Week ahead: Volatile markets are forecast ahead of the referendum June 20, 2016 Recent wild swings in the FTSE 100 are expected to continue until the European Union referendum on Thursday as polls show the electorate evenly split on the decision. At last week’s close, the FTSE rose from a four-month low, up 1.2 per cent, to 6,021.09 points. It was, however, down 1.5 per cent for the week, [...]
Mercia looks for growth potential at universities June 20, 2016 Investment firm Mercia Technologies has partnered with four universities in the North of England and Scotland to source new opportunities. The universities – Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh Napier, St Andrews, and Sheffield Hallam – were chosen due Mercia’s regional expansion targets. The Aim-traded firm, which says it focuses on the creation, funding and scaling of businesses with high [...]
Ingenious Media joins Hejing Capital in historic $200 million film-making deal June 19, 2016 A London-based investment company has made history by becoming the first to take advantage of the UK-China film co-production treaty. Ingenious Media has partnered with Beijing’s Hejing Culture to co-finance and co-produce a series of independent films, in a deal worth $200m (£138m). Neil Forster, chief executive of Ingenious, told City A.M. that the first joint [...]
With the Bank of England warning of a sharp fall in sterling, would leaving the EU be a buying opportunity? June 17, 2016 Jason Hollands, managing director of Tilney Bestinvest, says Yes. A Leave vote will likely lead to a knee-jerk reaction in the markets, led by a sharp slide in sterling. However, far from hitting the panic button, I would see an indiscriminate slide in UK equities on the back of a Leave vote as a potential buying [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 15, 2016 Fed day is here chair Janet Yellen is unlikely to do anything that would surprise the markets. We'll have the decision at 7pm London time and then wait to hear from the lady herself at 7:30pm. Here's what you need to know before the market open at 14:30 London time. US futures are pointing up [...]
Savers should plump for cash over shares, study says June 15, 2016 Savvy savers should opt for a best buy cash savings account over a FTSE 100 tracker, according to new research which challenges conventional wisdom. The study by financial journalist and BBC Money Box presenter, Paul Lewis, found that this type of savings account beat the tracker in 57 per cent of 192 five-year periods starting each month from 1 January [...]
Former Standard Life director in line for top governance position at Woodford’s fund June 14, 2016 Neil Woodford, the star City investor, is set to name ex-Standard Life director Marcia Campbell as the next chair of its oversight board. Campbell – who held various roles at Standard Life over the course of two decades, including running its operations in the Asia-Pacific region – will replace Mary Reilly, who has beenin the job since the position was created in 2014. [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 14, 2016 Brexit fears are dragging down markets and Germany's 10-year bond yield has turned negative. Here's what you need to know before the market open at 14:30 London time. US futures are pointing down again today, suggesting the bad start to the week is going to continue. The S&P is off by 0.22 per cent. The Nasdaq is 0.26 [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 sinks as Brexit fears send sterling to two month lows June 13, 2016 Resource stocks made up the majority of only a handful of risers on the FTSE 100 today as investors fretted over Brexit and sterling took a beating. The FTSE 100 closed at 6,044.97 – down 1.16 per cent on the day – and at its lowest level in three months. In March it was trading as low as 6,036, though had [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 13, 2016 China's decelerating economy is causing fresh concern across international markets and the International Monetary Fund isn't helping. Here's what you need to know before the US market opens at 14:30 London time. The US market is pointing heavily south ahead of the open. The S&P 500 is down by 0.31 per cent in the pre-market. The Nasdaq [...]