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As the world’s largest non-bank FX Payments Specialist, Travelex Global Business Payments are often quoted in the news

Sterling tumbles to one-week low against the dollar
11 August 2010 – FT Adviser
The sterling tumbled to a one-week low against the dollar in trading on Wednesday after the Bank of England (BoE) delivered its latest quarterly inflation and growth forecasts.

Does the world face a double-dip recession?
11 August 2010 – dailymail.co.uk
The Bank of England warned of a ‘choppy recovery’ today as it downgraded its growth forecasts and predicted inflation will stay above target. It now forecasts growth of 2.5 per cent in 2011, down from its previous estimate of 3.4 per cent.

Inflation report: what the economists say
11 August 2010 – guardian.co.uk
Today’s quarterly inflation report has been a bit of a reality check. The preliminary reading of the second quarter’s GDP figure had put the markets in a good mood, as it looked like the economy was back on track.

Bank of England lowers its growth forecasts
11 August 2010 – Citywire
The Bank of England has said it is now more pessimistic about the outlook for growth in the UK and believes inflation will stay above the 2% target for longer than it forecast back in May.

Sterling falls on lower Bank of England growth forecasts
11 August 2010 – Interactive Investor
Sterling sank lower on Wednesday, after the Bank of England lowered its growth forecasts in the wake of spending cuts and tight credit conditions.

Bank downgrades UK growth prospects
11 August 2010 – Money Marketing
The Bank of England has downgraded the UK’s growth prospects as governor Mervyn King warns of “choppy” years of recovery.

Dollar and sterling fall
6 August 2010 – FT Adviser
The dollar plunged in trading on Friday afternoon after data revealed the US economy cut 131,000 jobs in July, intensifying fears about the US economic recovery.

Dollar plummets as non-farm payrolls disappoint
6 August 2010 – Bobsguide
The dollar plunged in trading this afternoon after data revealed the U.S economy cut 131,000 jobs in July, intensifying fears about the U.S economic recovery. This was roughly double what had been expected by economists.

Dollar plummets as non-farm payrolls disappoint
6 August 2010 – Easier.com
The dollar plunged in trading this afternoon after data revealed the U.S economy cut 131,000 jobs in July, intensifying fears about the U.S economic recovery. This was roughly double what had been expected by economists.

Sterling leaps to a 5 1/2 month high against dollar
2 August 2010 – Bobsguide
Sterling rose to a 5 and a half month high against a broadly weaker dollar ($1.5764) this morning as stronger equities lifted investors’ appetite for riskier currencies.

Sterling leaps to a 6 month high
2 August 2010 – FT Adviser
Sterling rose to a five-and-a-half month high against a broadly weaker dollar ($1.5764) on Monday morning as stronger equities lifted investors’ appetite for riskier currencies.

UK manufacturing hit by export slowdown
2 August 2010 – guardian.co.uk
A slowdown in export orders last month hit Britain’s manufacturing base, fuelling concerns that faltering growth in the eurozone and a steady rise in the value of the pound will choke off a recovery in orders.

Robust performance by UK manufacturing
2 August 2010 – Evening Standard
British factories enjoyed a strong start to the second half of the year despite muted demand from overseas. A monthly health-check on the manufacturing sector today showed the rate of expansion slowed in July but still remained robust.

UK manufacturing hit by export slowdown
2 August 2010 – u.tv
A slowdown in export orders last month hit Britain’s manufacturing base, fuelling concerns that faltering growth in the eurozone and a steady rise in the value of the pound will choke off a recovery in orders.

Impossible Balancing Act to perform with Stress Tests
23 July 2010 – Reuters
Commentators have suggested that the hype surrounding the release of the EU bank stress tests has made it feel more like a PR campaign than a credible financial analysis.

Sterling plunges as UK public borrowing rises unexpectedly
20 July 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Sterling plunged this morning after the Office for National Statistics announced that public sector net debt rose to £14.5 billion, a record 63.9% as a percentage of GDP.

Sterling plunges to 1.17 against the euro
20 July 2010 – FT Adviser
Sterling plunged this morning (20 July) to 1.17 against the euro after public borrowing rose unexpectedly.

Pound falls as government borrowing higher than hoped in June
20 July 2010 – Citywire
Sterling fell against the euro and dollar in mid-morning deals as new data showed government debt is not falling as fast as hoped.

Sterling hits a 10-week high against Dollar
15 July 2010 – Interactive Investor
Sterling soared to a 10-week high against the dollar on Thursday after stronger than expected results from US investment bank JPMorgan Chase.

Sterling hits a 10-week high
15 July 2010 – FT Adviser
Sterling hit a 10-week high against the US dollar this morning (15 July) rising 0.65 percent to $1.5362.

Sterling rises after UK CPI data shows inflation easing in June
13 July 2010 – Easier
Sterling rose against the US dollar in trading this morning after UK CPI data showed the annual rate of inflation at its lowest since February this year.

Sterling rises after UK CPI data shows inflation easing in June
13 July 2010 – Bobsguide
Sterling rose against the US dollar in trading this morning after UK CPI data showed the annual rate of inflation at its lowest since February this year.

Sterling sinks under $1.50 on weak growth data
12 July 2010 – Yahoo! News
The pound sank beneath 1.50 dollars on Monday as traders fretted over fragile first-quarter economic growth, as the government seeks to curb a soaring public deficit.

Sterling sinks under $1.50 on weak growth data
12 July 2010 – France 24
The pound sank beneath 1.50 dollars on Monday as traders fretted over fragile first-quarter economic growth, as the government seeks to curb a soaring public deficit.

Sterling sinks under $1.50 on weak growth data
12 July 2010 – Busrep
The pound sank beneath 1.50 dollars on Monday as traders fretted over fragile first-quarter economic growth, as the government seeks to curb a soaring public deficit.

Sterling revival spells mixed news for UK Plc
6 July 2010 – Evening Standard
The Great British Pound has been far from great for some time now — but things are starting to look up.

