Member Info for livestock

House prices soar as market remains buoyant heading into the summer

• Annual house price inflation now at its strongest level in nearly seven years
• Average UK property price of £261,743 a new record high
• Wales continues to be the region with the strongest price growth

Russell Galley, Managing Director, Halifax, said:
“House prices reached another record high in May, with the average property adding more than £3,000 (+1.3%) to its value in the last month alone. A year on from the first easing of national lockdown restrictions, and the gradual reopening of the housing market, annual growth surged to 9.5%, meaning the average UK home has increased in value by more than £22,000 over the past 12 months.

May payroll numbers up 559000, GBP gets a bounce

The economist said the below chart shows that the trend in jobless claims is sharply downwards, "with no end in sight".

https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/images/graphs/US-jobless-claims-pantheon.jpeg

British construction activity surged in May at the fastest rate in nearly seven years, fuelled by a record increase in new orders as coronavirus lockdown measures lifted, a survey showed on Friday.

The IHS Markit/CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) jumped to 64.2 from 61.6 in April, its highest level since September 2014.

A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a reading of 62.3.

Growth was fastest in the housebuilding sector, reflecting a boom in the housing market - with house prices rising by more than 10% in annual terms, according to the latest official data.

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-construction-surges-fastest-rate-since-2014-pmi-2021-06-04/

Jobs vacancies in the UK are soaring but there are not enough workers to fill them, a report suggests.
The easing of Covid restrictions and reopening of various sectors meant demand for workers rose at its fastest rate in May for more than 23 years, according to a KPMG survey.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57349802.amp

falklandinvestor

IAG is looking a good buy with the G7 meeting next week can see american opening up soon

Hollybean
£300 for a barking buddy say British kids

https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/media/press-releases/2021/halifax/p300-for-a-barking-buddy-say-british-kids.html?optoutmulti=0:0|c1:1|c3:0|c5:0|c4:0|c2:0&optmessage=1

Hollybean

Q1 2021 FREQUENTLY ASKED INVESTOR QUESTIONS

What is your dividend policy?
• Following a request made by the PRA to large UK banks in March 2020, the Group suspended the payment of dividends on ordinary shares for the remainder of 2020 and cancelled the payment of the final dividend for 2019.
These actions were undertaken as a precautionary measure to preserve capital as the spread of the coronavirus pandemic led to a UK wide lockdown, with the potential to create a significant and prolonged downturn.
• In December 2020, the PRA announced that dividend payments could recommence, provided that this was subject to a prudent framework for the setting of such distributions. As a result the PRA established a cap on distributions for
year end 2020. Given the Group's strong capital position at the year end and the Board announced a final ordinary dividend of 0.57 pence per share, the maximum allowed under the PRA's guidelines.
• The Group will update the market on interim dividend payments with the half-year results, subsequent to reviewing the PRA's update on distributions which is expected ahead of the half-year results reporting cycle for the large UK
banks. In the interim the Group's dividend accrual in the quarter equated to 5 basis points and is currently based upon a pro-rated amount of the 2020 full year dividend in accordance with PRA guidance.
• As previously stated, the Board intends to resume its progressive and sustainable ordinary dividend policy with the dividend at a higher level than 2020.

A source close to international trade secretary Liz Truss told City A.M. the deal will likely slash Norwegian tariffs on British agricultural exports, like beef and cheese, and provide more access to Norwegian fish imports to the UK.

https://www.cityam.com/uk-norway-trade-deal-set-to-be-done-by-saturday-with-tariffs-slashed-on-british-agriculture/

US Services PMI Business Activity Index registered 70.4 in May, up from 64.7 in April and greater than the earlier released 'flash' estimate of 70.1. The upturn in output was the fastest on record, with the rate of expansion accelerating for the fifth month running

The US economic recovery shifted up a gear in May, with output of the combined manufacturing and service sectors surging past all prior peaks by an impressive margin. The strong correlation between the PMI and GDP means the economy looks set to enjoy rapid – potentially double-digit
– growth in the second quarter.

The improved UK economic outlook and the prospect of rising interest rates are positive for the UK banking sector

Credit Suisse continues to have a positive view on the UK domestic banks, with Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LBG) as its top pick.

The improved UK economic outlook and the prospect of rising interest rates are positive for the sector while valuations are cheap on a historical basis and in comparison to international members of the STOXX Banks Price Index.

https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/951331/lloyds-banking-the-top-pick-among-banks-for-credit-suisse-951331.html

Eightyeight88
China's services activity growth slows in May

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-services-activity-growth-slows-may-caixin-pmi-2021-06-03/

Britain's services sector recorded the biggest jump in activity in 24 years last month, after pubs and restaurants were allowed to resume serving customers indoors following months of lockdown, according to a closely watched business survey.

Thursday's data adds to signs that Britain is enjoying a very rapid initial rebound as lockdown rules relax.

The IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 62.9 in May from 61.0 in April, taking it to its highest since May 1997 and above an initial estimate of 61.8.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSZRN00259Z

"Must be nervouse times for traders..."

Lloyds drifts lower as London's traders ignore the wider global market trend
Markets are treading water ahead of more economic data points which will further inform the inflation debate

Lloyds to start Thursday on the front foot
IG Markets sees the FTSE 100 added around 16 points ahead of the open

ALIEN METALS (@AlienMetals) tweeted at 7:02 AM on Thu, Jun 03, 2021:
Alien is pleased to announce that Bill Brodie Good, Chief Executive Officer, will provide an investor presentation on Wednesday, 16 June 2021 at 3:00pm via the @InvestorMeetCo platform. Full details can be found in the announcement here: $UFO https://t.co/PyxU511xYe
(https://twitter.com/AlienMetals/status/1400332069629313031?s=03)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.poundsterlinglive.com/gbp-live-today/15499-early-june-jitters-pound-to-euro-and-dollar-today/amp

Meera Chandan, FX Strategist at JP Morgan says interest rate expectations in the market should increasingly reflect a view the Bank of England (BoE) will be hiking rates sooner and faster than other central banks.

In their view, under such a scenario the Pound can be expected to rise.

The BoE's willingness to raise interest rates as soon as 2022 is underscored by the prevailing consensus forecast that "the UK will grow faster than any G10 country in the coming six months and, perhaps more importantly, the reality that the MPC’s," says Chandan.

https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/images/graphs/JP-morgan-UK-curve-provides-support-for-the-pound.png

Bank of England will be hiking rates sooner and faster than other central banks as the UK is growing faster than any G10 country in the coming six months

Lloyds 80p in 2021
DYOR

falklandinvestor
Lloyds has stalled at the start of the new month with some analysts pinning the performance on fears of a delay to a full relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions in England but Boris said on Tuesday there's is nothing in the data to suggest a deviation from England’s reopening on 21 June.

Next week the rally will continue

Lloyds 80p in 2021