Good morning and welcome to Money Minute, where we preview the day's biggest financial stories. Not much in the way of big economic news today, but the corporate calendar is busy on both sides of the Atlantic.
In the UK, we get trading statements and results from several well known FTSE 250 companies. There's a year-end update from soft drinks maker AG Barr. The company had a tough first half, partly due to the long hot summer of 2018 being hard to beat. Investors will be hoping that things improved for the Irn Bru producer in the second half.
Updates are also due from troubled financial services group Saga, challenger bank Virgin Money and retirement home specialist McCarthy & Stone.
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Over in the US, tech giant Apple is the one to watch. The company's shares soared by more than 80% last year. Investors are increasingly convinced that Apple can break its dependence on selling ever more advanced iPhones. So they'll pay close attention to revenue from services - such as selling more apps - and wearables, particularly Apple's popular earphones, when its first quarter results come out later.
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Christmas at Chatsworth: review of The Cavendish Hotel at BaslowMoneyWeek Travel Matthew Partridge gets into the festive spirit at The Cavendish Hotel at Baslow and the Christmas market at Chatsworth
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Tycoon Truong My Lan on death row over world’s biggest bank fraudProperty tycoon Truong My Lan has been found guilty of a corruption scandal that dwarfs Malaysia’s 1MDB fraud and Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto scam
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UK wages grow at a record paceThe latest UK wages data will add pressure on the BoE to push interest rates even higher.
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Trapped in a time of zombie governmentIt’s not just companies that are eking out an existence, says Max King. The state is in the twilight zone too.
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America is in deep denial over debtThe downgrade in America’s credit rating was much criticised by the US government, says Alex Rankine. But was it a long time coming?
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UK economy avoids stagnation with surprise growthGross domestic product increased by 0.2% in the second quarter and by 0.5% in June
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Bank of England raises interest rates to 5.25%The Bank has hiked rates from 5% to 5.25%, marking the 14th increase in a row. We explain what it means for savers and homeowners - and whether more rate rises are on the horizon
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UK wage growth hits a record highStubborn inflation fuels wage growth, hitting a 20-year record high. But unemployment jumps
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UK inflation remains at 8.7% ‒ what it means for your moneyInflation was unmoved at 8.7% in the 12 months to May. What does this ‘sticky’ rate of inflation mean for your money?
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VICE bankruptcy: how did it happen?Was the VICE bankruptcy inevitable? We look into how the once multibillion-dollar came crashing down.
