to extremely high annual water stress, according to new data from the World Resources Institute (WRI).
New data from WRI’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas show that 25 countries – housing one-quarter of the global population – face extremely high water stress each year, regularly using up almost their entire available water supply. And at least 50% of the world’s population – around 4 billion people – live under highly water-stressed conditions for at least one month of the year.
Living with this level of water stress jeopardizes people’s lives, jobs, food and energy security. Water is central to growing crops and raising livestock, producing electricity, maintaining human health, fostering equitable societies and meeting the world’s climate goals.
Without better water management, population growth, economic development and climate change are poised to worsen water stress.
What’s Causing Global Water Stress?
Across the world, demand for water is exceeding what’s available. Globally, demand has more than doubled since 1960.
25 Countries, Housing One-quarter of the World’s Population, Face Extremely High Water Stress
Increased water demand is often the result of growing populations and industries like irrigated agriculture, livestock, energy production and manufacturing. Meanwhile, lack of investment in water infrastructure, unsustainable water use policies or increased variability due to climate change can all affect the available water supply.
Water stress, the ratio of water demand to renewable supply, measures the competition over local water resources.
The smaller the gap between supply and demand, the more vulnerable a place is to water shortages. A country facing ‘extreme water stress’ means it is using at least 80% of its available supply, ‘high water stress’ means it is withdrawing 40% of its supply.
Without intervention – such as investment in water infrastructure and better water governance – water stress will continue to get worse, particularly in places with rapidly growing populations and economies.
Which Countries Face the Worst Water Stress?
The data shows that 25 countries are currently exposed to extremely high water stress annually, meaning they use over 80% of their renewable water supply for irrigation, livestock, industry and domestic needs. Even a short-term drought puts these places in danger of running out of water and sometimes prompts governments to shut off the taps. We’ve already seen this scenario play out in many places around the world, such as India, Iran, Mexico, South Africa, and even in England.
The five most water-stressed countries are Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar. The water stress in these countries is mostly driven by low supply, paired with demand from domestic, agricultural and industrial use.
The most water-stressed regions are the Middle East and North Africa, where 83% of the population is exposed to extremely high water stress, and South Asia, where 74% is exposed.
The 25 counties currently experiencing extreme water stress annually.
1. Bahrain
2. Cyprus
3. Kuwait
4. Lebanon
5. Oman
6. Qatar
7. United Arab Emirates
8. Saudi Arabia
9. Israel
10. Egypt
11. Libya
12. Yemen
13. Botswana
14. Iran
15. Jordan
16. Chile
17. San Marino
18. Belgium
19. Greece
20. Tunisia
21. Namibia
22. South Africa
23. Iraq
24. India
25. Syria
Water Demand Is Exploding in Africa but Plateauing in Wealthier Nations
The biggest change in water demand between now and 2050 is expected to occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. While most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are not extremely water-stressed right now, demand is growing faster there than any other region in the world. By 2050, water demand in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to skyrocket by 163% – 4 times the rate of change compared to Latin America, the second-highest region, which is expected to see a 43% increase in water demand.
Demand has plateaued in wealthier countries in North America and Europe. Investment in water-use efficiency has helped reduce in-country water use in high income countries, but water use and dependencies extend beyond national boundaries, and the water embedded in international trade from lower-middle income countries to high income countries will increasingly contribute to rising water stress in low and lower-middle income countries.
Water Stress Could Disrupt Economies and Agricultural Production
Increasing water stress threatens countries’ economic growth as well as the world’s food security.
According to data from Aqueduct, 31% of global GDP – a whopping $70 trillion – will be exposed to high water stress by 2050, up from $15 trillion (24% of global GDP) in 2010. Just four countries – India, Mexico, Egypt and Turkey – account for over half of the exposed GDP in 2050.
