Business news 24 September 2024
Manufacturing recovery remains fragile. Private sector growth slows in September. Optimism among SMEs rises again. Markets, insolvencies & more business news that we thought would interest our members.
James Salmon, Operations Director.
Manufacturing recovery remains fragile
A survey of manufacturers by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has found that export order books in the three months to September were at their weakest since December 2020. A net balance of -44% of manufacturers reported that their export order books were below normal this month, compared to -22% in August. The industrial trends report, which the CBI described as “uniformly disappointing,” shows that total and export order books at manufacturers deteriorated in September. Ben Jones, the CBI’s lead economist, said: “The survey highlights that the recovery of the UK economy seen over the first half of 2024 remains fragile, with uneven progress seen across different sectors, and businesses increasingly cautious ahead of the Budget at the end of next month.”
Private sector growth slows in September
Activity across the UK’s private sector grew at a slower rate in September, according to S&P Global’s flash UK composite PMI. The PMI saw a reading of 52.9 in September, down from 53.8 in August on an index where a score above 50 represents growth. The survey showed slower growth in both the services and the manufacturing sectors. The S&P survey also found that the Budget was “by far the most cited concern among UK private sector firms.” Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said that while business confidence has risen, the upcoming Budget is “jangling nerves somewhat.” He added: “Investment plans in particular are reported to have been put on ice pending clarity on the new government’s policies, especially towards taxation.” The PMI also indicates that price inflation eased to a 42-month low across the private sector, with this driven by a weaker rise in prices charged by companies in the services sector.
Chancellor: No return to austerity
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised that there will be “no return to austerity” in the upcoming Budget, saying it will be a Budget “with real ambition, a Budget to fix the foundations, a Budget to deliver the change that we promised, a Budget to rebuild Britain.” While Ms Reeves offered little detail on the tax and spending decisions she will outline on October 30, she said there would be no increases in income tax, National Insurance or VAT. Taking an optimistic tone, the Chancellor said: “My ambition for Britain knows no limits because I can see the prize on offer if we make the right choices now.”
Optimism among SMEs rises again
Optimism among UK SMEs has grown for a third consecutive year, according to a poll by American Express. The survey saw around 7 in 10 SMEs say they feel confident about the future of their company, up from 67% in 2023 and 65% in 2022. The poll of 1,000 firms saw almost three quarters say their business is in good shape, marking a 5% increase from 2022. Among firms with between one and nine employees, 67% feel confident compared to 62% in 2023. Over half of respondents plan to invest more to grow their business over the next 12 months. American Express found that 57% of SMEs believe sales will be better in Q4 than in 2023 or 2022.
Industrial Strategy
Britain’s business secretary Jonathan Reynolds says he is “sick” of the UK losing out to France and Spain and will launch an “industrial strategy” in the coming weeks to wrestle global investment away from rival nations.
Markets
Yesterday, the FTSE 100 closed up 0.36% at 8259.71 and the Euro Stoxx 50 closed up 0.29% at 4885.57. The UK market was helped by a calmer tone from new Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who spoke at the Labour Party Conference and promised there would be “no return to austerity”.
Overnight in the US the S&P 500 rose 0.28% to 5718.57 and the NASDAQ rose 0.14% to 17974.27.
This morning on currencies, the pound is currently worth $1.338 and €1.201. On Commodities, Oil (Brent) is at $75.63 & Gold is at $2630. On the stock markets, the FTSE 100 is currently up 0.33% at 8287.13 and the Eurostoxx 50 is up 1.23% at 4945.83.
Eurozone
Eurozone Business Activity has fallen into contraction territory in September for the first time in seven months on the back of German and French economic struggles. According to the HCOB Flash Eurozone purchasing managers index, Eurozone private sector growth dipped below 50.0 points this month to 48.9.
China
China unveiled some of its boldest measures in years, boosting morale in markets, as it looks to turbocharge its struggling economy. Among the measures was a cut to the reserve requirement ratio, which dictates the amount of cash banks must hold in reserve. The move will inject around a CNY1 trillion, around $141.7 billion, in “long-term liquidity” into the financial market, central bank chief Pan Gongsheng said.
