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The UK economy grew just 0.1% in the last quarter according to data released by the Office for National Statistics. This was below economists’ expectations of 0.2%, and the previous quarter’s rise of 0.5%. The services sector, which accounts for circa 80% of the economy, expanded just 0.1% compared to 0.6% in the previous quarter.…

Naturally, the big news of the week was Donald Trump’s historic victory in the US presidential election, which saw US stocks hit record highs. The S&P rose 2.5% on the day, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 2.7%. It was technology and financial stocks that rose the most off the back of hopes of further deregulation in…

In official data released on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics, UK wage growth (excluding bonuses) was shown to have fallen to 4.9% in the three months to August, in line with analyst expectations. This is compared to 5.1% in the three months to July. Including bonuses, the latest figure was lower at 3.8%,…

Data released on Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed US inflation fell to 2.4% in September, below the August figure of 2.5%, but above analyst expectations of 2.3%. However, the continued easing of inflation has reinforced expectations of a quarter percentage point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in November, with markets pricing…

On Thursday, Sterling experienced its largest fall against the dollar since October last year, falling 1% off the back of comments from Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England. Bailey told the Guardian newspaper that rate-setters could be “a bit more aggressive” if inflationary pressures continue to ease. Investor expectations for two quarter percentage…

Chinese shares had their strongest week of trading since 2008 after Beijing announced an unprecedented economic stimulus package. The announcement on Tuesday included a range of measures designed to revive flagging economic growth and help debt-laden property owners, with the People’s Bank of China cutting the reserve ratio requirement for banks, lowering interest rates and…

Your income is the basis on which all life plans are made and as such it needs to be prioritised in terms of protecting it when making any financial planning arrangements, or just simply to maintain your lifestyle. Without an income, all other objectives will fail. Maintaining an income is the foundation of any kind…

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a percentage point to a range of 4.75% to 5%, the central bank’s first cut in over four years. At the news conference following the decision, Fed chair Jay Powell said the move had been made to “maintain the strength of the economy and labour…

According to official figures released on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics, UK wage growth slowed in the three months to July, with the data showing growth of 5.1% compared to 5.4% in the three months to May, in line with analysts’ expectations. This came off the back of weakening payroll employment and hiring,…