New year, new record: S&P 500 hitting new high on first day of 2022 is sign investors remain bullish about stocks January 4, 2022 The new year start off with a bang for global markets as Wall Street recorded record highs for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% and the Dow finished 0.7% higher. Both indexes eclipsed the record highs they set last Wednesday. The Nasdaq composite rose 1.2%. Technology stocks [...]
Half of all UK small businesses to raise prices this year while a third plan redundancies now furlough has ended January 1, 2022 Half of small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK plan to raise their prices this year, with supply chain disruption being the key driver. Moreover, one in three owner-managed businesses plan to make redundancies now the safety net of furlough has been removed, according to new research shared with City A.M. this morning. Those businesses [...]
The year of the activist shareholder: Vocal investors rebel more as FTSE companies struggle to get directors re-elected and pay approved December 30, 2021 Investors in FTSE companies are becoming more activist, with a 29 per cent jump in shareholder votes against the re-appointment of directors, according to new data shared with City A.M. In total 42 directors have been subject to major dissenting votes against their re-election, compared to 30 in 2020, according to a new report from [...]
City winners: This year’s most popular funds and shares, which include BP, Rolls Royce, Tesla and Argo Blockchain December 29, 2021 DIY fund buyers didn’t get the memo that value investing is back in fashion, instead largely plumping for growth strategies over the course of 2021. “Success breeds success they say, and retail investors clearly have a high conviction that these funds will continue to prosper,” Laith Khalaf at AJ Bell told City A.M. as he [...]
London Stock Exchange raises nearly £17bn in highest IPO funding since 2007 December 29, 2021 London Stock Exchange (LSE) companies have raised the most IPO funding in one year than in the last 14 years. Combined the 122 companies listed on the LSE raised over £16.8bn in 2021 – beating competition from the top exchange in Europe and raising the most equity outside of the US and China. The LSE’s [...]
Capital raising in the City picks up despite ongoing Covid disruption as listed firms pull in close to £25bn this year December 29, 2021 UK listed companies have raised more than £12bn in new capital from investors in the second half of the year, bringing the total so far for 2021 between January and November to £24.7bn, according to data shared with City A.M. This represents the second highest total since 2009, following on from 2020 when £34.4bn was [...]
Private equity groups spend $42bn acquiring their own companies to raise cash December 24, 2021 The number of deals where private equity groups sold companies to their own funds – to bring about generous payouts for executives – surged this year and were worth $42bn, according to reports. Known as ‘continuation fund’ sales, the frequency of such deals marked a sharp rise of 55 per cent compared to 2020, according [...]
Champagnes bubble up in price amid trickling supply and upbeat demand December 24, 2021 Champagnes have bubbled up in price amid a trickling supply and higher demand over the course of the year. The cost of vintage champagnes such as Dom Pérignon 2008 and Krug 2000 have ballooned in price this year, outperforming global stocks, the Financial Times reported, as investors spy returns in previously overlooked assets. In general, [...]
Exclusive: ‘No quick fixes’ in 2022 as Deutsche Bank’s global investment chief discusses inflation and central banks December 22, 2021 Inflation and central banks will be in focus next year. In fact, 2022 should be the year where central bank policy really starts to change gear, with other central banks to follow the Fed’s line on tightening, according to Christian Nolting, Global Chief Investment Officer at Deutsche Bank. “But there will be plenty of other regime [...]
FCA to consult on British Steel redress amid probe into watchdog’s handling of debacle December 22, 2021 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is set to consult on a redress scheme for those who invested in the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) – which could finally see members get their cash back. The consult is expected to end by March next year, the FCA added, as they gather further evidence and engage with [...]