US Unemployment falls but private payrolls significantly lower than expected
2 July 2010 – Bobsguide
Non-farm payrolls data showed a larger than expected decline in June, falling by 125,000 rather than the expected 110,000. The U.S. rate of unemployment fell to 9.5%, from 9.8%.

Pound recovers
23 June 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Mark Bolsom, Head of the UK Trading Desk at Travelex Global Business Payments, has commented on the following areas of the Chancellor’s budget.

UK economy’s make or break budget
22 June 2010 – Reuters
Later today, Chancellor George Osborne will unveil his first budget, where he is widely expected to take a tough stance. To the financial markets, this emergency budget is the agenda-setting piece of this parliament.

Sterling gains on the euro
22 June 2010 – Interactive Investor
Sterling gained ground against the pound and the euro after Chancellor George Osborne outlined tough measures to reduce the bloated deficit through tax hikes and spending cuts.

Retail sales cheer unlikely to last, warn analysts
18 June 2010 – Hemscott
Retail sales rose 4.4% by value and 2.2% by volume in May over the same month a year ago. This reversed the fall seen in April.

Retail sales cheer unlikely to last, warn analysts
18 June 2010 – MorningStar
Analysts were encouraged by improved retail sales figures, but said that the World Cup had created an artificial boost and the growth was unlikely to be sustained once spending cuts hit.

Budget deficit now 62 per cent of GDP
18 June 2010 – FT Adviser
The UK’s budget deficit now stands at around 62 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Markets: FTSE 100 slips at close on Friday
18 June 2010 – Interactive Investor
Sterling was largely flat against the euro and the US dollar today despite the UK budget deficit coming in lower-than-expected in May.

Retail sales boosted by World Cup to defy expectations
16 June 2010 – IFA Online
Retail sales defied analysts’ forecasts in May to increase 0.6%, as consumer spending was boosted by the World Cup.

Sterling slips after inflation data
16 June 2010 – Moneywise
Sterling fell back from one-month highs against the dollar as speculation that a change in monetary policy could be on the cards faded after UK inflation data came in under forecast.

Sterling slips after inflation data
15 June 2010 – Interactive Investor
Sterling fell back from one-month highs against the dollar as speculation that a change in monetary policy could be on the cards faded after UK inflation data came in under forecast.

UK inflation falls month-on-month, official figures show
15 June 2010 – Adfero
Official figures released this morning have shown UK inflation fell month-on-month from 3.7 per cent in April to 3.4 per cent in May.

Profit from the rallying pound
13 June 2010 – The Sunday Times
Sterling reached a 19-month high against the euro last week, spurring investors, holidaymakers and overseas second-home buyers to take advantage before an expected fall in the pound next month.

UK Trade Deficit Widens To £7.3 Billion In April
10 June 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
The UK’s goods trade deficit with the rest of the world widened in April to £7.3 billion from £7.2 billion in March.

UK trade deficit widens
9 June 2010 – What Investment
The UK’s goods trade deficit with the rest of the world widened in April to £7.3 billion from £7.2 billion in March, despite analyst predictions that it would narrow to £7.0 billion pounds.

Weak sterling unable to halt UK trade deficit
9 June 2010 – SME Web
ONS reports that UK trade deficit widens to £7.3 billion in April. A weak sterling has been unable to prop up UK exports, diminishing hopes of an export / manufacturing lead economic recovery.

Volcanic ash blamed for exports fall
9 June 2010 – The Times
Britain’s trade in goods deficit with the rest of the world unexpectedly widened in April as the effects of volcanic ash dragged down exports for the first time since January.

Cameron warns Britain of growing debt
8 June 2010 – UPI
British Prime Minister David Cameron said without budget cuts the annual payment for Britain’s debt would rise to $100 billion a year within five years.

How sterling lost a fifth of its buying power in four years
8 June 2010 – The Daily Telegraph
Talk of “once in a generation” spending cuts to curb Britain’s budget deficit pushed sterling lower again today, prompting currency exchangers to point out how much worse off holidaymakers overseas will be this summer.#

Fitch: UK deficit challenge ‘formidable’
8 June 2010 – Money Marketing
Fitch Ratings has warned that the fiscal challenge faced by the UK is “formidable” and says a strong consolidation strategy is vital in retaining a AAA status.

UK warned on public debt as Osborne readies axe
8 June 2010 – The Times
A leading credit rating agency warned this morning that Britain faces a “formidable” challenge to repair its battered finances, as George Osborne prepared to launch a “once-in-a-generation” drive to tackle government spending.

UK coalition must cut budget deficit faster, ratings agencies warn
8 June 2010 – The Guardian
Leading credit ratings agencies today called on Britain’s coalition government to speed up efforts to cut the record budget deficit or risk losing the country’s top credit rating.

Pound falls as Fitch warns of UK’s ‘formidable’ debt challenge
8 June 2010 – Citywire
The pound fell in late morning deals after credit ratings agency Fitch warned the debt challenge facing the UK government was ‘formidable’, and that cuts would have to be deeper and quicker than former chancellor Alistair Darling had planned.

Travelex Global Business Payments Continues to Gain Traction In Legal Vertical Globally
24 May 2010 – Bobsguide
With best-in-class global payment solutions and industry-specific experience, Travelex continues to gain traction within the legal marketplace by expanding ongoing engagements as well as adding new clients to the roster.

Businesses fear hung parliament
10 May 2010 – Mortgage Introducer
As the first hung parliament in three decades was confirmed, Travelex Global Business Payments conducted a poll amongst their business clients to ascertain their reaction in what has been called the worst possible election outcome for the pound.

Shares and sterling hit by ‘Perfect Storm’
8 May 2010 – Daily Express
UK share prices plunged and the pound hit a 12-month low against the dollar yesterday as Europe’s worsening sovereign debt crisis threw global stock markets into turmoil.

British pound slammed by unclear election result
8 May 2010 – Times of Malta
The pound slumped to a 13-month dollar low and London stocks sank yesterday on fears that Britain’s election outcome would hamper the nation’s ability to slash sky-high public debt, analysts said.

