Network Rail boss claims deal within ‘touching distance’ as five days of strikes begin – business live

Most UK train services out of action as tens of thousands of railway workers walk out

In the financial markets, Shore Capital analyst Peter Ashworth is cautiously optimistic for this year:

2022 ended with a whimper rather than the Santa rally we had hoped. The year-end reviews make dispiriting reading. The FTSE 100 ended up “flat” on the year, maintaining the rally seen since midOctober. In 2022, the market has absorbed nine increases in interest rates, inflation at 10.7%, (close to a 40-year high) and a 0.3% fall in GDP in Q3 22.

Against this backdrop, the outlook for 2023 looks better with interest rates peaking and inflation expected to be coming down. With undemanding valuations, we start the new year with a more upbeat view. One resolution we hope to keep.

What we’re saying to the RMT is we know which areas have been misunderstood by some of our staff, their members, and we want to make sure that we can work with the RMT now to make clarifications where there has been misunderstanding and put the deal out again.

We only need 2,000 people who voted ‘no’ last night to change their vote, and the deal will pass, so we think that’s within touching distance.

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​Most UK train services out of action as tens of thousands of railway workers walk outIn the financial markets, Shore Capital analyst Peter Ashworth is cautiously optimistic for this year:2022 ended with a whimper rather than the Santa rally we had hoped. The year-end reviews make dispiriting reading. The FTSE 100 ended up “flat” on the year, maintaining the rally seen since midOctober. In 2022, the market has absorbed nine increases in interest rates, inflation at 10.7%, (close to a 40-year high) and a 0.3% fall in GDP in Q3 22. Against this backdrop, the outlook for 2023 looks better with interest rates peaking and inflation expected to be coming down. With undemanding valuations, we start the new year with a more upbeat view. One resolution we hope to keep.What we’re saying to the RMT is we know which areas have been misunderstood by some of our staff, their members, and we want to make sure that we can work with the RMT now to make clarifications where there has been misunderstanding and put the deal out again.We only need 2,000 people who voted ‘no’ last night to change their vote, and the deal will pass, so we think that’s within touching distance. Continue reading…