Good morning: Could the office for National Statistics have a smidgen of good news for Philip Hammond before tomorrow’s Budget? The ONS publishes the latest public sector borrowing data at 9.30am. If recent form is any guide the data will give the embattled chancellor a rare boost, with public borrowing falling faster than expected. Capital Economics expects borrowing of £7 billion in October, just below last year’s £7.5 billion, leaving cumulative borrowing for the year to date 7 per cent lower than last year. A fundamental reappraisal of Britain’s productivity growth by the Office for Budget Responsibility alongside the Budget is expected to wipe out as much as two thirds of the £26 billion buffer built…

Source: The Times November 21, 2017 09:00 UTC