48% of businesses feel that hung parliament will have negative impact on their business
7 May 2010 – Bobsguide
Business expert Paddy Earnshaw says businesses are concerned about the impact on sterling.

Businesses face concerns over a hung parliament
7 May 2010 – Reuters
The fears of many British businesses were confirmed today after the first hung parliament in three decades was declared on Friday.

UK plc: Outlook gloomy under hung parliament
7 May 2010 – Money Facts
Almost half of UK businesses think that a hung parliament will have a negative impact on their firm’s fortunes.

Britain’s uncertain future slams pound
7 May 2010 – Orange.co.uk
The pound slumped to a 13-month dollar low Friday on fears that Britain’s election outcome would hamper the nation’s ability to slash sky-high public debt, analysts said.

So where do we go from here?-
7 May 2010 – Every Investor
After no party won an outright majority in the General Election, Britain is facing its first hung Parliament since 1974.

A hung parliament offers sterling little comfort
7 May 2010 – Reuters
The final results are almost fully in and despite months of intense speculation the hung parliament outcome has come as an almighty shock to the financial markets.

Sterling tumbles as hung parliament is confirmed
7 May 2010 – Money Facts
The pound tumbled to a 12 month low this morning, as the UK woke up to the first hung parliament in a number of years.

British pound slammed by unclear election result
7 May 2010 – Channel News Asia
The pound slumped to a 13-month dollar low and London stocks sank Friday on fears that Britain’s election outcome would hamper the nation’s ability to slash sky-high public debt, analysts said.

British pound slammed by unclear election result
7 May 2010 – Yahoo!News
The pound slumped to a 13-month dollar low and London stocks sank Friday on fears that Britain’s election outcome would hamper the nation’s ability to slash sky-high public debt, analysts said.

City in turmoil as stalemate sparks economy fears
7 May 2010 – Evening Standard
The world’s biggest rating agencies today called for a strong government to tackle Britain’s ballooning debts and protect its coveted AAA status.

Pound slumps against the dollar after UK elections
7 May 2010 – The National
The pound sterling slumped to a 13-month dollar low and London stocks sank on fears that Britain’s election outcome would hamper the nation’s ability to slash sky-high public debt, analysts said.

Sterling falls as hung parliament beckons
7 May 2010 – Financial Times
The value of sterling has nosedived after reports suggested that no main political party had been able to establish a sufficient majority in the election.

Sterling falls to 12 month low as hung parliament beckons
7 May 2010 – Bobsguide
Sterling nosedived in trading this morning after reports suggested that no main political party had been able to establish a sufficient majority and that a hung parliament was the likely outcome of 2010’s general election.

Shares down in early trading on Greek debt and hung parliament woes
7 May 2010 – View London
UK shares were down again in early trading on Friday, as the nation woke up to the possibility of a hung parliament

Pound nosedives in wake of hung parliament
7 May 2010 – FT Adviser
Sterling nosedived in trading this morning as no main political party was able to establish a sufficient majority and a hung parliament became the likely outcome of 2010’s general election

Sterling falls to 12 month low as hung parliament beckons
7 May 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Sterling nosedived in trading this morning after reports suggested that no main political party had been able to establish a sufficient majority and that a hung parliament was the likely outcome of 2010’s general election.

European markets sag further, ECB fails to reassure
7 May 2010 – Brisbane Times
The euro wilted to a 14-month low against the US dollar on Thursday, and stock markets suffered further losses as comments on the Greek debacle by the European Central Bank failed to calm investor nerves.

General Election 2010: what a hung parliament means for sterling
7 May 2010 – Yahoo! Finance
Mark Bolsom of Travelex, the currency exchange company, said: There has been a lot of speculation about a hung parliament and that the pound will freefall against most major currencies if it does come to pass.

British pound slammed by unclear election result
7 May 2010 – France 24
The pound slumped to a 13-month dollar low and London stocks sank Friday on fears that Britain’s election outcome would hamper the nation’s ability to slash sky-high public debt, analysts said.

Sterling falls to 12-month low as hung parliament beckons
7 May 2010 – What Investment
Sterling nosedived in trading this morning after reports suggested that no main political party had been able to establish a sufficient majority and that a hung parliament was the likely outcome of 2010’s general election.

European markets sag further, ECB fails to reassure
7 May 2010 – SMH.com
The euro wilted to a 14-month low against the US dollar on Thursday, and stock markets suffered further losses as comments on the Greek debacle by the European Central Bank failed to calm investor nerves.

General Election 2010: what a hung parliament means for sterling
6 May 2010 – The Daily Telegraph
Mark Bolsom of Travelex, the currency exchange company, said: “There has been a lot of speculation about a hung parliament and that the pound will freefall against most major currencies if it does come to pass.

Greek contagion ‘very real threat’ to UK, says Moody’s
6 May 2010 – Money Marketing
Moody’s Ratings Agency has warned that the UK is amongst a handful of European nations that face “very real, common threats” from the sovereign debt contagion spreading through the continent.

Euro plummets to fresh lows
6 May 2010 – What Investment
The euro’s woes continued this afternoon after it plummeted against a basket of currencies.

Euro plummets to fresh lows against basket of currencies
6 May 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
The euro’s woes continued this afternoon after it plummeted against a basket of currencies, tumbling to a 14 month low against the US dollar ($1.2738), a 6 month low against the British pound (1.1846) and a lifetime low against the Swiss Franc (1.4147).

Euro could hit parity with dollar
6 May 2010 – Legal Support Network
The euro’s woes continued yesterday after it plummeted against a basket of currencies, tumbling to a 14 month low against the US dollar ($1.2738), a 6 month low against the British pound (1.1846) and a lifetime low against the Swiss Franc (1.4147).

Euro drops to 1.26 dollars, hitting near 14-month low
6 May 2010 – France 24
The euro struck a near 14-month low on Thursday, falling to 1.26 dollars despite European Central Bank assurances that Greece would not default on payments.

European markets sag further, ECB fails to reassure
6 May 2010 – The Jakarta Globe
The euro wilted to a 14-month low against the dollar Thursday and stock markets suffered further losses as comments on the Greek debacle by the European Central Bank failed to calm investor nerves.

