Labour’s proposal to dismantle the UK’s non-dom tax system may lead to an exodus of the ultra-wealthy, as advisors and research bodies have cautioned. Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Malta, Dubai, and the Caribbean are becoming popular relocation destinations, sensing the apprehension among affluent investors. Meanwhile, London’s super-prime real estate marketRead More →
Stocks soared on Thursday 19th September 2024, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 reaching new record highs, following the Federal Reserve’s decision on Wednesday to cut interest rates by half a percentage point. The Dow Jones climbed 522.09 points to close at 42025, surpassing 42000 forRead More →
Bank of England holds UK interest rate at 5% Interest rates are “now gradually on the path down”, the Bank of England governor reportedly said after borrowing costs were held at 5%. He later reportedly remarked that inflation had “come down a long way” but warned the Bank would needRead More →
The London Stock Market has recently been hailed as Europe’s best stock market! According to a survey by Bank of America, Wall Street says that the UK is now the most preferred equity market in Europe. This positive sentiment comes as the FTSE 100 hit recent highs, reflecting a shiftRead More →
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has voted to reduce the interest rate by 0.50% after having maintained its benchmark rate within the range of 5.25% to 5.50% since July 2023 The previous rate was the highest seen for 23 years and remained unchanged even though the Fed’s favoured inflationRead More →
UK inflation was reported at 2.2% for August 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released on Wednesday 18th August 2024 The consumer price index (CPI) figure aligned with the forecasts of analysts and remained consistent with July’s inflation rate of 2.2%. Previously, the headline CPI hadRead More →
In a substantial effort to strengthen the infrastructure required for artificial intelligence (AI), BlackRock and Microsoft have unveiled a significant fundraising endeavour. The initiative, dubbed the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership (GAIIP), seeks to secure $30 billion in private equity capital, with the possibility of leveraging up to $100 billionRead More →
Gold prices have soared to unprecedented levels, reaching a new all-time high of $2,585 per ounce This surge is driven by a mixture of economic and geopolitical factors that have heightened investor interest in the precious metal. One of the primary catalysts for this rise is the anticipation of aRead More →
In the first half of this year, pharmacies, pubs, and banks accounted for half of the closures on Britain’s High Streets, according to data. A total of 6,945 stores have shut down in 2024, averaging 38 closures per day Taking new store openings into account, the net closure rate standsRead More →
In August 2024, wholesale prices saw an increase that was roughly in line with expectations, marking the final inflation data point before the Federal Reserve’s anticipated interest rate cut due on 18th September 2024 The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Thursday 12th September 2024 that the producer price indexRead More →
On Thursday, 12th September 2024, the European Central Bank announced a 0.25% interest rate cut, its second reduction of the rate this year This expected decision follows a period of sluggish economic growth in the eurozone and a decrease in inflation, which approached the central bank’s 2% target in August.Read More →
UK data centres are set to be classified as critical national infrastructure (CNI), aligning them with sectors such as emergency services, finance, healthcare, and utilities This classification will ensure they receive additional government support during major incidents like cyber-attacks, IT outages, or severe weather, to reduce disruption. Data centres, largeRead More →
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal battleground in the technological race between China and the United States. “AI is expected to become a crucial component of economic and military power in the near future,” Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2023 stated. Both countries are significantly investing in AIRead More →
A politician in training – “OK! So, I’ve mastered the ‘smile’ – now what?”Read More →
As anticipated in the U.S., prices rose in August 2024, while the annual inflation rate fell to its lowest point since February 2021, according to a Labor Department report on Wednesday 11th September 2024. This development likely now paves the way for a Federal Reserve interest rate reduction next weekRead More →
Europe’s highest court ruled against Apple on Tuesday 10th September 2024, concluding a decade-long legal dispute over the company’s tax dealings in Ireland. The case dates back to 2016, when the European Commission directed Ireland to reclaim up to 13 billion euros ($14.4 billion) in unpaid taxes from Apple. TheRead More →
The UK’s economy did not experience growth in July 2024, continuing the stagnation from June 2024, as indicated by official data Analysts had anticipated a modest growth of 0.2% for July. However, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell short of the expectations set by economists surveyed by Reuters, who hadRead More →
The Australian property listing company REA Group announced on Wednesday that its £5.6 billion ($7.32 billion) cash-and-stock bid to take over Rightmove, Britain’s largest real estate portal, was rejected. REA Group, which is 62% owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, reportedly did not provide a reason for Rightmove’s refusal ofRead More →
Europe’s top court upheld a €2.4 billion ($2.65 billion) fine against Google on Tuesday 10th September 2024 for unfairly promoting its shopping comparison service, exploiting its market dominance. The ruling stems from a 2017 antitrust investigation by the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union. The Commission reportedlyRead More →
The U.S. government is targeting the heart of Google’s vast wealth – its highly profitable monopolising advertising technology business A trial scheduled to begin on Monday 9th September 2024 will scrutinise the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) claims that Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is unlawfully sustaining a monopoly inRead More →
August 2024 saw China’s exports increase more than expected however, imports fell short of forecasts Exports expanded by 8.7% in U.S. dollar terms compared to the previous year, while imports saw a marginal increase of 0.5%. The export volume of China’s rare earths decreased by 1% from the previous year,Read More →
On Monday 9th September 2024, China announced that its consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.6% year-on-year in August 2024, falling short of expectations and due mainly to decreasing costs in transportation, home goods, and rents. The consumer price index was projected to rise by 0.7% year-on-year in August 2024,Read More →
The stock market is often seen as a barometer of economic health, but its relationship with the broader U.S. economy is more nuanced than it might appear. Although there are links between the two, they do not always correlate. The intricacies of this relationship and its implications for investors andRead More →
The Biden administration is reportedly implementing new export controls on essential technologies, such as quantum computing and semiconductor materials, in response to China’s progress in the global chip market These controls encompass quantum computers and their components, sophisticated chipmaking tools, semiconductor technologies, certain metal and metal alloy components and software,Read More →
Is the U.S. economy already weaker than the headline data suggests and should the U.S. Federal Reserve already be easing? In the U.S. recent data (Friday 30th August 2024) showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s favored measure of inflation, ticked up 0.2% last month, asRead More →
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor, intensifying its venture into the AI PC market and challenging competitors like Intel and AMD The U.S. semiconductor powerhouse announced that the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core targets PCs priced from $700, aiming to broaden its chip reach to additional devices. Moreover,Read More →