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce is said to be nearing deals to build mini nuclear reactors in Sweden and The Netherlands. Having been selected as the preferred supplier of such small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Czech Republic last week, Rolls-Royce is reportedly to be nearing similar deals elsewhere. According to The Mail on Sunday, Swiss energy firm Vattenfall has shortlisted Rolls-Royce in competition with another company to deploy SMRs in the country.
Freezing orders up 170% as HMRC targets criminals
The use of account freezing orders (AFO) has surged by 170% over the last three years amid an HMRC crackdown on suspected criminal behaviour. Analysis by RPC shows that the number of AFOs has risen from 125 in 2021/22 to 341 in 2023/24, while the value of assets frozen increased from £43m to £57m. The number of forfeiture orders has also increased, rising from 92 in 2021/22 to 144 in 2023/24. AFOs were introduced in 2017 under the Criminal Finances Act, which allows a court to order bank accounts to be frozen for up to two years while the source of funds are investigated. Adam Craggs, partner and head of tax disputes at RPC, noted that since the introduction of AFOs, “we have seen HMRC invoking these powers on an increasingly regular basis, even though we know that in many cases they do not lead to a subsequent successful forfeiture of assets or criminal prosecution.”
Latest Insolvencies
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Why you should become a member of CPA!
The Credit Protection Association (CPA) has been assisting thousands of UK businesses to get paid, since 1914. We have supported our members through all sorts of difficult trading environments. With high interest rates and a struggling economy and elevated insolvencies, our services can help your business navigate these difficult waters.
Unlike other credit management and debt collection companies, we offer a range of services to our members that are all included as part of a fixed annual subscription, tailored to your needs.
Under your annual subscription you will have access to our main services:
- Our Creditcare credit reports provide credit ratings and limits along with a host of detailed information on your potential customers to enable you to trade with confidence and set appropriate credit policies for new customers.
- Our monitoring service will alert you to any significant changes in the status of those customers.
- Our Overdue account recovery service can be used to chase up payment on any invoices to those customers that have not been paid on time. Unlike other debt collection companies, this service directs your customer to pay direct to you and allows you to maintain your goodwill with them, rather than inserting ourselves into your relationship with you customer and insisting they pay CPA instead. Our Overdue account recovery service resolves over 80% of accounts referred to us.
All of the above services and other complimentary services such address verification, are included in your subscription!
And for the small minority of debts not resolved through our Overdue account recovery service, you can refer the debt to our collections department to escalate the late payment collections process.
CPA eases cash from tardy debtors – Efficiently, Effectively, Economically and Ethically. And we provide credit information so you can monitor and assess your key customers and be warned of any potential risks. CPA has been improving business cash flow for over 100 years, by tackling late payers and campaigning against the late payment culture in the UK.
Unlike other credit management companies, we offer our members a fixed annual subscription regardless of how high the value of their debts maybe!
Rather than to borrowing more money to improve your cashflow, CPA suggests that business owners tackle the problem at its source. If late payments are a strain on your cashflow, then talk to CPA about how we can help you reduce those late payments.
Just call Peter Uwins, CPA’s National Sales Manager, on 020 8846 0000 (business hours) or email nsm@cpa.co.uk today.
When you see your money come in, you will be so glad you used CPA.
The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections
Do you have a commercial late payer that is causing you grief? Use CPA’s no-win, no-fee, commercial debt recovery service!
If you have a particular business customer who is late paying and causing you sleepless nights, why not offer it to CPA’s collection department for purchase on recourse?
CPA’s collection department will then pursue the debt. We will be liable for any costs incurred and then when we have recovered the debt, we will pay you the net principle debt recovered less our percentage.
Once you have enjoyed that success then you can consider the more cost effective membership which includes our Overdue Account Recovery service and Status/Credit reports as well as a range of other complimentary services.
Just call 020 8846 0000 and ask for Godfrey Nelson or Cris Shirley (business hours) or email debtpurchase@cpa.co.uk today.
The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections.
Get compensated for previous late payments
Have you been paid late by business customers in the last six years?
Maybe you no longer work with them. Under legislation, you are entitled to compensation you for those late payments you have suffered.
You put up with the PAIN – now claim the GAIN!
Claim late payment compensation (LPC) from former business customers who paid you late in the last six years!
CPA (LPC) Recoveries is using our bespoke software and decades of experience to do just that for our clients
Check our compensation calculator to see how much your business could be owed!
Discover NOW the potential value of late payment compensation hidden in your sales ledger!
The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections.