Daily Brief – UK Growth

UK Growth

Further worries this weekend for UK Chancellor Reeves as it emerges that if her plans were based on up to date forecasts rather than UK official growth projections not only would her numbers not add up but the UK would be faced with a GBP 30 billion hole in the budget. While inflation looked better than expected at the end of last week the economy needs stimulating and the likelihood of that hope being pinned on a greater number of interest rate cuts than expected this year is growing.

GBP/USD 1.2169

First Lady

Today while her husband is sworn in as POTUS the enigmatic Melania Trump makes a return as First Lady. First time round she established a reputation for being low profile and away from the White House. This time in the wake of her eponymous book there is more than a clue that Melania plans on continuing her penchant for independent of the Donald thought . As a starter she is pro choice which is diametrically opposite her husband and his administration’s anti abortion stance. More will be revealed this year in an Amazon documentary she is making about…herself.

EUR/USD 1.0273

European Vacation 2025

When it comes to bang for your Quid, Euro, Buck or whatever currency is your own the four cheapest European region holiday destinations this year are Morocco, Turkey, Bulgaria and surprisingly Tuscany in Italy. Coastal towns around Florence come out as the bargains in an area better known for high end expensive accommodation and La Dolce Vita.

EUR/GBP0.8442

Casual Viewing

In case you are unfamiliar with this term it refers to watching TV while simultaneously using a second screen whether phone or tablet. In these days of near zero attention span it has become a thing and now there is more than a suspicion that companies such as Netflix are deliberately dumbing down scripts so that their audience can watch less than demanding story lines while chatting away on their handheld devices. 

GBP/CHF 1.1134

Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

As Robert Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan is all over the news at present with the release of the biopic about him entitled A Complete Unknown, it is synchronicity as Sting might have said to think that 52 years ago today, Bob Dylan started recording the soundtrack of the hit movie of 1973, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can’t use it anymore
It’s gettin’ dark, too dark to see
I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can’t shoot them anymore
That long black cloud is comin’ down
I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door

Discussion and Analysis by Humphrey Percy, Chairman and Founder

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