At the close: FTSE 100 bulldozes over Brexit concerns as oil and metal prices climb June 6, 2016 The FTSE 100 managed to kick off the week with a rise today, finishing up one per cent at 6,273.40 points. A jump in commodity prices managed to offset fears of Brexit that dragged down house builders. A flurry of recent polls have put the leave campaign neck-and-neck with remain as the 23 June vote draws nearer. The news [...]
Bond yields in the developed world hit a record low – even the EU referendum won’t stop them falling June 6, 2016 Bond yields across the advanced world have touched a record low. The fall comes as the US looks set to delay its next interest rate hike, the effects of quantitative easing and negative interest rates continue to take hold and political uncertainty mounts. The yield on Bloomberg's global developed sovereign bond index dropped to 0.62 per cent – [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 6, 2016 Markets are hoping for clarity from Fed chair Janet Yellen later and a British exit from the European Union is looking more likely as a poll gap narrows. Here's what you need to know before the US market opens at 14:30 London time. US stocks are pointing up in the pre-market. The S&P is up by 0.13 per cent, the [...]
Sterling slips again after latest opinion polls show strong support for Brexit June 6, 2016 The pound has yet again borne the brunt of the twists and turns of the EU referendum campaign, with another big drop in the value of the currency today after more opinion polls showed the Leave side on top. Sterling has lost 0.7 per cent against the US dollar today, falling to a three-week low of $1.4406, [...]
SMEs have a gloomy view of the economy, as uncertainty over the upcoming EU referendum vote and higher wage bills take their toll June 6, 2016 The summer weather has done little to boost SME owners' moods, with research out today showing that many have lost confidence in the economy. According to the study by Close Brothers, only one in five SMEs said they were confident that the economy could deliver a steady recovery, while more than a quarter said they were [...]
Weak overseas demand hits German manufacturers June 6, 2016 Germany's manufacturing industry took a surprise hit in April as factory orders fell, denting hopes of another quarter of impressive economic growth. New orders with German manufacturers fell two per cent between March and April, according to statistics released this morning, as weaker overseas demand could knock the German economy in the second quarter. Domestic orders grew [...]
London is crucial to the LSE-Deutsche Boerse merger, says top exec June 6, 2016 The London Stock Exchange (LSE) and Deutsche Boerse are walking a tightrope. As well as attempting to persuade shareholders and regulators to approve their £21bn merger, the tie-up has also attracted passionate interventions from politicians in the UK, Germany and elsewhere. In Westminster, attention has been drawn to two facts: that Deutsche Boerse’s chief executive would take [...]
Investors look to production data as FTSE flattens June 6, 2016 Industrial data will be in focus this week as investors look for signs of life in the sector. With rising fears of a second quarter slowdown for the UK economy, poor industrial and manufacturing production figures on Wednesday could stoke broader fears. In March industrial production was wallowing 10 per cent below pre-crisis levels, with the [...]
Entrepreneurs signal the economy is looking up despite warnings over the impact of Brexit June 6, 2016 Economic confidence among entrepreneurs has taken a big step forward over the last year. The number of business owners who feel confident about the direction of the global economy climbed by 18 percentage points to 69 per cent over the last 12 months according to a survey from accountancy giant EY. The UK economic outlook [...]
UK ”punches above its weight” on regulation says City of London Corp June 6, 2016 The UK is able to “punch above its weight” in steering EU financial regulation according to research from the City of London Corporation. Following research based on interviews with policymakers, legislators, lobbyists and other key players, the City cited five pieces of European regulation, finding in each the UK had influenced rules. The City corporation added [...]