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Fundraising and deal-making have dropped sharply at European private debt funds, new data shows. Faisal Ramzan, a partner at law firm Proskauer Rose who advises private credit funds, said he was not seeing default. "There's plenty of dry powder," said Fidelity International's head of private credit strategies Michael Curtis, referring to capital raised already. Joanna Layton, managing director of European private credit at Alcentra, one of Europe's largest private debt managers, added there was "no rush" to deploy capital. High rates have also made private credit less appealing to institutional investors, analysts said.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, Francesco Sandrini, BoE, Andrew Cruickshank, Cruickshank, Pictet, Patrick Marshall, Faisal Ramzan, Proskauer Rose, Michael Curtis, Joanna Layton, Mark Brenke, Ardian, Chris Sier, Sier, Dhara Ranasinghe, Catherine Evans Organizations: City, REUTERS, Reuters Graphics Reuters, The Bank of, European Central Bank, Graphics, Deloitte, Fitch, Federated Hermes, Fidelity International, ClearGlass, Thomson Locations: London's, London, Britain, The Bank of England

But speaking on Wednesday, the last day before the ECB's self-imposed quiet period, the Dutch, French, German and Slovak central bank chiefs all said the Governing Council's decision was still open. France's Francois Villeroy de Galhau hinted that a fresh rate hike could still come at a later date and argued that the slowdown is not a recession and that the ECB needed to persevere in its fight with inflation. Slovakia's Peter Kazimir, an outspoken policy hawk, was more explicit, arguing that another hike was still needed to tame inflation. He said the ECB could delay a rate rise to one of its autumn meetings or pull the trigger next week. "It would be wrong to bet on a rapid decrease in interest rates after the peak," Nagel told German business daily Handelsblatt.

Persons: Nagel, France's Francois Villeroy de Galhau, Peter Kazimir, Kazimir, Klaas Knot, Bundesbank, Joachim Nagel, " Nagel, Robert Holzmann, Mario Centeno, Akanksha Khushi, Catherine Evans Organizations: Central Bank, ECB, Bloomberg, Reuters Global Markets, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, PARIS, Slovak

☆ UK builders suffer sharp fall in orders as rates rise -PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Workers stand on scaffolding at a residential building in London, Britain, March 7, 2016. Builders cited weaker economic conditions, cutbacks to new building projects and local planning delays as factors holding back house-building activity. S&P said total new orders for the construction sector fell at the fastest pace since May 2020. "Resilient demand for commercial work and infrastructure projects are helping to keep the construction sector in expansion mode for now," Moore said. However, forward-looking measures of the construction PMI fell, with business activity expectations for the year ahead the weakest since January.

Persons: Toby Melville, Tim Moore, Moore, Suban Abdulla, William Schomberg, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, P, P Global Market Intelligence, Builders, Bank of England's, PMI, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

A coffee machine featuring Novo Nordisk logo is seen at the company headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, February 5, 2020. REUTERS/Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk briefly unseated LVMH (LVMH.PA) as Europe's most valuable listed company in intraday trading on Friday, ending the French luxury group's 2-1/2 year-long reign at the top. At 0843 GMT, Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) had a market capitalisation of $421 billion including unlisted stock, according to Refinitiv data and company disclosures of its share count. By 1031 GMT, Novo Nordisk shares were up 1% while LVMH shares were down 0.4%. LVMH shares have fallen 13.8% from an all-time high hit in April, underperforming Europe's broader STOXX 600 which is down around 1.9% in the same time frame.

Persons: Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, LVMH, Ozempic, Wegovy, Novo's, Louis Vuitton, Marcel Stotzel, Stotzel, Eli Lilly, Axelle Pinon, Mounjaro, Novo, Carmignac's Pinon, Hennessy, Tiffany, Fiona Cincotta, Hermes, Samuel Indyk, Amanda Cooper, Catherine Evans Organizations: Novo Nordisk, REUTERS, Nestle, Dior, Fidelity European Fund, Fidelity European Trust, Barclays, Index, Financiere, Thomson Locations: Copenhagen, Denmark, Danish, LVMH, United States, China, Covid

☆ Stubborn euro zone inflation fails to settle ECB rate debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The ECB has raised rates at its fastest pace on record in the past year, taking them to a more than two-decade high. "We still do not expect the Governing Council to raise key rates further at its September meeting." "The latest inflation figures raise the probability of a new increase in interest rates in September," Diego Iscaro at S&P Global Market Intelligence said. "However, this is far from a done deal, and a rapidly deteriorating economic background will still give doves in the ECB's Governing Council plenty of ammunition to argue for a pause." "This decline could counteract our efforts to bring inflation back to target in a timely manner."

