Returns For UK Companies Fall Again

There has been another slight fall in the net rate of return by private non-financial UK companies in Q1 2010 following a fall last year. The net rate of return was 11.1% (11.4% gross) compared with the revised estimate of 11.3% and 11.6% in 2009.

Service companies NRR was 14.4% (14.3% gross), slightly down on the 14.7% of Q4 2009 and the 16.4% of the same quarter last year. Manufacturing companies NRR was 6.4% (Gross=7.5%) down from the 6.9% of the previous quarter and the 8.3% of the same quarter last year. Companies other than UK continental shelf companies reported NRR of 10.2%. UKCS companies NRR was 36.4% (Gross=22.4%) an improvement on the 32.3% (20.6%) of Q4 2009.

Stocks Of International Currency Reserves

Movements in UK Government net foreign currency reserves in June meant they increased by $435m to a level of $34.7bn or £23.26m compared with $34.3bn or £23.77bn at the end of May 2010. Gross reserves decreased by $654m to $71.1bn. The Bank of England's net foreign currency and gold holdings decreased by $3.06m to a level of -$3.98m. Gross foreign currency holdings at the Bank of England increased by $876m to reach a level of $24.2bn.