#david milliken

[theindianewstoday-blog]

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says coronavirus top priority, as first Briton dies

https://theindianewstoday.com/uk-prime-minister-boris-johnson-says-coronavirus-top-priority-as-first-briton-dies/ UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says coronavirus top priority, as first Briton dies

[stocknewspaper-blog]

"UK manufacturers enjoy strongest growth this year but trade weak" has been added to my site. Please visit for details. http://www.stocknewspaper.com/uk-manufacturers-enjoy-strongest-growth-this-year-but-trade-weak/

[newsdock]

By Alistair Smout and David Milliken EDINBURGH/LONDON (Reuters) - The debate over whether Scots will be better off if they break away from the United Kingdom intensified on Wednesday, as pro- and anti-independence camps both claimed Scots would be at least 1,000 pounds ($1,700) a year richer. Scotland holds a referendum on Sept. 18 over whether to end its 307-year union with England, and as that date moves nearer the number of people who are still undecided exceeds the majority who want to retain the union. Britain's deputy finance minister, Danny Alexander - sensitive to criticism that the anti-independence campaign had been too negative - said Scots would each be 1,400 pounds a year wealthier if they stayed in the United Kingdom. "By staying together, Scotland's future will be safer, with stronger finances and a more progressive society," Alexander said. Source: Reuters

[newsdock]

By David Milliken and William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) - Further sterling strength would be a worry and could potentially make the Bank of England delay raising interest rates, BoE policymaker Ian McCafferty said in some of the central bank's most forceful recent comments on the pound's rise. Boosted by Britain's economic recovery, sterling has strengthened by more than 10 percent against the currencies of its main trading partners in less than a year, and earlier this month it hit its highest level in more than five years. "Were it to continue to rise, I would get more worried," McCafferty told Reuters in an interview conducted on Monday afternoon. The Bank has stressed it is in no rush to raise interest rates - a point McCafferty reiterated - but last year's unexpected rebound in British economic growth has driven expectations that it might tighten policy before the U.S. Federal Reserve or the European Central Bank. Source: Reuters

[newsdock]

By David Milliken and William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) - Further sterling strength would be a worry and could potentially make the Bank of England delay raising interest rates, BoE policymaker Ian McCafferty said in some of the central bank's most forceful recent comments on the pound's rise. Boosted by Britain's economic recovery, sterling has strengthened by more than 10 percent against the currencies of its main trading partners in less than a year, and earlier this month it hit its highest level in more than five years. "Were it to continue to rise, I would get more worried," McCafferty told Reuters in an interview conducted on Monday afternoon. The Bank has stressed it is in no rush to raise interest rates - a point McCafferty reiterated - but last year's unexpected rebound in British economic growth has driven expectations that it might tighten policy before the U.S. Federal Reserve or the European Central Bank. Source: Reuters

[newsdock]

By David Milliken and Andy Bruce LONDON (Reuters) - Lower income tax and corporation tax receipts dragged Britain's public finances to a much smaller than usual seasonal surplus in January, as finance minister George Osborne prepares his annual budget. Strong performance earlier in the financial year means Osborne still looks on track for public sector net borrowing, excluding financial sector interventions and some other one-off effects, to fall broadly as forecast in December. Source: Reuters

[newsdock]

By Andy Bruce and David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) - British inflation fell below the Bank of England's target for the first time in over four years last month, reinforcing the bank's message that there is no rush to raise interest rates. Economists polled by Reuters had expected it to stay at 2.0 percent, although the lower rate of inflation fitted with the BoE's latest forecasts showing it would dip to around 1.7 percent by March. "With sterling remaining strong, pushing down import costs, energy and commodity prices remaining well behaved and wage pressures limited, inflation is likely to remain soft for several months," said ING economist James Knightley. "We do expect to see an uptick later this year with a strengthening labour market likely prompting a gradual rise in wages ... but it is not going to be troubling for the BoE." Before December last year, annual inflation exceeded the Bank of England's 2 percent target every month since December 2009, eroding the spending power of households and making the fall in living standards a big political issue ahead of next year's elections. Source: Reuters

[newsdock]

By David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) - A bumper year for Britain's car industry offers some hope the economy will start to grow in a more sustainable way, with a better balance between investment and spending. In 2013, Britain enjoyed its best year of economic growth since the financial crisis, outpacing other advanced nations. A smooth transition to longer-lasting growth, propelled by business investment and exports, is a key hurdle for 2014 according to the Bank of England. The car industry is showing signs of leading the way - but there have been false starts before. Source: Reuters [view]