According to data from Aqueduct, 31% of global GDP – a whopping $70 trillion – will be exposed to high water stress by 2050
Energy, industrial and agricultural production issues
Water shortages can lead to industrial interruptions, energy outages and agricultural production losses – like those already being seen in India, where a lack of water to cool thermal powerplants between 2017 and 2021 resulted in 8.2 terawatt-hours in lost energy – or enough electricity to power 1.5 million Indian households for five years. Failing to implement better water management policies could result in GDP losses in India, China and Central Asia of 7% to 12%, and 6% in much of Africa by 2050 according to the Global Commission on Adaptation.
Global food security is also at risk. Already, 60% of the world’s irrigated agriculture faces extremely high water stress – particularly sugarcane, wheat, rice and maize. Yet to feed a projected 10 billion people by 2050, the world will need to produce 56% more food calories than it did in 2010 – all while dealing with increasing water stress as well as climate-driven disasters like droughts and floods.
Better Management for a Water-secure Future
It’s good to understand the state of the world’s water supply and demand, but water stress doesn’t necessarily lead to water crisis. For example, places like Singapore and the U.S. city of Las Vegas prove that societies can thrive even under the most water-scarce conditions by employing techniques like removing water-thirsty grass, desalination, and wastewater treatment and reuse.
Solution is NOT expensive
In fact, WRI research shows that solving global water challenges is cheaper than you might think, costing the world about 1% of GDP, or 29 cents per person, per day from 2015 to 2030. What’s missing is the political will and financial backing to make these cost-effective solutions a reality.
If this cost conclusion is accurate – why aren’t we doing it?
V-Bucks are the in-game currency of Fortnite, they can be used to buy virtual items such as skins and loot. However, some players have complained that they were charged for unwanted items and that their children made purchases without their knowledge.
As a result, Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, agreed to pay $245 million to settle a lawsuit with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and offer refunds to eligible customers.
If you want to apply for a refund, you need to visit the FTC’s official website and fill out a form with your claim number or your Epic Account ID.
You qualify for a v-buck refund if…
You were charged in-game for items you didn’t want between January 2017 and September 2022.
Your child made charges to your account without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018.
Your account was locked after you complained about wrongful charges.
Fortnite v-buck refunds
Deadline
The deadline for claims is January 17, 2024. Alternatively, if you want to return a skin or an item that you bought with V-Bucks within the last 30 days, you can do so by following these steps…
In Fortnite, go to account and privacy from the settings page or the ‘Customer Support & Refunds’ button below the gear with three lines in the sidebar menu
”I’d like to buy a new car please’. ‘Yes, of course… do you want a… gas, coal, wood, petrol, diesel, vegetable oil, virgin oil, hydrogen, electric, hybrid, pedal, jet, or rice powered one?” ‘Umm, I think I’ll leave it for now thank you’.
We just don’t have the funds, do we?
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning to water down some of Britain’s climate commitments, saying the country must fight climate change without penalising workers and consumers.
Sunak issued a statement Tuesday in response to a BBC report saying the prime minister is considering extending deadlines for bans on new petrol and diesel cars – currently due in 2030 —- and on new natural-gas home heating.
The news drew dismay from environmental groups, opposition parties and some members of Sunak’s Conservative Party. It broke as senior politicians from the U.K. and around the world gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Biden and Yellen have placed climate high on the agenda.
Senior Tories who have championed net zero policies are reportedly furious at Sunak’s plans to delay or water down green measures. They warn that the decision will cost the U.K. jobs, inward investment and future economic growth that could have been theirs by committing to the industries of the future.
We won’t save the UK by bankrupting its people – Braverman
Home Secretary Suella Braverman says she backs Rishi Sunak’s expected shift on how the UK gets to net zero carbon emissions.
‘We’re not going to save the country by bankrupting the British people,’ she told BBC Breakfast.
It must be true, I’ve just seen it on the news. Is the UK broke? Is this the real reason for the climate roll-back?
‘We’re not going to save the country by bankrupting the British people’.