Greek contagion ‘very real threat’ to Britain, says Moody’s
6 May 2010 – Fund Strategy
Moody’s Ratings Agency has warned that Britain is amongst a handful of European nations that face “very real, common threats” from the sovereign debt contagion spreading through the continent.

European markets sag further, ECB fails to reassure
6 May 2010 – LiveMint.com
The euro wilted to a 14-month low against the dollar on Thursday and stock markets suffered further losses as comments on the Greek debacle by the European Central Bank (ECB) failed to calm investor nerves.

European markets sag further, ECB fails to reassure
6 May 2010 – Inform Business
The euro wilted to a 14-month low against the dollar Thursday and stock markets suffered further losses as comments on the Greek debacle by the European Central Bank failed to calm investor nerves.

City expert say pound fears over a hung parliament are exaggerated.
5 May 2010 – International Trade
Sterling has been buoyed this morning against the euro as investors shy away from riskier assets, concerned over the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone. Despite the risk of a hung parliament outcome in the UK polls tomorrow, there has been little pressure on the pound this morning.

Are fears for British Pound in hung parliament exaggerated?
5 May 2010 – The Economy News
The British Pound has been buoyed this morning against the euro as investors shy away from riskier assets, concerned over the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone.

Main test to sterling will come after the election
5 May 2010 – Easier
Sterling has been buoyed this morning against the euro as investors shy away from riskier assets, concerned over the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone.

City expert says pound fears over a hung parliament are exaggerated
5 May 2010 – Bobsguide
Sterling has been buoyed this morning against the euro as investors shy away from riskier assets, concerned over the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone.

Pound fears over a hung parliament are exaggerated
5 May 2010 – What Investment
Sterling has been buoyed this morning against the euro as investors shy away from riskier assets, concerned over the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone and despite the risk of a hung parliament outcome in the UK polls tomorrow, there has been little pressure on the pound this morning.

Sterling suffers amid credit rating and election concerns
30 April 2010 – Money Observer
Fears that the UK could lose its triple A credit rating, political uncertainty ahead of the election and reports of a Greek rescue package agreement dealt a further blow to stricken sterling on Friday.

Reasons UK debt unlike Greek
30 April 2010 – Trustnet
Mark Bolsom, head of UK trading desk at foreign exchange firm Travelex says he does not see a Greek style crisis hitting the UK, despite ongoing fears over a downgrade to the AAA credit rating on the country’s debt.

Sterling suffers amid mounting concerns
30 April 2010 – Interactive Investor
Fears that the UK could lose its triple A credit rating, political uncertainty ahead of the election and reports of a Greek rescue package agreement dealt a further blow to stricken sterling on Friday.

UK GDP grew less than expected but “still an encouraging figure”
23 April 2010 – Bobsguide
Data released this morning confirmed that the UK economy grew 0.2% in the first quarter of 2010.

UK GDP Grew Less Than Expected But “Still An Encouraging Figure”
23 April 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Data released this morning confirmed that the UK economy grew 0.2% in the first quarter of 2010.

UK Government debt hits record levels
22 April 2010 – IFA Online
UK Government borrowing reached a new peak in 2009/10 but undershot the figure forecast in the Budget.

Public Sector Net Borrowing Comes In Better Than Expected
22 April 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Data published by the Office for National Statistics today showed the UK’s Public finances were better than expected in March.

UK public finances the worst since WWII
22 April 2010 – What Investment
Britain’s public finances came in slightly better than economists had expected in March, but the 2009/10 fiscal year will go down as the worst since records began after the Second World War.

Claimant count falls in March by 32,900
21 April 2010 – Bobsguide
Sterling continued its climb this morning after official data released showed the number of Britons claiming unemployment benefits fell again in March by 32,900 to 1.54 million.

Unemployment hits new high
21 April 2010 – Money Observer
Unemployment shot up to its highest level for 15 years in the three months to February with more than 2.5 million people out of work.

Unemployment rises to 15-year high
21 April 2010 – Interactive Investor
Unemployment shot up to its highest level for 15 years in the three months to February with more than 2.5 million people out of work.

UK inflation rate rose sharply in March, ONS figures show
21 April 2010 – View London
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said the consumer price index (CPI) annual inflation was higher than expected in March.

Inflation rises sharply
20 April 2010 – Moneywise
The inflation rate rose sharply in March on the back of higher fuel costs and the effect of flat gas bills compared to this time last year, when they had a major drop.

Higher housing, transport costs push U.K. consumer price inflation to 3.4 pct in March
20 April 2010 – Guelph Mercury
Higher prices for housing pushed consumer price inflation to 3.4 per cent in March, up from three per cent in February, official statisticians said Tuesday.

Inflation Jumps To 3.4%
20 April 2010 – International Trade
Inflation leaped to 3.4% in March, pushing through the government’s inflation target for the second time this year, in the crucial lead up to the election.

Inflation soars to 3.4 per cent
20 April 2010 – Money Observer
Inflation has sharply increased amid higher gas prices, the weak sterling and a number of retailers finally reinstating the full VAT rate.

Inflation Jumps To 3.4%
20 April 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Inflation leaped to 3.4% in March, pushing through the government’s inflation target for the second time this year, in the crucial lead up to the election.

Why rising inflation means more pain for us all
20 April 2010 – Citywire
Today’s higher than expected rise in prices adds to the risks policy-makers may get it wrong and throw the recovery off course.

Inflation jumps to 3.4%
20 April 2010 – Bobsguide
Bolsom: “Markets will want clear direction from policymakers on how they intend to deal with this.”

Dramatic rise in inflation
20 April 2010 – What Investment
Inflation leaped to 3.4 per cent in March, pushing through the government’s inflation target for the second time this year.

Inflation shoots up in March
20 April 2010 – Interactive Investor
The headline rate of inflation shot up in March amid higher fuel costs and unfavourable base effects from falling utility bills a year ago.

