Economic News

Dan Atkinson, Financial Mail25 February 2007 Gordon Brown is set to reap a £1bn-plus windfall this year from property companies turning themselves into tax-efficient real estate investment trusts (Reits). WANT TO KNOW MORE? DAN'S BLOG: Read the insider views of Financial Mail's economics correspondent OTHER STORIES Brown urged to lift death tax Row as Virgin TV viewers los ...

LONDON (AFX) - European government bonds continued to rise after this morning's key Ifo survey of German business confidence came in below expectations. The Ifo business climate indicator dropped to 107.0 in February from 107.9 in January, falling short of forecasts for a smaller fall to 107.6 and going in the opposite direction from yesterday's above-forecast surveys out of France, Italy and Bel ...

LONDON (AFX) - The euro was sharply higher against the dollar as strong data this week point to higher interest rates in the euro zone, with most in the market expecting rates to rise beyond the expected rate hike to 3.75 pct in March. The single currency dipped slightly earlier in the day after this morning's key German Ifo business climate showed a bigger-than-expected fall, but soon recovered ...

LONDON (AFX) - The euro rose back up against the dollar, recovering from earlier falls as the market reassessed this morning's weaker-than-expected German Ifo business confidence survey. The Ifo index dropped to 107.0 in February from 107.9, falling short of forecasts for a lesser fall to 107.6. Nonetheless, it was still not far off 16-year highs and consistent with robust economic growth. &quot ...

LONDON (AFX) - European government bonds were higher after a key survey of German business confidence came in below expectations. The Ifo business climate indicator dropped to 107.0 in February from 107.9 in January, falling short of forecasts for a smaller fall to 107.6. Following strong French, Belgian and Italian business confidence surveys yesterday, there had been talk in the market of an ab ...

LONDON (AFX) - UK economic growth continues apace, suggesting that the Bank of England will be forced to lift interest rates over the coming months, possibly as soon as March. In data out today, UK fourth quarter growth was confirmed at 0.8 pct from the previous quarter and at 3.0 pct from the same period a year ago. Notably, household spending picked up, rising by 1.0 pct during the quarter -- a ...

LONDON (AFX) - Household spending helped the UK economy grow by its fastest rate in two and a half years during the final quarter of 2006, the office of National Statistics confirmed today. In its second estimate for the fourth quarter, the statistics office said the UK economy grew by 0.8 pct from the previous quarter, its best quarterly performance since the second quarter of 2004. The growth r ...

(Updating with analyst comment) LONDON (AFX) - Household spending helped the UK economy grow by its fastest rate in two and a half years during the final quarter of 2006, the office of National Statistics confirmed today. In its second estimate for the fourth quarter, the statistics office said the UK economy grew by 0.8 pct from the previous quarter, its best quarterly performance since the sec ...

LONDON (AFX) - The euro dropped against major currencies after a key survey on German business confidence came in below expectations. The Ifo business climate indicator dropped to 107.0 in February from 107.9 in January, falling short of forecasts for a smaller fall to 107.6. Following strong French, Belgian and Italian business confidence surveys yesterday, there had been talk in the market of a ...

LONDON (AFX) - Moody's Investors Service said it has raised the outlook on the Government of Bulgaria's Baa3 long-term foreign and local currency bond ratings to positive from stable. The change in outlook was prompted by the government's strong fiscal position, robust economic growth and expected euro zone membership. The outlooks on Bulgaria's A1 foreign currency bond ceiling, Baa3 foreign cur ...