Forex 2019: Dollar rally to fade? January 7, 2019 | City Talk The course of 2018 saw a firming in the US dollar against just about every other currency. But the factors that contributed to this steady rise may be starting to diminish. The big question facing the FX markets this year is whether the dollar can continue to push higher or whether the softening in December [...]
UK car sales fall for the second year in a row as Brexit uncertainty dampens demand January 7, 2019 UK car sales have fallen for the second year running, according to figures from an industry trade body released today. Dealerships sold 2.37m new cars in 2018, 6.8 per cent fewer than it managed in 2017, and 12 per cent below 2016’s peak of 2.69m, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. The [...]
CBS Corporation names first ever female head of news arm, Susan Zirinsky January 7, 2019 Award-winning journalist Susan Zirinsky is to be president of CBS News when current president David Rhodes steps down in March. Parent company CBS Corporation’s president announced last night Zirinsky, who has been with the company for more than 40 years, will be the first woman ever to lead the news arm of the broadcaster. Zirinsky, [...]
Tesla to break ground on Shanghai Gigafactory today, says Elon Musk January 7, 2019 Tesla shares rose at least four per cent today on the news that the company planned to break ground at its Shanghai Gigafactory and drive forward plans to build Model 3 electric vehicles in China by the end of the year. Initial construction of the $2bn (£1.57bn) factory will be completed this summer, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk [...]
Manufacturers worry post-Brexit border delays could hit their businesses January 7, 2019 More than three quarters of British manufacturers say border delays post-Brexit would be a risk to their business, according to a survey released today. The survey by insurer AIG and manufacturing association EEF showed 76 per cent thought delays at the border posed a risk to their business. “While companies are naturally optimistic by their [...]
Household debt hits record high, above pre-crisis levels, top union warns January 7, 2019 The government is on thin ice if it expects household debt to help drive growth, a top trade union has warned, as data shows that Brits are more in debt than ever. Unsecured debt reached £15,385 per household in the third quarter of 2018, a 38 per cent increase since the before the financial crisis [...]
Dunelm shares climb on stronger sales outlook despite website closures January 7, 2019 Furniture firm Dunelm saw revenue grow by two per cent over the Christmas quarter after closing two struggling websites. The retailer earned £303.6m for the three months to the end of December, £6m more than the year before, while like-for-like sales rose nine per cent to £282.5m. Like-for-like store sales grew almost six per cent [...]
Asian markets boosted as US officials land in China for first round of fresh trade talks January 7, 2019 US officials have arrived in China for the first round of talks between the two countries since a 90-day truce was called on their ongoing trade war at the start of December. Asian markets were optimistic the two could make a breakthrough on Monday, with the Nikkei jumping more than three per cent and smaller [...]
Government sets date for Brexit vote as MPs urge May to avoid no-deal departure January 7, 2019 The government is set to hold the delayed parliamentary vote on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal on 15 January, it is reported. The original vote was scheduled for 11 December, but was delayed as parliamentary arithmetic made it clear that May’s deal faced a heavy defeat. Now, the BBC reports that the vote is scheduled to [...]
DEBATE: With Apple sales slowing and the share price tumbling, is China to blame? January 7, 2019 With Apple sales slowing and the share price tumbling, is China to blame? Neil Goddin, manager of the Kames Global Equity fund, says YES. Unlike the western world, the Chinese people are likely to support their country in the midst of a trade war by not buying American if they don’t need to. They would not [...]