Federal Reserve minutes show close call on September interest rate hike

Three central bankers voted in favor of increasing rates amid easing risks of Brexit but experts still expect only one hike this year, after December meeting. The Federal Reserves decision not to increase rates in September was a close call, the minutes released on Wednesday show. When the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) met in […]

Pound continues to fall against dollar amid ‘hard Brexit’ fears

Sterling falls 0.3% to $1.2395 as City worries persist about UK’s economic prospects outside EU. The pound has continued to fall against the US dollar as worries persist over the UK’s economic prospects outside the EU. Sterling suffered sharp losses last week as ministers at the Conservative party conference signalled they would opt for a […]

Brexit, low growth and the spectre of protectionism stalk an IMF in sombre mood

For bank governors and ministers heading to this weeks annual meeting in Washington, the UKs immediate prospects will be a rare bright spot. We pick the five areas causing most concern. For chancellors of the exchequer, annual International Monetary Fund meetings have not always been the happiest of occasions. Heading there in early October 2008, […]

EU and US trade negotiators seek to get TTIP talks back on track

Officials will rush to lock in progress on controversial trade deal before Barack Obama leaves White House in January. Trade negotiators will meet in New York next week to search for common ground on the controversial EU-US trade deal, which has been buffeted by strong opposition on both sides of the Atlantic. A team of […]

World Bank renews drive against inequality

Report says faster growth and more anti-inequality measures would be needed to meet goal of eliminating extreme poverty and boosting pay. The World Bank has called for a fresh drive to tackle inequality after warning that the gap between rich and poor risks thwarting its ambition of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030. Ahead of its […]