Germany was the first major economy to report inflation data for March, when the war in Iran broke out. Headline consumer price inflation increased by an annualised 2.7%, far above the 1.9% recorded in February. Italy, France and…
Read more
›
There hasn’t been much to cheer for sterling sellers lately, but an easing in government borrowing costs contributed to a calmer session on Monday. After approaching a post-2008 high, bond yields have fallen as traders trim the number…
Read more
›
Petrol prices at UK service stations hit their highest level since late 2023 on Monday as the crisis in the Middle East continued to dominate proceedings.
Read more
›
Sterling against the euro continues to be largely unaffected by war in the Middle East, despite it sending the oil price to $115 per barrel at the start of this week, some 40% up on a month ago.…
Read more
›
The ECB’s March projections now see eurozone growth averaging just 0.9% in 2026, a downward revision driven by the global effects of the Middle East war on commodity markets, real incomes and confidence — while headline inflation has…
Read more
›
In periods of risk aversion, the dollar has been drawing capital flows for safety, with elevated yields adding further attraction for global investors — making it one of the strongest-performing major currencies in recent sessions. However, there are…
Read more
›
Oil markets ended last week in dramatic fashion. Brent crude futures have now risen more than a third since the last day of February, trading above $113 a barrel on Friday, while the physical price of oil delivered…
Read more
›
The pound drifted lower into the end of last week, shaped by UK retail sales figures showing a 0.4% fall in February after a strong January, with the Office for National Statistics noting that some spending may have…
Read more
›