I for one am very confused??
Does the UK have the money? Is it a too big-a-burden for the UK tax payer? Can the UK generate enough ‘POWER’ from renewables? The UK needs fossil fuels?
Most of the world still needs fossil fuels!
Are we really ready to switch yet? Renewables and fossil fuels will have to work hand-in-hand for some time yet.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK’s inflation rate dropped unexpectedly in August 2023 to its lowest level since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to sharp rises in energy and food costs which were already on the rise due to the pandemic.
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 6.7% in the 12 months to August 2023, down from 6.8% in July. The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) rose by 6.3% in the 12 months to August 2023, down from 6.4% in July.
The ONS said that the main factors behind the fall in inflation were lower prices for clothing, footwear, and second-hand cars, partly offset by higher prices for transport services and recreational goods.
UK Inflation 1989 – 2023 (ONS data)
The ONS also said that the inflation rate was still high compared with historical levels, and that it expected it to rise further in the coming months due to increases in energy bills and supply chain pressures.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the news showed ‘the plan to deal with inflation is working’. Well Jeremy, your comments are encouraging – if you truly believe a 0.1% fall in inflation is ‘working‘. Where were you when the Bank of England lost control of the ‘2% inflation remit’.
‘Don’t worry – the money is being printed as we speak. Come and get your share now!’
Where were you when the excessive ‘uncontrolled’ government borrowing infected the UK’s economy? With all that ‘free’ money sloshing around the system, what did you really expect would happen..?
From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king’.
J.R.R. Tolkien1892 – 1973
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien CBE FRSL was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
‘All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost.’
Consultants and junior doctors in England are holding their first joint strike in the history of the NHS.
Waiting list
The latest data from NHS England, states the number of people waiting to start routine hospital treatment is at a record high of 7.68 million at the end of July 2023. This is up from 7.57 million in June 2023 and the highest since records began in August 2007.
The waiting list has increased by more than 3 million since February 2020, the last full month before the start of the pandemic. The NHS is facing many different challenges due to the impact of Covid-19 on its services, staff and resources. This data suggests that the waiting list was already at 4 million even before the pandemic hit.
The latest strike action is a major factor now contributing to the NHS waiting list. Some reports suggest that over 850,000 routine operations and procedures have been cancelled so far this year, 2023 due to strike action alone.
Factors that may have contributed to the historical rise in the waiting list
The suspension or reduction of non-urgent care during the peak of the pandemic to free up capacity for Covid-19 patients.
The ongoing infection prevention and control measures that limit the number of patients that can be treated safely in hospitals.
NHS Strike action again, with nearly 8 million waiting in the queue
The staff shortages and burnout that affect the availability and productivity of the workforce.
The increased demand for health services as people seek help for conditions that were delayed or worsened by the pandemic.
Strike action.
The NHS is working hard to tackle the backlog and improve access to care for patients
Increasing funding and capacity for elcare, such as by opening more operating theatres, expanding community services and using the independent sector.
Implementing new models of care, such as virtual consultations, digital triage and shared decision making, to reduce unnecessary referrals and appointments.
Prioritising patients based on clinical urgency and need, rather than waiting time alone, to ensure that those who would benefit most from treatment are seen first.
Supporting staff wellbeing and retention, such as by offering flexible working, training and development opportunities and mental health support.
What about health education?
Government action
The government has also pledged to invest an extra £36 billion over the next three years to help the NHS recover from the pandemic and reform social care. However, some experts have warned that this may not be enough to address the underlying issues that affect the NHS performance and quality, such as workforce planning, public health funding and health inequalities.
How did it get so bad?
Lack of money or management failures? It has to one of these two. Throwing funds at an already badly managed ‘business’ will just amplify the problem allowing even more waste. And as the ‘system’ tackles the problem, more and more people will needlessly continue to suffer.
Fix our health service by fixing the people first!
