Economic News
EU retaliates against 'America first' taxes on imports and prepares to impose tariffs on US products
Europe is preparing to impose tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorbikes, bourbon whiskey and Levi’s jeans in response to Trump’s 'America First' taxes on steel (+25%) and aluminium (+10%) imports.
Baby boomers should pay higher wealth taxes, says ex-Tory minister
Tory ex-minister Lord David Willetts will say in a speech on Monday that the baby boomer generation should pay higher wealth taxes to cover the costs of health and social care.
Pound jumps after May says UK is getting 'closer' to a Brexit-transition deal
The pound jumped by half a percentage point against the dollar on Monday afternoon after the Prime Minister said officials were getting closer to securing a Brexit-transition deal with the European Union.
Third of top UK restaurant chains failing as Carluccio's joins the pile
Over a third of the UK’s top 100 restaurant groups are failing to make a profit, a study into the sector has found.
Tuesday preview: Haldane speaks, results for Ashtead and Just Eat
A speech from the Bank of England's Andy Haldane should liven up what is looking like a fairly quiet Tuesday on the financial calendar after corporate updates from the likes of Ashtead, Just Eat and McCarthy & Stone.
Markit's US services PMI rises in February
Activity in the US services sector improved in February, according to data released on Monday.
US service sector growth slows less than expected in February - ISM
Growth in the US services sector eased a little in February, according to the latest data from the Institute for Supply Management.
SPD backs coalition deal and Merkel secures fourth government
Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) has backed a great coalition again, putting an end to six months of political uncertainty, while handing Chancellor Angela Merkel her fourth consecutive term in power.
Builders not bricking it as May's housing threats fall flat
Unveiling reforms to property planning legislation, Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to come down like a tonne of bricks on housebuilder that "sit on land" and on developers than try to avoid building affordable homes.
Former Deutsche Bank trader 'Gollum' fined over LIBOR manipulation ring
Former Deutsche Bank trader Guillaume Adolph, nicknamed "Gollum" by fellow disgraced trader Tom Hayes, has been fined £180,000 and banned from the finance industry by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Services sector bounce underpins UK growth in first quarter
The UK's key services sector reported better trading than expected last month, though economists were not united over whether it would be enough to prop up the wider economic growth figures for the first quarter of the year.
Eurozone retail sales dip in January, miss expectations
Eurozone retail sales fell on the month but rose on the year in January, according to the latest figures from Eurostat.
UK car registrations drop as diesel struggles to stay in gear
Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) on Monday revealed that new car registrations in Britain fell by 2. 8% to 80,805 in February when compared to the previous year.
Trump threatens tariffs on EU car exports
President Donald Trump threatened to tax European car imports if Brussels retaliated against his proposed tariffs on US purchases of steel and aluminium from overseas.
JP Morgan stays at 'overweight' on Eurozone, Japan
JP Morgan stuck by its 'overweight' recommendation on Eurozone and Japanese equities, arguing that the risk-reward trade-off from stocks was still "supportive" and that growth did not necessarily need to shift down sharply, although some stalling was a possibility.
Eurozone economic growth eases in February
Economic growth in the eurozone eased a little in February, according to data released on Monday.
Populist movement makes inroads in Italian elections
Italy's main anti-establishment parties made new inroads in Sunday's parliamentary elections, possibly paving the way for already-approved economic reforms to be rolled back and higher spending.