1. UK consumer confidence highest since September
GfK's closely watched consumer confidence index rose for the second consecutive month in December, suggesting households could be inclined to splash out more this Christmas.
2. FTSE 100 Live: Stocks falter as Fed official dampens rate cut hopes
London's main stock index closed lower after a leading Federal Reserve official tempered speculation about imminent interest rate cuts from the US central bank, saying such discussions were “premature”.
3. Is Pearson the next FTSE big cap to delist?
Pearson PLC (LSE:PSON)’s largest shareholder, the Carl Icahn-backed activist investment firm Cevian Capital, has urged the FTSE 100 constituent to delist from the London Stock Exchange in favour of a US listing.
4. NatWest review finds 'no evidence' Farage was dumped for political reasons
According to NatWest, the report “confirms that decision-making was consistent with relevant standards and otherwise appropriate and that there was no evidence of discrimination due to political views or affiliations, or any other protected characteristic”.
5. Ofgem proposes to hike energy price cap in April
The regulator laid out proposals for a one-off price cap increase of £16, equating to about £1.33 per month from April 2024 to March 2025.