After ten years of oil deficits – is now the time for shale gas? January 9, 2014 It has been over a decade since the UK was a net oil exporter, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics. In November, the balance on trade in oil was in deficit by £0.9bn. The figures further confirm the long decline of North Sea oil production. North Sea oil can no longer [...]
This table shows how US corps are worth more than entire countries January 9, 2014 A nice comparison from BoAML's chief investment strategist, Michael Hartnett, this morning. He points to it to show that emerging markets seem inexpensive: "Brazil's market cap barely exceeds that of Google, India's is less than Wells Fargo's and Turkey's is practically the same as Starbucks'" Hartnett says that there appears to be a "buyer's strike" [...]
Eurozone economic sentiment sees end-of-year pickup January 9, 2014 The European Commission's monthly business and consumer surveys suggested that the Eurozone economy gained some strength at the end of 2013. Eurozone consumers were still lacking confidence in the economy in December, although not as much as in November. The consumer confidence index came in at -13.6 last month from -15.4 the month before. Meanwhile, [...]
Meet the weaponised smartphone January 9, 2014 The Annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas has so far been dominated by products geared towards leisure and travel. Not much has been presented to the tech friendly crowd in way of new innovative methods of self-defence-until now. Added to this year's haul of technological wizardry, we see the world's first stun gun [...]
Standard Chartered finance chief out in reorganisation January 9, 2014 Standard Chartered's finance director Richard Meddings is to leave the bank's board by the end of June, and will leave the group entirely by the end of this year. In December Meddings was stripped of his role overseeing the firm's risk division, following pressure from the Bank of England (BoE). Responsibility for risk was transferred [...]
This analyst says it’s a do nothing day. Here’s why January 9, 2014 The majority of economists think it's pretty unlikely that the European Central Bank (ECB) will alter interest rates today. Today ECB can't do anything. MPC won't do anything. BOK have already done nothing. Soft China CPI today's excuse for A$ weakness — kit juckes (@kitjuckes) January 9, 2014 In a poll by Reuters, [...]
Food retailers are getting crushed this morning January 9, 2014 It's not been a great morning for the supermarkets. Food retailers Ouch!!!! pic.twitter.com/OZwHAdNE1P — Alastair McCaig (@AMcCaig_IG) January 9, 2014 Morrisons, the third biggest grocer on the FTSE 100, is leading the index lower after an shock Christmas update – like-for-like sales were down 5.6 per cent. Shares have fallen over five per [...]
Festive bakes see Greggs return to growth January 9, 2014 Away from the plight of the FTSE 100 supermarkets, high street baker Greggs has returned to growth. The group saw like-for-like sales increase by 2.6 per cent in the fourth quarter. The company benefitted from strong trading over Christmas and New Year, with sales over the festive period up by 3.1 per cent. Greggs saw [...]
Fresh hope for melanoma patients as FDA approves new drug January 9, 2014 GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, for the first time, approved the use of Mekinist in combination with Tafinlar. The combination will be used to treat patients with melanoma that cannot be surgically removed or that has spread to other parts of the body. Dr Paolo Paoletti, president [...]
What you need to know before the open – 09/01 January 9, 2014 It's all eyes on the European Central Bank for bourses today, as it announces its decision on interest rates. There's been plenty of speculation over whether we'll see another rate cut, given rising concerns over deflation in the euro area, but consensus is that today's meeting is likely to be too soon for a decision. [...]