Persons: Eric Gaillard, Robert Holzmann, Holzmann, Christoph Weil, Diego Iscaro, Isabel Schnabel, Schnabel, Balazs Koranyi, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Central Bank, ECB, Reuters Global Markets, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Nice, France, Austria's, ECB's, Frankfurt

A general view of the drug product manufacturing laboratory in biologics and sterile injectables, Catalent, in Brussels, Belgium June 27, 2023. Catalent named three pharma industry executives and a senior Elliott executive to its board and said John Greisch, who has served on the board since 2018, will become executive chairman. Elliott, whose stake in Catalent became public last month, has been engaging with the company behind the scenes for months. Two of the directors were picked by Elliott, while two were mutually agreed by Elliott and Catalent. Catalent is also forming a new strategic and operational review committee which Greisch will chair.

Persons: Yves Herman, Elliott, Catalent, Alessandro Maselli, John Greisch, Max, William Blair, Maselli, Steven Barg, Goldman Sachs, Frank D'Amelio, Stephanie Okey, Michelle Ryan, Greisch, Merck KGaA, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Maggie Fick, Sriparna Roy, Shinjini Ganguli, Catherine Evans, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, Catalent Inc, Elliott Investment Management, Reuters, Novo, pharma, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer, Johnson, Catalent, Svea, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, ., Danish, Novo, United States, Catalent, GLP, Boston, London, Bengaluru

A general view of the drug product manufacturing laboratory in biologics and sterile injectables, Catalent, in Brussels, Belgium June 27, 2023. Spokespeople for Catalent and Elliott declined to comment. The U.S.-based contract drugmaker is also Danish company Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO) main manufacturing partner for its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy. The volatility at Catalent could increase scrutiny on the relationship between Novo and its partner. Reuters reported last week that a second Catalent factory will begin filling Wegovy injection pens for Novo as part of an expanded supply agreement.

Persons: Yves Herman Acquire, Elliott, drugmaker, Markus Manns, Catalent, Elliott isn't, Keith Meister's, Scott Ferguson's, Mauricio Gutierrez, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Maggie Fick, Amanda Cooper, Shri Navaratnam, Bernadette Baum, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Elliott Investment Management, Catalent, Novo, Reuters, Union Investment, AstraZeneca, Johnson, Moderna, eBay, Inc, Deutsche Bank, Management, Capital Management, NRG, Svea, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, U.S, Danish, Novo, United States, Germany, Boston, London

☆ Momentum growing for ECB rate hike pause as growth falters -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The number of voices advocating a pause is multiplying as the data roll in," said one of the sources, who asked not to be named. Several of the sources said they saw chances evenly split between a hike and a pause, while a smaller number saw a pause as more likely. But none said they saw a hike as the most likely outcome, even if that was their preference. That marks a distinct shift from six weeks ago when a hike was still seen as most likely in September. Arguments for a pause centre on growing recession fears, the rapid deterioration of China's growth outlook, benign wage growth readings and arguments that past ECB hikes are increasingly working their way through the economy.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, JACKSON, Jackson, Balazs Koranyi, Mark John, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, REUTERS, Central Bank, ECB, U.S, U.S . Federal, Employment, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, , Wyoming, Europe, U.S .

☆ Will AI be an economic blessing or curse? History offers clues
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Mark John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Backers of AI predict a productivity leap that will generate wealth and improve living standards. The productivity gains it was once lauded for have slowed across many economies. In a globalised economy, there are other reasons to doubt whether the potential gains of AI will be felt evenly. That is just one of several factors that will help determine how AI shapes our economic lives - from antitrust policies that ensure healthy competition among AI suppliers through to re-training of workforces. "The question is: will AI exacerbate existing inequalities or could it actually help us get back to something much fairer?"

