Britain’s Labour government will come under intense scrutiny on Wednesday, as Finance Minister Rachel Reeves prepares to update lawmakers on her spending and taxation plans and the nation’s economic outlook amid unsettling times for the U.K.Reeves is expected to announce billions of pounds worth of spending cuts as a way to close a budget shortfall caused by a rise in borrowing costs since her first fiscal plan, released last fall.The finance minister has already vowed to stick to her self-imposed “fiscal rules” set out in the “Autumn Budget” last October: to ensure that day-to-day spending is met by tax revenues…
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By Dharamraj Dhutia MUMBAI (Reuters) – With inflation close to the Reserve Bank of India’s target and growth weak, the country’s overnight indexed swap (OIS) markets have started pricing in far more aggressive rate cuts by the central bank than previously anticipated. OIS rates, the closest gauge of interest rate expectations, have eased by 10-15 basis points so far in March, with the absolute levels hinting at more than 50 basis points of rate cuts cumulatively over the next 12 months. India’s fiscal year 2025-26 begins on April 1. “Inflation in the current quarter is tracking 50 bps lower than…
Image source: Getty Images There are some tempting dividend stocks on the Footsie right now. But big dividend yields can lead us into danger. And I really think there are some I should avoid. Long-term disappointment Vodafone (LSE: VOD) is one, despite a tasty-looking 7.8% yield. I’m turning away at a time when the company is on the final €0.5bn tranche of a €2bn share buyback programme. For years, Vodafone was paying out silly huge dividends while watching its share price slide. The company finally saw some sense and slashed the annual payout for 2025 in half. A share price…
Investors of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA) are ready to allocate funds and expertise to modernize America’s crumbling infrastructure WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today released its 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, assigning the United States an overall grade of “C” and identifying an estimated infrastructure investment gap of $3.7 trillion. Further, transit and energy infrastructure—the core of the economy—received a concerning “D” grade. Global Infrastructure Investor Association (CNW Group/Global Infrastructure Investor Association) “This report card makes clear that all levels of government must find new ways to deliver greater, sustained…
Image source: Getty Images The FTSE 100 is a popular destination for share investors seeking passive income. More than other international indices, the UK blue-chip index is famed for its large collection of dividend shares with high yields and long records of payout growth. It’s less recognised for its growth prospects however, given its high exposure towards mature industries such as banks, oil and mining. Yet the Footsie index can also be a great place to pick up top growth shares. Here’s one top FTSE 100 stock I think is great for both capital growth and dividend income. So much…
William_potter | Istock | Getty ImagesThe U.S. on Tuesday added dozens of Chinese tech companies to its export blacklist in its first such effort under the Donald Trump administration, as it doubles down on curtailing Beijing’s artificial intelligence and advanced computing capabilities.The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security added 80 organizations to an “entity list,” with more than 50 from China, barring American companies from supplying to those on the list without government permits.The companies were blacklisted for allegedly acting contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, the agency said, as part of its efforts…
The United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics will release the February CPI data on Wednesday. The annual UK headline and core CPI inflation are set to ease slightly in February. The UK CPI data could impact the direction of the Pound Sterling and the BoE’s interest rates. The United Kingdom’s (UK) Office for National Statistics (ONS) will publish the highly anticipated Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for February on Wednesday at 07:00 GMT. The Pound Sterling (GBP) could experience intense volatility following the UK CPI inflation report, as it is likely to alter the market’s expectations for the Bank of…
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (right) attends the first day of a no-confidence debate, at the Thai Parliament in Bangkok, on March 24, 2025.Chanakarn Laosarakham | Afp | Getty ImagesThailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra survived a no-confidence vote today, after the country’s main opposition reportedly accused her of being unqualified and allowing her father to wield influence over her administration.The prime minister won the backing of 319 of 488 lawmakers present, according to Reuters.The opposition People’s Party said she was taking direction from her powerful father Thaksin Shinawatra, who was Thailand’s prime minister from 2001 to 2006.Paetongtarn is also the…
JEDDAH: The Saudi telecom sector is set to advance with the launch of its first live Cloud Radio Access Network site, marking a significant step in the Kingdom’s 5G innovation. Finnish technology company Nokia and Zain KSA announced on March 25 the completion of the site, which achieved peak download speeds of 1.5 gigabits per second when connected to the telecom company’s 5G core network. The trial commenced on Dec. 24 and concluded on Jan. 26, according to a statement. As part of its national digital transformation strategy, Saudi Arabia is investing in advanced technologies, with the…
Image source: Getty Images Premium content from Motley Fool Share Advisor UK Our monthly Ice Best Buys Now are designed to highlight our team’s three favourite, most timely Buys from our growing list of income-focused Ice recommendations, to help Fools build out their portfolios. “Best Buys Now” Pick #1: B&M European Value Retail (LSE: BME) A recent profit warning and departure of the company’s CEO have compounded the sell off in the company’s shares and led its one year share price decline to 48%. While weak consumer demand doesn’t bode well for general merchandise spending and the reduction in profits…