Lao Tzu (also spelled Laozi or Lao-Tze) was a semi-legendary ancient Chinese philosopher who is credited with writing the Tao Te Ching, a classic of Chinese philosophical-religious literature.
‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’.
Chinese Legend
According to legend, Lao Tzu met Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, and impressed him with his wisdom. He also tried to teach people the way of the Tao, but found them unwilling to listen. He then decided to leave civilization and retire into seclusion. Before he departed, he wrote down his teachings in the Tao Te Ching at the request of a border guard. Some Taoist sects believe that he then became an immortal.
Culture influence
Lao Tzu’s influence on Chinese culture is immense. He is regarded as the ancestor of the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE), one of the most prosperous and powerful periods in Chinese history. He is also revered as a deity in religious Taoism and Chinese folk religion, under the name Laojun, one of the ‘Three Pure Ones’.
His teachings have inspired many other philosophers, poets, artists, and leaders throughout history and across the world.
‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’.
Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, two of Silicon Valley’s most high-profile venture firms, are poised to take a massive hit on their investments in grocery delivery company Instacart, a deal that closed in 2021 as tech stocks were soaring.
In its latest IPO prospectus update, Instacart said it plans to sell shares at $28 – $30 a share, valuing the company at around $10 billion at the top of the range. That’s more than 75% below where Sequoia and Andreessen invested in early 2021. At that time, Instacart sold shares at $125 a pop valuing Instacart at $39 billion.
Valuation plunge
The reason for the valuation collapse is that the U.S. economy reopened after the pandemic, then inflation spiked and the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates, which were stuck near to zero throughout the Covid pandemic.
Borrowed money suddenly became expensive again, and quickly too. Tech’ companies in early stages of development, need access to research and development finance – interest rate increases restricted investment.
Instacart 75% plunge in valuation from original price of $125 per share
Then consumers started shopping again on foot, and with capital costs increasing, investors began demanding that companies find a strong path to profitability.
IPO
Instacart is trying to crack open an IPO market that’s been closed for venture-backed companies for nearly two years, so it won’t be easy. However, the ARM IPO recently may re-adjust that view.
George Orwell 1903 – 1950. This quote is ‘attributed’ to George Orwell, a British writer and journalist who is best known for his novels 1984 and Animal Farm. But this quote is most likely NOT an Orwell one – eventhough it is widely accepted as his.
It is most likely that Orwell never wrote or spoke these words, even though they have a broadly Orwellian dystopian feel to them. It would appear that this quote was first written by a conservative writer in 2009, but has been almost universally misattributed to Orwell in the intervening 12 years.
The earliest record found found and apparently the original, was descovered in a column by the conservative writer Selwyn Duke, written in 2009.
So, who is Selwyn Duke?
Selwyn Duke is a conservative writer and commentator who has published articles on various topics such as politics, culture, religion, and science.
Duke is known for his traditionalist and sometimes controversial views on issues such as immigration, feminism, transgenderism, and vote fraud. He has written for several online and print outlets, such as The Hill, The American Conservative, WorldNetDaily, and American Thinker.
He also has a personal website where he posts his opinions and media appearances, and is active on X.
Selwyn Duke should not to be confused with George Orwell, a British author who wrote novels such as 1984 and Animal Farm. A quote that is often misattributed to Orwell actually originated from a 2009 opinion piece by Duke
‘The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it.’ Attributed to Orwell – but likely not one of his quotes.
Confidence in Bank of England (BoE) is a measure of how much the public trusts the central bank to control inflation, set interest rates and maintain economic stability.
According to the latest Inflation ‘Attitudes Survey‘ conducted by the Bank of England in August 2023, confidence in Bank of England has plummeted to an all-time low.
Survey
The survey found that only 19% of the respondents were satisfied with the way the Bank of England was doing its job to set interest rates to control inflation, while 40% were dissatisfied. The net satisfaction rate was -21%, which is the lowest since the survey began in 1999.