Persons: Richard Erkhov, Yiannis, Simon Johnson, Johnson, Daron Acemoglu, jenny, Natixis, Stefano Scarpetta, MIT's Johnson, Mary Towers, Eva Mathews, Mark John, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, MIT Sloan School of Management, McKinsey, Hollywood, Reuters, Labour, Social Affairs, Economic Cooperation, Development, UN, POWER, Britain's Trades Union, OECD, Thomson Locations: Pascal, Nicosia, Cyprus, U.S, American, Paris, Bengaluru

☆ Two measures of global corporate health flash red
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Moller-Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) lowered its estimate for global container trade this year as companies reduce inventories and higher interest rates and recession risks in Europe and the United States drag on global economic growth. The company, one of the world's biggest container shippers, said it expects container volumes to fall by as much as 4%. Maersk controls about one-sixth of global container trade, transporting goods for retailers and consumer companies such as Walmart (WMT.N), Nike (NKE.N) and Unilever (ULVR.L). The International Monetary Fund last week said that it expects global economic growth to slow this year, led by advanced economies even as food prices have come down and the March banking turmoil has been contained. It expects the global growth to slow to 3% this year and next, from 3.5% last year.

Persons: Jon Nazca, . Moller, Mark Read, Grey, Sophie Lund, Yates, Hargreaves Lansdown, Swift, David Jackson, Josephine Mason, Catherine Evans, Deepa Babington Organizations: Triple, Majestic, REUTERS, Maersk, WPP, Walmart, Nike, Unilever, Reuters, Ogilvy, Apple, Amazon.com Inc, Companies, Global, Nissan, Caterpillar, Monetary Fund, DHL Group, Thomson Locations: Strait, Gibraltar, Algeciras, Spain, U.S, Europe, United States, Beijing, slowdowns, China

☆ Two measures of corporate health flash red
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Jon Nazca, . Moller, Mark Read, Grey, Sophie Lund, Yates, Hargreaves Lansdown, Josephine Mason, Catherine Evans Organizations: Triple, Majestic, REUTERS, Maersk, WPP, Walmart, Nike, Unilever, Reuters, Ogilvy, Apple, Amazon.com Inc, Companies, Global, Nissan, Caterpillar, Monetary Fund, DHL Group, Thomson Locations: Strait, Gibraltar, Algeciras, Spain, U.S, Europe, United States, Beijing, slowdowns, China

But while Rose's departure means Europe's 25 biggest banks by assets are still 96% male-run, an analysis by Reuters has found that broader executive management teams have become slightly more balanced since last year. Top management teams at Europe's largest lenders are now 30.6% female, data compiled by Reuters shows, up from 25.6% for the same group of banks in early 2022. Reuters GraphicsAcross the broader financial services sector, however, a recent study by EY found that hiring of women at board of directors level in Europe had actually dipped. Companies appointed women to 44% of board openings in the 12 months through June 2023, down from 52% during the previous year. The overall gender split has nevertheless improved to 43% female and 57% male on the boards of European financial firms, EY found, from a 37%/63% split a year ago.

Persons: Alison Rose's, Isabelle Ferrand, Ann Francke, EY, Brenna Hughes, Tom Sims, Iain Withers, Jesus Aguado, Catherine Evans Organizations: NatWest, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, UBS, European, Chartered Management Institute, Companies, Thomson Locations: ZURICH, Europe, Frankfurt, London, Madrid

This will leave investors guessing whether another rate hike is coming or if July marks the end of the ECB's fastest-ever tightening spree. "The Governing Council will continue to follow a data-dependent approach to determining the appropriate level and duration of restriction," the ECB added. While markets had fully priced in another rate hike just a few weeks ago, a growing number of investors are betting that Thursday's move will be the last. More tightening would however be consistent with comments from a host of policymakers, including ECB board member Isabel Schnabel, that raising rates too far would still be less costly than not lifting them high enough. This is a key reason why the balance of expectations has started to shift away from another rate hike, with economists increasingly focusing on how long rates will stay high.

