Thought I'd start a new thread as this is going to be a major talking point this year...have not made up my mind yet...(unlike bucksfizz)....but thinking of voting for an exit as Europe is not doing Britain any good at all it seems....

Puts a totally different slant on things.

These project fear remoaners are clutching at straws now they realise we really are leaving.

It's true it is the lowest number in 2.5 years and is slightly weaker than December. Anything over 50 is expanding, so we are still expanding but at a slower rate.

Italy for the last 2 months have had a figure of less than 50, they are officially in recession and their debt load becomes harder to service.

Germany stagnating , rest about to follow.

Never mind , maybe if they apply they can get a foreign aid grant off the UK.

I believe that Stan is correct, and it's George's data that's incorrect. I definitely read the 50.1 headline this morning inline with Stan's post. However, George got his figure here which says 51.1.

The official Markit release says 50.1 - here

Must be a typo on StockMarketWatch.com's website.

That is where I got my figure hilary, and if StockMarketWatch. com have got it wrong then so have I, so it's only right that I apologise to Stan.

Stan please accept my apologies your figures are correct.

Thank you muchly Hillary, George what can I say but I am truly humbled by your heartfelt apology, frankly I am close to tears...you sure you haven’t got a Coffee maker for sale -):

While we’re on about Europe I see Mrs Maybe Maybe Not is off on another Euro jolly I do hope she is going to set a fine example and travel by Mega Bus to keep the costs down for the Country’s sake.

Stan you may be close to tears but I'm still choking ha! ha!

No coffee maker for sale here, my coffee maker also sorts my meals, does my washing and ironing etc, so definitely not for sale.

I got one of them too George :-)

Also got a brilliant washing basket , just chuck your dirty clothes in it and a few days later turns up washed and ironed in wardrobe

Hils , pound falling ... no deal here we come.

And if Scarlett Johannson doesn't turn up I want I word with Gove.

Every market has News Days, Economy Days, and Technical Days, Dilbert.

Today's an Economy Day. Ça va.

Ah right , just like all the down days last week I suppose.

I've looked at the FX charts and besides the fall immediately after the vote there is nothing more than a very short term reaction to Brexit news.

Probably strengthen when we leave , deal or no deal.

52 days ago we lost to Man U in OGS first game in charge of them and it only seems like yesterday.


52 days time we'll be out of the EU.


Clock showing no signs of slowing down.

Tic toc.

Dill you must be the only living person who thinks that the March 29 date will not be moved.

... and Mrs May.

Yeah but she’d believe anything that one.

Dil's dream of what is waiting for him,

LOL Fred, that is a good one but Brexit will also likely bring the end of JC`s leadership (not that you can call him a leader). I guess your hours of dreaming will alao come to pass when you wake up, and realise it was but a dream.

Fred , unlike your good self I'm not dreaming of anything.

I'll take what comes and get on with it.

Dil,

I don't know what timeframe you're looking at, but the daily cable charts clearly show that sterling rose steadily from mid-December through to the last vote on the 29th of January. This was solely on the expectation/rumour that Brexit would somehow be delayed. When that didn't happen on the 29th, there was no further rumour/news to continue powering sterling until next week's vote. You know the age-old adage - buy the rumour, sell the news.

So, since then the focus has been away from Brexit, and fundamentals and the economy have been in play. Yesterday for instance, the market had priced in only a minor drop in services PMI. When the survey came in below expectations, sterling fell.

You've got some more economic data due tomorrow which might affect it, but, after that, the Brexit rumour mill will take over again in the run up to next week's meaningful vote - what will happen in Brussels, will she get her deal through, will the Malthouse proposal have any substance, will Grieve and co seek another extension? Any story about an extension will see sterling rise. Anything that suggests Brexit will happen on time will cause it to fall.