Omicron knocks UK and eurozone growth to 11-month lows; banknote maker De La Rue warns on profits – business live
Worries over Ukraine tensions and prospect of US interest rate rises hits stocks, wiping out FTSE 100's early 2022 gains, before a late recovery on Wall Street
- Latest: Ukraine tensions and Fed worries push markets lower
- Bitcoin falls to six-month low
- Gas prices jump
- Nato reinforces eastern borders as Ukraine tensions mount
- Markets worry about looming US rate rises, and Ukraine crisis
- UK growth weakened this month after Omicron
Just in: Growth across the eurozone has slowed to its lowest in nearly a year, despite signs of recovery in Germany.
The eurozone's recovery weakened again this month, as restrictions imposed to combat the Omicron variant caused a sharp slowdown at companies in the services sector.
Not only has the alleviating supply crunch helped factories boost production, but cost pressures in manufacturing have also moderated.
Importantly, while the Omicron wave has dented prospects in the service sector, the impact so far looks less severe than prior waves. Meanwhile, perceived prospects have improved among manufacturers, linked to fewer supply shortages adding to the brightening outlook.
Continue reading...