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Investors await manufacturing report for clues on UK economy - business live Investors await manufacturing report for clues on UK economy - business live
(35 minutes later)
9.14am GMT
09:14
Ifo: German economy likely to be stronger than expected in Q4
Germany’s economy will be stronger than expected in the fourth quarter according to the Munich-based Ifo Institute.
Positive growth momentum in Europe’s largest economy will be carried into 2017, it added.
As Ifo issued updated forecasts, the institute’s president Clemens Fuest, commented:
All signs point to a fourth quarter that is stronger than had been expected until now. We’ll take this impetus into the new year.
Ifo left its forecast for growth in 2016 unchanged at 1.9%, which would be the strongest in five years. It nudged up forecasts for both 2017 and 2018 by 0.1% percentage points to 1.5% and 1.7% respectively.
Fuest:
The change of growth pace from 2016 to 2017 is only due to a lower number of workdays.
For context, here are the International Monetary Fund’s growth predictions for the G7 in 2017 :
8.40am GMT8.40am GMT
08:4008:40
Drugs company Actavis scrutinised over price hikesDrugs company Actavis scrutinised over price hikes
The UK’s Actavis is the latest pharmaceutical company to come under criticism from the competition regulator over sharply hiking the price of tablets.The UK’s Actavis is the latest pharmaceutical company to come under criticism from the competition regulator over sharply hiking the price of tablets.
Specifically, the Competition and Markets Authority says Actavis increased the price of life-saving hydrocortisone tablets by over 12,000%. It pushed up the annual cost to the NHS from £522,000 before to 2008 to £70m by 2015.Specifically, the Competition and Markets Authority says Actavis increased the price of life-saving hydrocortisone tablets by over 12,000%. It pushed up the annual cost to the NHS from £522,000 before to 2008 to £70m by 2015.
The tablets are used by people whose adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones, such as those suffering from Addison’s disease.The tablets are used by people whose adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones, such as those suffering from Addison’s disease.
At the this stage, the CMA’s findings are provisional and no fine has been issued.At the this stage, the CMA’s findings are provisional and no fine has been issued.
It follows the watchdog’s decision last week to impose a record £84.2m fine on Pfizer, after the price charged to the NHS for an anti-epilepsy drug was increased by up to 2,600%.It follows the watchdog’s decision last week to impose a record £84.2m fine on Pfizer, after the price charged to the NHS for an anti-epilepsy drug was increased by up to 2,600%.
Read our full story on Actavis here:Read our full story on Actavis here:
8.20am GMT8.20am GMT
08:2008:20
FTSE climbs back above 7,000FTSE climbs back above 7,000
The FTSE 100 is up five points in early trading.The FTSE 100 is up five points in early trading.
So it’s a modest gain but takes the UK’s leading index of shares back above the 7,000 mark at 7,002.So it’s a modest gain but takes the UK’s leading index of shares back above the 7,000 mark at 7,002.
Following the excitement of the Fed rate rise and Bank of England policy meeting earlier in the week, markets across Europe are fairly steady.Following the excitement of the Fed rate rise and Bank of England policy meeting earlier in the week, markets across Europe are fairly steady.
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at 8.21am GMTat 8.21am GMT
8.09am GMT8.09am GMT
08:0908:09
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business.Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business.
Close attention will be paid to the CBI’s December industrial trends survey at 11am today as it will provide a timely health check on the UK economy as 2016 draws to a close.Close attention will be paid to the CBI’s December industrial trends survey at 11am today as it will provide a timely health check on the UK economy as 2016 draws to a close.
Business surveys capture a more recent picture of economic activity than official data, but rely on a smaller sample size and tend to be more anecdotal.Business surveys capture a more recent picture of economic activity than official data, but rely on a smaller sample size and tend to be more anecdotal.
That said, economists and policymakers look to surveys for clues of where the official data might be heading.That said, economists and policymakers look to surveys for clues of where the official data might be heading.
The CBI’s manufacturing survey is expected to show a balance of -5% of firms reported a rise in orders in December, worse than November when it was -3%.The CBI’s manufacturing survey is expected to show a balance of -5% of firms reported a rise in orders in December, worse than November when it was -3%.
One of the issues in recent weeks however is that the official data has painted a weaker picture of the economy than business surveys.One of the issues in recent weeks however is that the official data has painted a weaker picture of the economy than business surveys.
Adam Cole, currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets, says:Adam Cole, currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets, says:
Today’s CBI manufacturing survey is worth watching in the light of the very weak October manufacturing output data which marked a poor start to the monthly indicators that will add up to Q4 GDP.Today’s CBI manufacturing survey is worth watching in the light of the very weak October manufacturing output data which marked a poor start to the monthly indicators that will add up to Q4 GDP.
The CBI survey has been less volatile than the manufacturing PMI recently and the consensus for the orders balance (-5) would be consistent with manufacturing out trending no better than flat.The CBI survey has been less volatile than the manufacturing PMI recently and the consensus for the orders balance (-5) would be consistent with manufacturing out trending no better than flat.
We will bring you the numbers and reaction as it comes in, as well as tracking all the main events through the day.We will bring you the numbers and reaction as it comes in, as well as tracking all the main events through the day.
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