by Christopher Nye | Nov 2, 2026
The pound hit a new milestone last week, breaking through the 1.20 barrier against the euro for the first time since March 2025, and one of the few times since the Brexit referendum. Although it has slipped back a little in early trading this morning, the rise...
by Jonathan Cook | Oct 30, 2026
Sterling opens Friday trading at its strongest level against the euro since March 2025. With the Bank of England’s next decision coming hot on the heels of the autumn Budget next week, it feels unlikely that rate will last for long. We just heard the French economy...
by Jonathan Cook | Oct 29, 2026
John Healey set out to deliver an autumn Budget that would ‘do no harm’ to UK finances. Judging by the initial reaction, it seems he has accomplished this aim. Government borrowing costs fell on Wednesday and the pound was little changed, reflecting a muted Budget...
by Jonathan Cook | Oct 28, 2026
Sterling arrives at Budget day close to a 17-month high against the euro, although its performance against the US dollar has been rather less convincing. The chancellor may not be the only one with a few butterflies in his stomach this morning. Andy Burnham and John...
by Jonathan Cook | Oct 27, 2026
Sterling begins Tuesday on the defensive after losing ground to the US dollar to start the week. It had reached a 17-month high against the euro on Friday but ceded some of that momentum yesterday, with investors understandably reluctant to carry much risk into the...
by Jonathan Cook | Oct 26, 2026
The pound must navigate Wednesday’s autumn Budget having strengthened to its best level against the euro since April 2025 to end last week. Chancellor John Healey is ironing out the last details and media reports suggest this could be a low-key, ‘do no harm’ type of...
by Ryan Morrison | Oct 23, 2026
Britain’s shoppers are buying less and worrying more, according to two reports that have delivered a double dose of bad news for the economy. Retail sales fell further than expected in September, while consumer confidence suffered its sharpest monthly decline...
by Ryan Morrison | Oct 22, 2026
The pound held near a 17-month high against the euro this morning, as yesterday’s hotter-than-expected inflation figures strengthened the case for a November interest-rate rise. Sterling also remained close to its recent highs against the dollar....
by Jonathan Cook | Oct 21, 2026
The UK’s headline inflation rate increased to 3.5% in September, driven by the highest motor fuel prices since the summer of 2022. While not exactly positive news for the chancellor and the economy, this morning’s figures did provide a further boost to sterling,...
by Jonathan Cook | Oct 20, 2026
Unemployment in the United Kingdom recorded a surprising drop from 4.9% to 4.7% in August. That took the UK’s jobless rate to its lowest since June 2025, despite the significant disruptions caused by the energy crisis and political uncertainty. The euro remains...