Inflation jumps to 3.4% in March
20 April 2010 – Money Marketing
Inflation jumped to 3.4 per cent in March up from 3 per cent in February forcing Bank of England governor Mervyn King to write to the Chancellor for the second time in 2010.

Hung parliament fear in markets hits the pound
19 April 2010 – Evening Standard
The pound fell sharply today after a surge in support for the Liberal Democrats increased the chances of a hung parliament.

Shrinking trade gap boosts Britain’s hopes for recovery
13 April 2010 – Evening Standard
Hopes of an export-led recovery were revived today amid soaring demand for British goods abroad.

UK Trade Gap Narrows To £6.2 Billion
13 April 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
The UK’s balance of trade narrowed more than forecast in February to £6.2 billion, the lowest gap since June 2006, it was announced today.

UK trade gap narrows to £6.2 billion
13 April 2010 – Bobsguide
Bolsom: “If the pound remains competitive and overseas demand continues to grow, sustained economic recovery looks even more certain”

A budget for business Darling?
26 March 2010 – The Times
In a budget speech that lasted for just over an hour, the Chancellor, Alastair Darling, spent a significant amount of time talking about the importance of driving growth in the economy, and in particular the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Analysts sceptical at growth forecasts
25 March 2010 – Money Marketing
Analysts were unconvinced by Chancellor Alistair Darling’s predictions of bullish growth after 2010.

The big lie at the heart of Darling’s class war Budget: Stamp duty hike for £1m homes will NOT pay for first-time buyers’ holiday
25 March 2010 – Daily Mail
The centrepiece of Alistair Darling’s Budget was tonight undermined as his own figures revealed a £160million shortfall in his stamp duty sweetener for first time buyers.

Labour’s revenge on Britain’s hard workers
25 March 2010 – Daily Express
Alistair Darling yesterday unleashed a savage new tax onslaught against Middle Britain in a Budget that signalled the start of a brutal “class war” election campaign.

Alistair Darling’s “lame-duck” budget
24 March 2010 – Bobsguide
Mark Bolsom, Head of the UK Trading Desk at Travelex, the world’s largest non-bank FX Payments Specialist has commented on the following areas of the Chancellor’s budget:

Budget 2010: expert reaction
24 March 2010 – MSN Money
Chancellor Alistair Darling didn’t embark on a pre-election giveaway in the Budget but measures to help first-time buyers and the small business sector won’t have hurt Labour at the ballot box.

What the Budget means for you
24 March 2010 – Orange Money
Robin Hood would have been proud of Alistair Darling’s latest Budget, as the Chancellor took from the rich with one hand and gave to the poor with the other.

Winners and losers of the 2010 Budget
24 March 2010 – MSN Money
Despite all Darling’s positivity about cutting debt and our resurgent economy – the pound fell to a two-week low against the dollar in reaction to the Budget.

Darling’s “lame-duck” budget
23 March 2010 – Reuters
While the UK’s financial media has billed the 2010 budget as Chancellor Alistair Darling’s most important – due to their assumption it will be his last – it seems that the financial markets have taken a more relaxed view, feeling its importance has been somewhat overstated by the media.

Sterling Soars But Data Offers Little Economic Reprieve
18 March 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Sterling soared this morning after Public Sector Finance Data came in much better than expected. Borrowing rose to a fresh new high of £12.4 billion last month, although was well below the £14.75 billion expected by the markets.

Sterling soars but data offers little economic reprieve
18 March 2010 – Bobsguide
Sterling soared this morning after Public Sector Finance Data came in much better than expected. Borrowing rose to a fresh new high of £12.4 billion last month, although was well below the £14.75 billion expected by the markets.

Unemployment figures fall again to 2.45 million
17 March 2010 – IFA Online
The rate of unemployment has fallen again and now stands at 7.8%, according to the ONS.

Hedge your bets with commodities
12 March 2010 – Interactive Investor
When inflation gets going, investors need a decent hedge – and commodities are a good answer.

Weak pound may be the only way for Britain to recover
9 March 2010 – Evening Standard
The Great British Pound — or its apparent lack of greatness — has once again become a national obsession.

David Sear, Travelex Global Business Payments, to speak at International Payments Summit
9 March 2010 – Bobsguide
David Sear, Divisional Managing Director of Travelex Global Business Payments, will be speaking on 10th March 2010 at the International Payments Summit (IPS) in London.

‘BOE Treading A Very Fine Economic Line’ Says City Expert As They Leave Rates On Hold At 0.5%
5 March 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
For the twelfth month in a row the Bank of England left interest rates on hold today at 0.5 per cent and maintained their asset purchasing programme at £200 billion.

Bank of England holds rates again
4 March 2010 – Interactive Investor
The Bank of England continued to sit tight in March, as fears of a double-dip recession diminish.

How long will savers have to wait before interest rates rise?
4 March 2010 – Citywire
Today’s decision to keep quantitative easing on hold and leave interest rates where they are may be a sign that things are getting better, but it is more likely the Bank’s rate-setting committee is waiting until after the election before it decides what to do next.

City expert: “BOE is treading a very fine economic line,” as they leave rates on hold at 0.5%
4 March 2010 – Bobsguide
For the twelfth month in a row the Bank of England left interest rates on hold today at 0.5 per cent and maintained their asset purchasing programme at £200 billion.

Weak Sterling facing the perfect storm
4 March 2010 – Investment International
Sterling is facing a perfect storm brewed up by UK debt, political uncertainty and concerns that more money will have to be injected into the economy by the Bank of England, it is claimed.

MPC holds interest rates – no surprises
4 March 2010 – Financial Times
So the Monetary Policy Committee has kept interest rates at 0.5 per cent. I don’t think we’ll be holding the front page for this one somehow, as it has come as no surprise to anyone.

Sterling staring into an abyss as fears grow over debt and a hung parliament
2 March 2010 – Expat Forum
Sterling is set to be particularly volatile in coming weeks as the markets get jittery over the possibility of a hung parliament in the UK.

