Britain's consumers turned a bit more confident in May, according to a survey published on Friday that might reflect the impact of falling interest rates and an easing of global trade tensions. Market research firm GfK's consumer confidence index rose to -20 in May from -23 in April, led by more optimism among households over the outlook for their finances and the wider economy. A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a smaller increase to -22. Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, said consumers may have breathed a sigh of relief from the Bank of England's May 8 interest...
Beijing and Washington maintained high-level contact with a call on Thursday between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and China's Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, signaling ongoing communication following their recent trade truce. According to the U.S. State Department, the two officials "discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest" and "exchanged thoughts on crucial issues," though no specifics were provided. Both sides underscored the importance of the bilateral relationship and agreed to keep lines of communication open. The call comes amid renewed...
The United Kingdom (UK) Retail Sales jumped 1.2% month-over-month (MoM) in April after advancing 0.1% in March (revised from 0.4%), the latest data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed Friday. Markets expected a 0.2% rise in the reported month. The core Retail Sales, stripping the auto motor fuel sales, rose 1.3% MoM, compared to the previous revised growth of 0.2% and the estimated 0.3% reading. The annual Retail Sales in the UK climbed 5.0% in April versus March's 1.9%, while the core Retail Sales also grew 5.3% in the same month versus 2.6% previous revision....