2% inflation please
The main reason for the low confidence is the high inflation rate that has been persisting in the UK for more than a year. Inflation reached a peak of 11.1% in December 2022, and was still at 6.8% in July 2023, well above the Bank of England’s target of 2%. The Bank of England has raised interest rates 14 times since the end of 2021, from 0.1% to 5.25%, to try to bring inflation down, but this has also increased the cost of borrowing and living for many households and businesses.
Slow
Some critics have argued that the Bank of England (BoE) acted too slowly and too cautiously to raise interest rates when inflation was rising, while others have warned that raising rates too high and too fast could harm the economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The public’s expectations of future inflation are also high, with a median answer of 2.9% for inflation in five years’ time, almost one percentage point higher than the Bank’s target.
Credibility
Confidence in Bank of England (BoE) is important because it affects how people behave in terms of spending, saving, investing, and borrowing.
Bank of England hits all-time confidence low according to survey
Loss of faith
If people lose faith in the central bank’s ability to control inflation and maintain economic stability, they may act in ways that could worsen the situation, such as hoarding money, demanding higher wages, or taking on more debt.
Therefore, it is crucial for the Bank of England to communicate clearly and effectively with the public about its policies and actions, and to restore trust and confidence in its role as an independent and credible institution.
It is also useful to take notice of early warning signs, such as the economic red alert posed by inflation after the pandemic recovery started.
The FTSE 100 is the index of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange by market capitalization. It is one of the most widely used indicators of the UK economy and the performance of British businesses.
The FTSE 100 had its best week of the year in the week ending 15th September. The index closed at 7,711 points on 15th September 2023. This was the highest weekly gain of 2023.
‘Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking’.
Flights at Gatwick Airport were cancelled, delayed or diverted at short notice on Thursday 14th September 2023 due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
Gatwick confirmed some cancellations, while the website FlightRadar24 said hundreds of flights in and out of the airport were delayed.
The National Air Traffic Services (Nats) apologised for its staffing shortages.
Gatwick Airport said it expected a normal service on Friday, 15th September 2023.
EasyJet expressed frustration at Thursday’s delays and cancellations, while Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary called on Nats’ boss to resign.
Mr O’Leary reportedly said: ‘It is unacceptable that more flights and hundreds of passengers are suffering delays to/from Gatwick Airport due to Nats CEO, Martin Rolfe’s blatant failure to adequately staff UK ATC’.
‘Airlines are paying millions of pounds to Nats each and every year and should not have to see their passengers suffer avoidable delays due to UK ATC staff shortages’.
Update
Gatwick Airport said it was ‘operating as normal’ on Friday after a shortage of air traffic controllers caused disruption to flights overnight on Thursday, 14th September 2023.
Masayoshi Son says AI to surpass human intelligence and that SoftBank will ‘rule the world’. Oh dear…!
Main points in brief
Masayoshi Son reportedly said AI is capable of helping solve the world’s biggest problems and could potentially surpass the intelligence of humans.
He said he was a ‘big believer’ in AI and that Arm, a chip design company owned by Softbank, was a ‘core’ beneficiary of the AI revolution.
He said AI would supercharge human ability and that Softbank would ‘rule the world’ and win the latest generative-AI race thanks to its heavy investment in startups and its majority stake in Arm.
He also acknowledged that AI posed some threats to humanity if mishandled and that society should regulate it to protect humankind.
Masayoshi Son and SoftBank
The 66-year-old founded SoftBank, which still controls about 90% of Arm Holdings after the IPO, back in 1981 after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley. Forbes estimates his net worth at more than $24 billion, making him the world’s 69th richest person.
Son made his early reputation as an investor in Japan’s mobile phone industry, and went on to become one of the first backers of Yahoo as well as Alibaba. Son continues to serve as the chairman of Arm’s board of directors.