Pound falls on growing fears of hung parliament
1 March 2010 – Citywire
The pound slid against the euro and dollar this morning as fears about the prospects of a hung parliament grow and as data showed a sharp fall in mortgage approvals.

Back to basics – Travelex is finding a profitable niche for its international payments business.
1 March 2010 – Financial i
David Sear, managing director, Travelex Global Business Payments, says its “high-touch” customer service and beneficiary management are unrivalled even by global banking competitors, and that providers should focus on getting the basics right first before thinking of the next innovation in payments.

Britain’s recession is over but the moneymen still see trouble ahead
27 February 2010 – The Times
The pound sank again yesterday as figures showing that Britain had emerged from recession more strongly than first thought simply raised fears of a so-called double-dip.

City expert says revised GDP figure is “historical…we are not out of the woods yet”
26 February 2010 – Bobsguide
New figures out today confirmed a much better than expected GDP figure of 0.3% for the fourth quarter of 2009. Most economists had estimated a more conservative growth to 0.2%, although poor business investment figures released yesterday had dampened expectations of an upward revision.

Firms spend less to cast shadow over recovery
25 February 2010 – Evening Standard
Business investment collapsed at the end of last year, casting fresh doubts over the fragile economic recovery.

When will interest rates rise again?
25 February 2010 – MSN Money
A year ago the Bank of England cut interest rates in half, from 1% to 0.5%, in a desperate attempt to revive the economy.

Recovery is ‘most likely to be slow and protracted’
23 February 2010 – Charity Times
Sterling has fallen against a basket of currencies this morning, after Bank of England Governor Mervyn King took questions on the February Inflation Report in Parliament this morning.

Sterling plunges after Bank of England warns UK might have to print MORE money
23 February 2010 – Daily Mail
The value of Sterling plunged this afternoon after Bank of England chief Mervyn King told told MPs that Britain may have to print more money to boost the country’s fragile economic recovery.

Bank of England chief says recovery is fragile
23 February 2010 – Fox47
The governor of the Bank of England said Tuesday that Britain’s recovery from recession is fragile, and that the next few months are likely to be volatile.

Bank of England chief Mervyn King says recovery is fragile
23 February 2010 – The Independent
The Governor of the Bank of England said today that Britain’s recovery from recession is fragile, and that the next few months are likely to be volatile.

March News Update
22 February 2010 – Financial Director
Britain has barely limped out of recession, failing to hit its 0.4% growth target but exiting technical recession by growing 0.1% between October and December 2009.

Pound dives amid talk of a US interest rate rise
19 February 2010 – Evening Standard
Sterling crashed to a nine-month low against the dollar today after the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates on emergency loans.

Figures suggest UK is in dire straits
18 February 2010 – What Investment
The UK’s public finances were much worse than expected in January, as government spending rapidly increased and tax receipts came through much weaker.

Pay rises for public sector despite the recession
18 February 2010 – Moneywise
Private sector workers have suffered a pay freeze over the past year – but their counterparts in the public sector enjoyed an inflation-busting 3.7% rise, according to official figures.

Government reveals “worrying” debt figures
18 February 2010 – Money Marketing
According to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics, the UK Government borrowed £4.3bn in January, up from net borrowing figures of -£5.3bn in January 2009.

Expert says public sector debt ‘quite likely to have negative consequences for growth’
18 February 2010 – Bobsguide
Data published by the Office for National Statistics today showed the UK’s Public finances were much worse than expected in January, as government spending rapidly increased and tax receipts came through much weaker. The public sector debt now amounts to 59.5% of our overall GDP.

Government reveals “worrying” debt figures
18 February 2010 – Fund Strategy
Public borrowing deteriorated further in January 2010 as the government borrowed more than expected.

Pay rises for public sector despite the recession
18 February 2010 – Moneywise
Private sector workers have suffered a pay freeze over the past year – but their counterparts in the public sector enjoyed an inflation-busting 3.7% rise, according to official figures.

UK borrowing: How bad is it?
18 February 2010 – This is Money
Official figures showed the UK borrowed another £4.3bn in January, a month that usually reaps a big surplus for the Treasury. What does this mean for the UK’s finances?

Unemployment unexpectedly shoots up in January
17 February 2010 – Wallet Pop
Unemployment unexpectedly shot up by 23,500 last month, the biggest jump since last July.

‘Unexpected’ unemployment data shows claimant count rising by 23,000
17 February 2010 – Bobsguide
Official data released today showed the number of Britons claiming unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly in January by 23,000.

An alternative view of the crisis in Greece
17 February 2010 – Reuters
Greece has been dominating the headlines lately with many commentators heavily criticising its burgeoning deficits and perceived threat to eurozone stability.

How to invest with a hung parliament
16 February 2010 – Moneywise
With the general election just a few months away, some commentators fear the result could be a hung parliament.

Bank of England warns over recovery
10 February 2010 – Interactive Investor
The Bank of England has admitted that the economy will take longer to recover than expected.

Don’t expect economic recovery soon, warns BoE
10 February 2010 – Moneywise
The Bank of England has admitted that the economy will take longer to recover than expected.

What the inflation report means for interest rates
10 February 2010 – Citywire
The Bank of England inflation report suggested the UK economy is still far from fit and healthy, implying that interest rates will remain at record lows for many months yet, say commentators.

Bank of England warns over recovery
10 February 2010 – Interactive Investor
The Bank of England has admitted that the economy will take longer to recover than expected.

A decisive majority at the polls is key in UK vote
9 February 2010 – Reuters
Political debate exploded at the weekend after two national opinion polls revealed that a hung parliament is thought to be the most likely outcome of the general election, which must be held by June 2010.

Pound dives amid fear of UK debt crisis
8 February 2010 – Evening Standard
Britain took a battering in the financial markets today as investors concerned about a looming debt crisis in the UK dumped risky assets.

Bank of England rate decision no surprise and all eyes now on next week’s inflation report
5 February 2010 – Investment International
The decision by the Bank of England to hold interest rates and not extend its quantative easing programme could be good news for savers, investors and for Sterling but bad for home owner, reaction shows.