Persons: Isabel Schnabel, Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT

☆ ECB raises key rate to historic high, keeps options open
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, July 26 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank raised its deposit rate to a historic high on Thursday and kept its options open on whether more increases will be needed to bring down inflation against a worsening economic backdrop. "The Governing Council’s future decisions will ensure that the key ECB interest rates will be set at sufficiently restrictive levels," the ECB said. In its June statement, the ECB had said rates would "be brought" to sufficiently restrictive levels, implying more rises. The ECB has now increased borrowing costs by a combined 4.25 percentage points in a year, its fastest pace on record. Both facilities have been little used as the banking system is still awash with cash from a decade of monetary stimulus by the ECB.

Persons: Christine Lagarde's, Francesco Canepa, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT

LONDON/NEW YORK, July 27 (Reuters) - Chocolate and coffee makers including Italy's Lavazza and Cadbury-maker Mondelez are concerned about the "practicalities" of a new European Union law aimed at stopping deforestation. Several major investors told Reuters last month that concerns about their exposure to the issue could lead them to quit consumer goods makers with "risky" supply chains. Oreo-maker Mondelez told Reuters it is "not clear on how they (EU authorities) will control or implement this" law. "It is entirely possible to trace coffee supply chains, despite their complexity. Italian confectionary group Ferrero wants the EU to provide specific guidance on compliance for each commodity because supply chains vary greatly between them.

Persons: Italy's, Mondelez, Giuseppe Lavazza, Lavazza, Christophe Hansen, Dirk Van de, Solidaridad, Julia Christian, Fern, Van de, Ferrero, Snorre, Matthew Scuffham, Catherine Evans Organizations: Cadbury, European Union, Reuters, European Commission, EU, Thomson Locations: EU

☆ ECB mulled raising banks' mandatory reserves in inflation fight -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The ECB raised interest rates for the ninth consecutive time on Thursday in its year-long effort to bring down inflation. It also decided to stop remunerating banks' minimum reserves to contain the amount it pays in interest and the losses it is likely to make. The ECB is currently remunerating lenders' mandatory reserves in the same way as their deposits, which are reserves held above the minimum. On Thursday it increased the deposit rate to 3.75%, in a widely expected decision, while cutting to zero the rate on minimum reserves. "Since then, the efficiency aspect has risen in relevance, in line with the higher level of the key ECB interest rates," it said.

Persons: Arne Petimezas, Petimezas, Francesco Canepa, Balazs Koranyi, Valentina Za, Christina Fincher, Catherine Evans Organizations: Central Bank, Reuters, ECB, AFS Group, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Amsterdam

That will leave investors guessing whether another rate hike is coming in September or if July marks the end of the ECB's fastest-ever tightening spree. While markets had fully priced in another rate hike just a few weeks ago, investors are now split, with many expecting July's move to be the last. "We see a 60% probability that the ECB will hike again by a final 25bp on 14 September," Berenberg's Salomon Fiedler said. "Softer data such as the drop in the Eurozone composite PMI indicate a rising chance that the central bank will stay put in September already." This is a key reason why the balance of expectations has started to shift away from another rate hike, with economists increasingly focusing on how long rates will stay high.

Persons: July's, Berenberg's Salomon Fiedler, Isabel Schnabel, Jerome Powell, Anatoli Annenkov, Christine Lagarde, Commerzbank's Marco Wagner, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, PMI, U.S . Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT

Interviews with seven doctors and two other potential users of Wegovy from Germany, where Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO) weight-loss drug will become available at the end of July, show the office administrator isn't alone. Allianz (ALVG.DE) says it will pay if a physician diagnoses a medical need while Debeka said its plans exclude weight-loss treatments. In Germany, Wegovy will be administered with the same injection pen used in Norway and Denmark, not the one used in the United States to avoid hitting supplies there. "Patients are so desperate in Germany that they will pay out of their pocket for the medication." "My experience is that people will be able to pay for it out of (their own) pocket," said Horbach.

