Quantitative Easing

Figures showing just 0.5 per cent growth for Britain's GDP remain unchanged after a second estimate.

The continuing eurozone crisis will mean that the Bank of England will “inevitably” print more money to keep the British economy afloat.

Last week,China's National Bureau of Statistics released the welcome news that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) year-on-year rate of inflation to October 2011 had fallen to 5.5 per cent, markedly down from September's 6.1 per cent. The CPI had peaked at 6.5 per cent in July 2011.

Growth for 2011 and 2012 will only be no more than 1 per cent says the Bank of England.

Inflation is 5 per cent for October, says the Office for National Statistics, still way above the government's 2 per cent target.

Households have come under further squeeze due to the spike in energy bills and utility tariff hikes.

UK interest rates are held at 0.5%, the same rate since March 2009.

The UK's economy has "stalled at a dangerous junction" and will grow less than expected this year, according to the independent forecaster Ernst and Young.

Consumer Spending Plunge as British GDP Growth Revised Down to 0.1%. Britain’s economic growth in the second quarter of 2011 has been unexpectedly revised down to 0.1 per cent.

Chinese media issue another withering assessment.

Now that we are in the year's second quarter, the end of the United States Federal Reserve's asset purchase program - dubbed quantitative easing two (QE2) - suddenly seems to be rushing toward us. The debate among market participants that remains unsettled is whether June 30th will in fact be the retirement of this form of monetary policy, or will it instead spawn an offspring for another period of time - QE3?

Shares in Schroder's were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading despite the asset management company more than doubling its pre-tax profit in the full year ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in ICAP were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the interdealer reported a rise in revenue of nine per cent in the third quarter ended 31 December 2010.

Shares in British banks were broadly down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading ahead of a statement due out from the U.S. Federal Reserve.