QE pause shows there is a long way to go
4 February 2010 – Reuters
Thursday’s decision by the Bank of England to keep both interest rates and its asset purchasing programme on hold was hardly a surprise and had been largely priced in to markets.

Sterling falls in response to UK services data
3 February 2010 – What Investment
Sterling slipped against the euro and US dollar after data revealed that Britain’s service sector had slowed more than expected last month.

Sterling declines in Forex trading
3 February 2010 – Knowledge to Action
The price of sterling has dropped during Forex trading today (February 3rd) following the release of worse-than-expected data regarding the UK’s services sector.

Fears for UK’s recovery with shops and service sector hit
3 February 2010 – Evening Standard
Concerns over the health of the economy grew today after a sharp slowdown in the all-important services sector and a dismal start to the year on the high street.

Bolsom Says Investors Are ‘Reminded Of The Economy’s Fundamental Weakness’
3 February 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Sterling slipped against the euro and US dollar this morning, after data revealed that Britain’s services sector had slowed more-than-expected last month.

Whether QE stays or goes, sterling is weak
3 February 2010 – City AM
The big event this week for sterling is tomorrow’s decision from the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

QE to be questioned
2 February 2010 – Money Marketing
Experts will question the effectiveness of the £200bn fiscal stimulus on Thursday as the Monetary Policy Committee is expected to call time on quantitative easing.

QE end will not reassure investors, says city expert
2 February 2010 – Bobsguide
Activity in the British construction sector recorded a 23 month high in January, as jobs were shed at a lower pace and the decline in new orders was shown to have reduced.

Sterling ‘to remain unstable before GDP announcement’
1 February 2010 – Hedge Week
Whatever the results of the gross domestic product (GDP) announcement today, sterling is likely to remain unstable, an expert has predicted.

Is your recession over?
29 January 2010 – Moneywise
Official figures show the UK is no longer in recession. But are your finances out of the woods yet – and what is going to happen to taxes, mortgage rates and savings going forward?

Double-dip recession a ‘strong reality’ says analyst
29 January 2010 – Charity Times
Sterling reached a five month high against a broadly weaker euro yesterday, hitting a day high of €1.1625.

City expert says double-dip recession a “strong reality”, despite the Sentance’s reassurances
28 January 2010 – Bobsguide
Sterling reached a five month high against a broadly weaker euro today, hitting a day high of €1.1625 this afternoon.

Britain still at risk of recession
27 January 2010 – Money Marketing
Britain is at risk of plunging back into recession despite latest data showing growth of 0.1 per cent during the last quarter.

Recession is set to end but anguish goes on
26 January 2010 – The Scotsman
After 18 months, a banking collapse, emergency stimulus measures and 596,000 job losses, Britain is at last out of its longest recession ever, official figures are set to show today.

UK recession officially over… For now
26 January 2010 – Fair Investment
Britain has come out of the recession, as official data has revealed that the UK economy grew by 0.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2009.

GDP: what the number really means
26 January 2010 – Citywire
The preliminary data on the UK growth for the fourth quarter of 2009 shows the UK crawled out of recession by the skin of its teeth and the outlook remains difficult.

GDP figures show we’re not out of the woods yet
26 January 2010 – Reuters
As expected, Gross Domestic Product figures released today confirmed that the UK has finally emerged from recession.

UK exits recession but investors remain cautious
26 January 2010 – What Investment
Data published today confirmed that Britain had exited recession, as economic output expanded after the longest recession in 50 years.

City Expert Says ‘Double-Dip Recession Cannot Be Ruled Out’
25 January 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Mark Bolsom forecasts a “bumpy couple of years” for UK consumers and businesses.

High street spending ‘fell in December’
25 January 2010 – Card Smart
Consumer spending in December 2009 was a third less than the 1.1% rise expected by analysts, marking the weakest December retail sales figures since 2007, Travelex noted.

UK Retail sales come in weaker than expected
22 January 2010 – Bobsguide
Activity fell on the high street in the last month of 2009, as British retail sales figures came in weaker than expected today.

BoE inflation increase ‘a surprise’
19 January 2010 – JP Morgan
The rise of the Consumer Price Index to 2.9% last month was seen as a surprise by many economists, according to an industry commentator.

Markets: Miners offset retailers to lift FTSE 100
14 January 2010 – Interactive Investor
UK businesses are bracing themselves for a bumpy ride, according to the last Bank of England Roundtable of 2009.

Can inflation be controlled by raising interest rates?
13 January 2010 – Reuters
One of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee members, Andrew Sentance, was quoted this morning suggesting that the Bank of England will need to consider raising interest rates this year if a “recovering economy poses a threat to inflation.”

Sterling hits a one month high against the US dollar
13 January 2010 – Fresh Business Thinking
Sterling soared against the US dollar this morning, hitting a one month high and climbing nearly 0.5 pc to hit $1.6267, it’s highest since mid-December.

Take stock of market’s rally
13 January 2010 – Daily Express
Stock markets have continued last year’s amazing rally to hit a 16-month high.

March rate rise predictions split industry
8 January 2010 – Introducer Today
Interest rate commentators have divided into two camps this week, between those expecting rates to stay low for years and city economists saying UK interest rates could rise in two months’ time.

Tough February decisions for Bank
8 January 2010 – Daily Finance
Experts are predicting tough decisions ahead for the Bank of England as it prepares to assess its £200bn economy stimulus.

Base rate kept at 0.5% – When will it rise?
7 January 2010 – Credit Choices
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted today to keep the base rate at its record low of 0.5%.

Rate decision: the calm before the storm
7 January 2010 – Citywire
As expected, the Bank of England’s rate-setting committee maintained its wait and see stance this week, holding interest rates at 0.5% and making no further moves on quantitative easing.

Gold and shares will advance but there’ll be more pain for sterling
2 January 2010 – Citywire
The sweet spot for investors is likely to last for as long as the world’s central banks and governments continue to shore up the global economy, interest rates stay low and nervousness remains.

