Chinese consumer still ‘cautious’ despite impressive 6.5 per cent Q4 growth January 18, 2021 This morning’s economic numbers showed that the Chinese economy expanded by 6.5 per cent during Q4, with the last three months suggesting that economic activity had more or less returned to normal. Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst, Asia Pacific at OANDA, called China’s industrial production rise of 7.3 per cent “impressive.” “Made in [...]
Before the Bell: Europe set for lower open on delayed recovery concerns January 18, 2021 After the early week exuberance of the first week of 2021, investor appetite for risk has taken a little bit of a knock the last week, largely down to concerns that the recovery story being priced in may well be a little premature, Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, tells City A.M. [...]
The City View: Hong Kong activist Nathan Law January 17, 2021 In this latest edition of The City View podcast, Andy Silvester speaks to exiled Hong Kong activist Nathan Law. The youngest legislator ever elected in Asia and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people on the planet, Law has been a thorn in the side of Beijing ever since he emerged as a leader [...]
Childcare subsidy scandal forces Dutch government to resign January 15, 2021 The government of Holland’s Prime Minister Mark Rutte collectively resigned today over a recent report which blamed Rutte’s cabinet for mismanaging childcare subsidies that brought financial ruin to thousands of low-income families in the Netherlands. According to Dutch state broadcaster NOS, ministers will stay on as ‘demissionair‘ – or caretaker government – until the general [...]
England cricet team ‘unconcerned’ by Covid-19 outbreak at team hotel in Sri Lanka January 15, 2021 England are “not concerned” after two staff members at their hotel in Galle where they are playing two Test matches against Sri Lanka tested positive for Covid-19. The kitchen workers returned positive results after routine tests conducted by the hotel due to the presence of the England team, Sri Lankan media reported. “We are not [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Amazon and private equity target Serie A; Arsenal pick Garlick; sponsors keep faith; and boosts for electric racing January 14, 2021 Amazon’s foray into broadcasting Premier League matches could be a taste of things to come in Italy. The retail behemoth has held talks about buying the domestic rights to show Serie A on its Prime Video platform, according to multiple reports. Amazon has already secured a foothold in the Italian market, snapping up some Champions [...]
Tory backbenchers warn Boris Johnson to drop lockdown soon or face leadership challenge January 14, 2021 Boris Johnson has been warned by lockdown-sceptic Tory backbenchers that he will face a leadership challenge if he does not “set out a clear plan for when our full freedoms will be restored”. Former Brexit minister Steve Baker said to a group of Tory backbenchers that “it’s inevitable the Prime Minister’s leadership will be on [...]
EBRD invests record €11bn to combat Covid-19 pandemic January 14, 2021 The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development invested last year a record €11bn in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2020 spending was administered through 411 projects which addressed the urgent needs of the 38 economies where it invests, according to a report released earlier today. The EBRD said it also supported a record of [...]
Johnson dismisses referendum talk despite polling January 14, 2021 Over half of Scots would vote in favour of Scottish independence if a referendum were to be held tomorrow, according to an opinion poll published today. According to the poll by Savanta ComRes, 57 per cent of Scots said they would vote in favour of independence, as opposed to 43 per cent who would vote [...]
Real estate giant Savills reports ‘extraordinary rebound’ for markets outside London January 14, 2021 Savills reported this morning an “extraordinary rebound” since May as regional markets outside London delivered its strongest performance since the 2008 financial crisis. The estate agent said profits topped expectations in 2020 but the firm hesitated to give guidance for the new year amid Covid-19 uncertainty. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the group delivered [...]