Why central banks should forget about 2% inflation | Jeffrey Frankel
The Federal Reserve has some reasons to cut interest rates at its 31 July meeting, or subsequently if the US economy weakens. (There is also a case for holding rates steady, if growth...
Worsening public finances give next PM a sharp 'reality check'
Pledges by Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to cut taxes and increase spending have come just as the UK’s public finances have shown a marked deterioration, according to the latest official figures.
In what...
Investors’ demand for dividends will push us to disaster
When companies are borrowing like never before and yet investment is low, it is reasonable to ask what they are doing with the money.
They could be stockpiling huge sums to guard against a...
High court judge leads inquiry into London Capital & Finance scandal
The government has launched an independent inquiry into the collapse of London Capital & Finance, the investment firm at the centre of a mounting £236m financial scandal in which thousands of investors lost...
The FCA's supervision of LC&F is finally being investigated. About time too
The London Capital & Finance scandal, in which the now-infamous investment firm collapsed owing £236m to 11,000 people, may be one of the worst regulatory failures on the watch of the Financial Conduct...
Wagamama is a tasty dish, but surely not at any price? | Nils Pratley
A majority of 60.4% in favour of a bet-the-farm corporate deal counts as a lukewarm endorsement. A country can leave the European Union (maybe) on less but companies normally regard anything under 90%...
IFS says Hammond's budget is gambling with public finances
Philip Hammond has taken a “gamble” on the future health of the public finances by using better short-term borrowing figures to raise spending on the NHS, according to Britain’s leading tax and spending...
Is austerity in the UK really over after 2018's budget?
Philip Hammond knew what he had to do. With Theresa May sitting behind him, the chancellor’s job was to put flesh on the bones of the prime minister’s promise to the British public...
UK government borrowing target back on track
Philip Hammond’s plan to bring down the government’s annual borrowing was back on track last month after a blowout in August that knocked the chancellor off course.
Public sector net borrowing in September, excluding...