By David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) – Britain saw a record number of working days lost due to short-term sickness last year and zero annual growth in economic output per hour worked in the final quarter of 2022, according to official data released on Wednesday. The figures from the Office for National Statistics highlight the challenges…
LONDON (Reuters) – British retail sales inched higher in April, although most shop chains do not foresee a lasting improvement, an industry survey showed on Wednesday. The Confederation of British Industry’s monthly retail sales balance rose to +5 in April from +1 in March, its highest level this year. Expectations for May were slightly negative,…
A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike Dolan Just as markets were getting all antsy again about regional U.S. banks, Big Tech mega caps seem to have calmed the investment world with cloud-covered earnings beats and giddy talk of the quantum leap in artificial intelligence. After Tuesday’s bank stress…
By Mike Dolan LONDON (Reuters) – Growing wealth inequality and rise of the digital economy may well have combined to undermine the entire banking system – in an intriguing connection that potentially helps tie up some loose ends in world markets. Many investment strategists have for years seen the ebb and flow of world liquidity…
LONDON (Reuters) -Canadian miner Teck Resources, the target of an unsolicited takeover bid by Glencore, narrowly missed first-quarter estimates on Wednesday, hit by lower prices, weak copper and zinc sales and higher expenses. Teck reported adjusted profit of C$1.81 per share for the three months to March 31, compared with an average analyst estimate of…
A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Vidya Ranganathan The steady stream of bad news from banks continues to cast a pall over markets this week, even as global tech giants surprise investors by beating earnings estimates. Spain’s Santander dragged European stocks down on Tuesday. UBS Group fell after setting…
By Khalid Abdelaziz KHARTOUM (Reuters) -Fighting flared anew in Sudan late on Tuesday despite a ceasefire declaration by the warring factions, as a U.N. envoy said the truce was partially holding even though there was no sign that the two sides were ready for serious talks. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support…
LONDON (Reuters) – British sandwich and coffee chain Pret A Manger has raised the price of its monthly coffee subscription service by 20% to 30 pounds ($37.34) but expanded it to include a 10% reduction on everything sold in its shops. The group, commonly referred to as Pret, launched its coffee subscription service in September…
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s biggest food bank network said the amount of emergency food parcels it distributed rose 37% to a record 3 million in the year to March as more people faced hardship in a cost-of-living crisis that shows little sign of easing. The Trussell Trust, which supports a network of 1,300 food bank…
By Jack Queen and Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -With Ed Sheeran on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday during a copyright trial, jurors were warned to keep their composure while watching a video of the British pop star performing a medley of his hit song “Thinking Out Loud” and the classic…
