Economic News
Departing FCA chairman defends regulator's record
The Financial Conduct Authority’s departing chairman has defended the regulator’s record after a gruelling period when MPs published a report into Royal Bank of Scotland’s treatment of customers that the FCA wanted to keep secret.
UK needs £40bn tax raise to balance books - IFS
A tax raise of approximately £40bn is needed each year for the UK government to maintain its current spending rate and reduce the deficit by 2020, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has calculated.
Europe midday: Stocks push higher as ECB strikes dovish note, euro dips
Stocks on the Continent are pushing higher, after the European Central Bank's president struck a 'dovish' note on the outlook for monetary policy.
Which? claims holidaymakers aren't warned about post-Brexit flight cancellations
Which? has revealed that millions of holidaymakers haven’t been warned properly by travel companies of the consequences of a ‘no deal’ on aviation post-Brexit, which includes potential flight disruptions and booking cancellations.
Google bans cryptocurrency advertising from its platforms
Google, the largest provider of digital advertising on the internet, has banned cryptocurrency advertising from all its platforms.
Fall in US retail sales surprises
US retail sales unexpectedly worsened last month in what was the third consecutive month of decline.
UK expels 23 Russian diplomats over Salisbury nerve agent poisoning
The UK will expel 23 Russian diplomats after the Kremlin failed to explain its involvement in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
WTI dips after US DoE reports 5.0m b/d stockpile increase
US oil product stockpiles shrank at an accelerated rate last week, amid a small increase in the rate of refinery use.
US factory gate prices slightly higher than expected in February
US wholesale prices edged past economists' forecasts in February, but only slightly.
Investors expect delays in Brexit talks, Barclays survey finds
Investors expect significant delays in Brexit negotiations after the UK and the EU set out contrasting versions of a deal, a survey by Barclays shows.
Positive surprise on Chinese industrial production at start of 2018
Economic activity in China rebounded at the start of the year, but the latest readings drew a mixed reaction from economists.