Who were the (economic) winners and losers of 2009?
1 January 2010 – Every Investor
Foreign exchange specialist Travelex picks its economic winners and losers of 2009.

Bank of England praised for its actions throughout 2009
29 December 2009 – T.M. Lewin
The Bank of England has been praised for the way it handled the economic situation in 2009.

Has the Bank of England helped stem economic decline?
23 December 2009 – Reuters
The onset of 2009 saw the pound well and truly on the back foot against both the dollar and euro, at one stage hitting a six-year low against the greenback (falling to $1.3751) and an all-time low versus the single currency.

UK economy shrinks by 0.2% in third quarter
22 December 2009 – My Finances
The economy shrank by 0.2 per cent between July and August, plunging lower than economists had predicted.

Recession continues as GDP falls again
22 December 2009 – JP Morgan
Gross domestic product (GDP) fell again in the third quarter of 2009, new data has revealed.

GDP figures confirm UK still lagging behind every other major economy
22 December 2009 – My Introducer
Data published today confirmed that economic output fell 0.2 per cent in the third quarter of this year.

Britain still gripped by longest slump since Second World War
22 December 2009 – Evening Standard
Hopes of a pre-Christmas boost for the economy were dashed today after figures showed Britain remains stuck in the longest slump since the Second World War.

Economy continues to shrink as UK lags behind others
22 December 2009 – FT Adviser
The Office for National Statistics has revealed the economy continued to shrink during the third quarter of the year, despite hopes the recession was nearing the end.

Surprise fall in UK retail sales last month
18 December 2009 – View London
UK retail sales saw a surprise fall last month, according to figures released today from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Savers: beware the return of inflation
17 December 2009 – Yahoo! Finance
News that the rate of inflation jumped in November has come as a double blow to savers with many of the top deals being pulled in recent weeks.

Savers – beware the return of inflation
17 December 2009 – Moneywise
News that the rate of inflation jumped last month has come as a double blow to savers with many of the top deals being pulled in recent weeks.

Surprise fall in UK retail sales last month
17 December 2009 – In the News
UK retail sales saw a surprise fall last month, according to figures released today from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Pound climbs as claimant count drops for first time since 2008
16 December 2009 – Citywire
Unemployment in the UK showed further signs of improvement in October with the pound reacting by reversing early losses to hit day highs.

Unemployment threat boosts part-time work
16 December 2009 – My Finances
More than one million people have been forced to take part-time work because they cannot find a full-time position, new quarterly employment statistics have revealed.

Inflation picks up during November
16 December 2009 – Ashdown Group
A 0.4 percentage point rise was witnessed in the consumer price index last month as inflation rose.

Savings in danger as inflation rises
16 December 2009 – Credit Choices
Brits now need to earn at least 2.38% interest on their savings, to prevent them being eaten away by inflation.

UK inflation rose to 1.9%, ONS figures show
15 December 2009 – In the News
UK inflation picked up in November, with the consumer price index (CPI) rising from 1.5 per cent in October to 1.9 per cent.

Inflation “could reach 3%” – savers worried
15 December 2009 – Every Investor
Inflation figures edged closer to the Bank of England’s two per cent target today, as the Consumer Price Index hit 1.9 per cent for November, compared with 1.5 per cent in October.

Inflation rising more sharply than expected
15 December 2009 – Citywire
Inflation shot up faster than expected last month as the impact of a much steeper and rising oil price continued to push up prices.

UK inflation rose to 1.9%, ONS figures show
15 December 2009 – Adfero
UK inflation picked up in November, with the consumer price index (CPI) rising from 1.5 per cent in October to 1.9 per cent.

Inflation rises to 1.9% in November
15 December 2009 – Moneywise
Higher energy and transport costs led to the rate of inflation increasing during November to just below its official target.

Will inflation soar when QE is withdrawn?
15 December 2009 – Reuters
The rise in November’s CPI figure was larger than expected, but not a total surprise and markets have largely ignored the data.

Inflation up sharply and set to go higher
15 December 2009 – Mortgage Introducer
Inflation figures edged closer to the Bank of England’s 2 pc target today, as the Consumer Price Index hit 1.9 pc for November, compared with 1.5 pc in October. This a slight rise from city forecasts for a month on month rise of 0.2 pc.

Inflation hits 12-month high in November
15 December 2009 – Interactive Investor
Higher energy and transport costs pushed the rate of inflation to a 12-month high in November, figures revealed today.

Travellers ‘should consider the best time to buy their foreign currency or pre-paid card’
14 December 2009 – Card Smart
Prepaid currency cards allow travellers to lock into a particular exchange rate so it may be a good idea to keep an eye on exchange rates so that foreign currency can be bought in advance at a good rate.

Bank of England: Bank rate stays at 0.5%
11 December 2009 – Money High Street
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has announced that the official bank rate paid on commercial bank reserves stays at 0.5%.

Pre-Budget Report: more politics than substance
11 December 2009 – Money Week
With only six months to go before a general election, it’s no surprise that Chancellor Alistair Darling’s Pre-Budget Report speech concentrated on “keeping the electorate as sweet as possible” – it was “stuffed full of political messages”, as The Daily Telegraph’s Jeremy Warner put it.

Darling: Recovery on course for 2010
9 December 2009 – Money.Scotsman.com
Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget report admission that public borrowing in 2009 will exceed forecasts was greeted with jeers from the opposition, as did his later comment that his government took its decisions from “a position of strength”.

Darling: Recovery on course for 2010
9 December 2009 – Interactive Investor
Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget report admission that public borrowing in 2009 will exceed forecasts was greeted with jeers from the opposition, as did his later comment that his government took its decisions from “a position of strength”.

Pound sinks to two-month low
9 December 2009 – Interactive Investor
The pound plunged to a two-month low against the dollar after an altogether uninspiring pre-Budget report fuelled fears that the UK is not doing enough to accelerate its recovery.

Economic recovery next year, says Darling
10 December 2009 – Moneywise
Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget report admission that public borrowing in 2009 will exceed forecasts was greeted with jeers from the opposition, as did his later comment that his government took its decisions from “a position of strength”.