European polymer prices were unchanged over the week to 26th July. In the UK, prices fell slightly across some grades as the Pound gained value against the Euro.   Asian polymers fell with reductions of between 5 and 20 USD per tonne reported in the prices of HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, Polypropylene, PVC and Polystyrene. In […]

The UK’s national debt has reached its highest level since 1962, according to new official figures.   The total stock of government debt was worth 99.5% of the value of the economy in June, exceeding the highs reached during the coronavirus pandemic for the first time.   The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, external […]

China’s economic slowdown and a crackdown by Beijing on displays of wealth are taking a toll on some of the world’s top luxury brands.   LVMH says its sales in Asia, which include China but not Japan, fell by 14% in the three months to the end of June, worsening from a 6% decline in […]

Financial markets in the US and Asia have fallen sharply as investors sell off shares in technology companies, with artificial intelligence (AI) stocks hit particularly hard.   In Wednesday’s trading in New York, the S&P 500 lost 2.3% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 3.6%, in their biggest one-day falls since 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial […]

European polymer prices were mixed over the week to 19th July. There was an increase of 10 EUR per tonne reported in the price of Polypropylene and a reduction of 20 EUR per tonne noted in the price of Polystyrene. In the UK, prices fell across most grades as the Pound gained value against the […]

Technology stocks around the world have slumped on fears about the global computer chip industry.   The sell-off came after a report that the Biden administration could be set to further tighten restrictions on exports of semiconductor equipment to China.   Comments by former US President Donald Trump that Taiwan, the biggest producer of chips, […]

Countries including the UK and the US are “seeing some persistence” in inflation that might mean interest rates have to stay “higher for even longer”, the International Monetary Fund has warned.   The body also said elections across the world had increased “uncertainty” over economic growth amid concerns over “significant swings” in policy from new […]

China’s economy stumbled in the second quarter, official data shows, just as the country’s top leaders gathered for a key meeting to address its sluggish growth.   It grew 4.7% in the three months to June, falling short of expectations after a stronger start in the first three months of 2024. The government’s annual growth […]

European polymer prices rose over the week to 12th July. There were increases of 10 and 43 EUR per tonne reported in the prices of PVC and PET. In the UK, prices fell across most grades as the Pound gained value against the Euro.   Asian polymers were mixed with an increase of 5 USD […]

Unilever plans to cut a third of its office-based roles in Europe by the end of 2025, the consumer goods giant has said.   It comes after it announced in March that it would be cutting costs, affecting about 7,500 roles globally.   The firm said it would begin a consultation process with those affected […]