Persons: Doctor Thomas Horbach, Wegovy, Novo, Jessica Lenth, isn't, I've, Lenth, Debeka, Robert Koch, Danish drugmaker, Sylvia Weiner, Karl Rheinwalt, Thomas Horbach, Weiner, Rheinwalt, Juergen Ordemann, Michael Wirtz, Wirtz, Irina Ernstberger, Ernstberger, Ludwig Burger, Maggie Fick, Patricia Weiss, Josephine Mason, Catherine Evans Organizations: Novo Nordisk, FRANKFURT, Reuters, Allianz, European Union, Robert Koch Institute, Sana Klinikum, St, Hospital, Ozempic, Novo, Thomson Locations: Germany, Munich, LONDON, Hamburg, Wegovy, United States, Danish, Norway, Denmark, Sana, Frankfurt, St Franziskus, Hospital Cologne, Berlin's, Winsen, Lower Saxony, London

If it cannot secure fresh funds before an approaching deadline, Argentina risks defaulting on repayments to the IMF. Analysts say the central aim of these economic adjustments is to signal to the IMF that Buenos Aires is committed to the program. The left-wing administration has been locked in negotiations with the IMF for months over whether to front-load tranches of the $44 billion program. Both parties said on Sunday that an agreement on the fifth IMF review was close, but not yet finalized. Reporting by Lucinda Elliott in Montevideo, Anna-Catherine Brigida in Buenos Aires, Rodrigo Campos in New York.

Persons: Sergio Massa, Eduardo Levy Yeyati, Eyeing, Marina dal, EcoGo, Alejo Czerwonko, Yeyati, Lucinda Elliott, Catherine Brigida, Rodrigo Campos, Jorgelina de, Karin Strohecker, Catherine Evans Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Economy, Peronist, IMF, Reuters, Emerging, UBS, Analysts, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Buenos Aires, Argentina, refinance, Washington, Beijing, Montevideo, Anna, New York, Jorgelina de Rosario, London

Euro zone interest rates have risen 400 basis points in the last year to 3.5%, their highest in 22 years, and are now close to peaking as headline inflation cools and the economy weakens. 1/ How much will the ECB hike rates? "The ECB will hike again and anything else would be a major surprise," said RBC Capital Markets global macro strategist Peter Schaffrik. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics3/ When does the ECB expect core inflation to fall? Euro zone business activity stalled in June as a manufacturing recession deepened and a previously resilient services sector barely grew.

Persons: Silvia Ardagna, Peter Schaffrik, Christine, Lagarde, Massimiliano Maxia, Reinhard Cluse, Ruben Segura, BofA, Philip Lane, BofA's Segura, Naomi Rovnick, Stefano Rebaudo, Vincent Flasseur, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Kripa Jayaram, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, Barclays, ECB, Capital, Reuters, Allianz Global Investors, U.S . Federal, Reuters Graphics Reuters, UBS, Bank, Thomson Locations: Cayuela, Europe, London, Milan

More than a year later, she was told her application required a key document that was stuck behind enemy lines in Ukraine. "There's always a trade-off between rapid and sustainable labour market integration," said Thomas Liebig, chief economist for the OECD's international migration department. Researchers from Minor, a migration policy think tank, said the large-scale inflow of refugees from Ukraine is seen as a great opportunity in Germany. While the refugees' fate is partly tied to the unknowable course of the Ukraine war, the EU's temporary protection scheme for Ukraine refugees is at present due to expire in March 2024. This puts employers who want to hire refugees in a difficult situation, as they don't know if Ukrainian refugees will be able to stay.

Persons: Maria, Lukas Barth, Svetlana Chuhil, Chuhil, Lauren, Thomas Liebig, Oksana Krotova, Krotova, Ildiko Pallman, Gizem Uensal, Enzo Weber, Jan Lopatka, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Deloitte, Reuters, OECD, United Nations, Minor, German Institute for Employment Research, Thomson Locations: Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Aschheim, Munich, Germany, BERLIN, WARSAW, Poland, Zgorzelec, Goerlitz, Paris, Europe's, Berlin, Kyiv, Prague

Sterling weakened against the U.S. dollar and the euro as the Office for National Statistics said the consumer price inflation growth rate was its lowest since March 2022 but stayed above the pace of price growth in other big, rich economies. The BoE said in May it expected June inflation would fall to 7.9%. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the core measure of price growth to hold at 7.1%. Reuters GraphicsFood price and non-alcoholic drinks price inflation slowed to 17.3% - still a major strain on the finances of many households - from 18.3% in May. Services prices, also monitored closely by the BoE, rose by 7.2% in annual terms, slowing from 7.4% in the 12 months to May.

Persons: Sterling, BoE, Paul Dales, Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce, Kate Holton, Catherine Evans Organizations: Reuters, Bank of, Bank of England, U.S ., National Statistics, Capital Economics, Investors, Reuters Graphics, Labour Party, Sunak's Conservative Party of, Manufacturers, Thomson Locations: Bank of England, Britain

"The luxury industry seems to be outperforming the consumer market as a whole in China, but you know, really, almost everyone you speak to, there's a level of uncertainty," said Agility's managing director Amrita Banta. "There's a level of not feeling entirely comfortable with their future economic position that is really affecting almost everybody in China." Those factors disproportionately affect "aspirational" luxury customers who can easily live without another Gucci bag or $900 pair of sneakers. In China, luxury consumers are younger than in the rest of the world with an average age of 28, according to BCG - something companies had seen as positive for future growth. "In the trends that I'm seeing in the U.S. and also in China, more aspirational younger consumers are feeling more of a pain," Morningstar senior equity analyst Jelena Sokolova said.

Persons: Richemont, splurge, Morgan Stanley, Hermes, Chanel, Amrita Banta, Dior, Balenciaga, Gucci, Jelena Sokolova, HSBC's Erwan, Rambourg, Casey Hall, Mimosa Spencer, Catherine Evans Organizations: Cartier, Citigroup, Richemont, Citi, LVMH, Bain, Morningstar, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, PARIS, China, North America, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Charlotte, Nashville, Swiss, Americas, Asia, United States, luxury's, U.S, Japan

☆ Reactions: UK inflation cools in June, pound drops
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Sterling dropped broadly, falling against the dollar, the euro and the yen, as interest-rate futures showed investors no longer expect UK rates to peak above 6%. COMMENTS:KEVIN BRIGHT, GLOBAL LEADER, CONSUMER PRICING PRACTICE, MCKINSEY & COMPANY, LONDON:"Inflation dipped more than expected; but the gulf between the UK and the Eurozone inflation levels remains. Despite most categories seeing a decline, food & non-alcoholic beverage inflation at 17.3% remains only 1.8% below its peak in March 2023. "Continued rising prices, higher interest rates and below inflation wage growth – are a triple blow to household budgets. NEIL BIRRELL, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, PREMIER MITON INVESTORS, LONDON:"Some good news on UK inflation at last, coming in below expectations for June and most importantly the core inflation rate fell more than thought.

Persons: Sterling, BoE, KEVIN, JOE TUCKEY, JORDAN, NOMURA, CHRIS BEAUCHAMP, Andrew Bailey, JEREMY BATSTONE, CARR, RAYMOND JAMES, ” KENNETH BROUX, It's, JOSEPH CALNAN, NEIL BIRRELL, Amanda Cooper, Andrew Heavens, Catherine Evans Organizations: Bank of England's, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters, MCKINSEY, COMPANY, LONDON, Bank of England, JORDAN ROCHESTER, CPI, IG GROUP, Bank of, SOCIETE GENERALE, U.S, EMEA, Thomson Locations: homebuilders, Bank of England, EUROPEAN

The BoE said in May it expected June inflation would fall to 7.9%, moving further away from October's 41-year high of 11.1% but still way above its 2% target. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the core measure of price growth to hold at 7.1%. Despite June's drop, Britain's inflation rate remains the highest among the world's top seven rich economies. In Western Europe, only Iceland had a higher rate of inflation in June. Suren Thiru, Economics Director at ICAEW, an accountancy body, said July's inflation rate was likely to slow to below 7%.

Persons: Sterling, BoE, James Smith ,, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, William Schomberg, William James, Sarah Young, Catherine Evans Organizations: Reuters, Bank of, Bank of England, U.S ., Reuters Graphics, National Statistics, Labour Party, Sunak's Conservative Party of, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Manufacturers, Thomson Locations: Bank of England, May's, Western Europe, Iceland, Britain

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