AI does pose some threats to humanity if mishandled, Son said, likening its potential misuse to the dangers of speeding, or drinking alcohol while driving a car. But, more positively, AI can also help solve key world problems like diseases or help mitigate or recover from natural disasters, he reportedly said.
‘AI, society should regulate to protect humankind’, Son said. ‘However, it has more merit than the demerits. So, I think I’m a believer. I’m optimistic that AI is going to solve the issues that mankind couldn’t solve in the past‘.
Eurozone interest rates have been hiked again to a record high by the European Central Bank (ECB).
The bank raised its key rate for the 10th time in a row, to 4% from 3.75%, as it warned inflation was expected to remain too high for too long.
The latest increase came after forecasts predicted inflation, which is the rate prices rise at, would be 5.6% on average in 2023. However, the ECB signalled that this latest hike could be the last for now.
‘The council considers that the key ECB interest rates have reached levels that, maintained for a sufficiently long duration, will make a substantial contribution to the timely return of inflation to the target’, the bank reportedly said. The central bank originally expected inflation to be ‘transitory’.
It added that it expected inflation in the 20-nation bloc to fall to around 2.9% next year and 2.2% in 2025.
As in other parts of the world, the eurozone has been hit by rising food and energy prices that have squeezed household budgets and from the Russia/Ukraine war. Central banks have been increasing interest rates in an attempt to tame inflation and slow rising prices.
More expensive to borrow
The theory behind increasing rates is that by making it more expensive for people to borrow money, the ‘consumer’ will then have less excess cash to spend, meaning households will buy fewer things and then price rises will ease. But it is a balancing act as raising rates too aggressively could cause a recession.
Interest rates in the UK are currently higher than in the eurozone at 5.25%, but UK inflation is also higher at 6.8%, and the Bank of England is expected to raise rates again next week.
NASA has recently released a report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), which is another term for UFOs. The report is based on a yearlong study of hundreds of UAP sightings by scientists and data experts.
In brief
NASA found no evidence that aliens are behind the UAPs, but it also could not rule out the possibility. The report said that some of the objects must have travelled through our solar system to get here.
NASA said that the study of UAPs will require new scientific techniques, including advanced satellites and artificial intelligence. The agency also announced a new director of UAP research to establish a robust database and analysis process.
NASA said that UAPs are important for national security and air safety, as some of them pose potential threats to aircraft and military operations. The agency also said that it will share data and findings with more transparency and collaboration.
NASA said that many UAP sightings can be explained by natural phenomena, human-made objects, or sensor errors, but some remain unexplained and anomalous. The report estimated that only about 2% to 5% of the total database are thought to be truly anomalous.
Investors gobbled up UK microchip designer Arm Holdings at its U.S. debut on the Nasdaq on 14th September 2023, sending its market value soaring to $60 billion (£48.3 billion).
The shares ended the day worth more than $63 each, after climbing by almost 25% from the high end start of $51 per share set by Arm.
The sale was the biggest initial public offering of the year, raising $4.87 billion for owner Softbank Group.
Despite some concerns surrounding the company’s exposure to risks in China and a potential AI slowdown – the shares soared.
British tech
A star of the British technology industry, Arm designs microchips for devices including smartphones and game consoles. It estimates that some 70% of the world’s population uses products that rely on its chips, including nearly all of the world’s smartphones. And with AI nestling in on the horizon, the future potential for Arm is massive.
Arm stock chart 14th September 2023
Arm said it expects the total market for its chip designs to be worth about $250 billion by 2025, including new growth areas such as data centres and cars.
Legacy
Many of Arm’s royalties come from products released decades ago. About half of the company’s royalty revenue of $1.68 billion in 2022, came from products released between 1990 and 2012.
Bright Future
The future looks bright for Arm but the company is trading at more than 25 times its most recent full year of revenue, and at more than 100 times profit.
And that could be where things get tricky for Arm in the not too distant future. Projections for future profits will be interesting, esecially if it’s to keep up with Nvidia for instance.
