FTSE 100 edges up but Admiral share price hit as investors await Budget and interest rate decisions March 14, 2016 The share price of one of the UK's largest insurers was hit in early trading after it emerged over the weekend that the chancellor may drop a tax bombshell on the sector when he delivers his Budget later this week. Admiral Group fell 1.6 per cent to 1,884.5p in early trading, after reports suggested George Osborne will raise the [...]
FTSE 100 has a muted start as investors await European Central Bank big reveal March 10, 2016 The FTSE 100 made a muted start to trading today, as investors nervously awaited a big reveal from the European Central Bank's Mario Draghi, who is expected to take rates further into negative territory later today. The FTSE 100 edged down 0.1 per cent in early trading, as economists expected Draghi to cut the central bank's deposit rate [...]
Meh: FTSE 100 edges up as investors await a glitter bomb from Mario Draghi – but Burberry share price leads the fallers March 9, 2016 The FTSE 100 had an uncharacteristically relaxed day of trading today, edging up 0.41 per cent to finish at 6,174.8 points. The lacklustre performance came as investors held their breath in anticipation of a potential bombshell from the European Central Bank (ECB) chief tomorrow: it is hoped Mario Draghi will cut the bank's deposit rate by at [...]
Fresh start for Argentina: Investors say Argentina is the bright spot in Latin America as President Mauricio Macri ends 15-year long dispute with hedge funds and gets serious about economic reform March 8, 2016 The land of beef, red wine, ranches and hinterland. Argentina is on the cusp of great change. The combination of a newly elected pro-change President, Mauricio Macri, and the resolution of a nearly 15-year long dispute with international lenders both mean Argentina is going to draw a line under its checkered past. Experts are now tipping [...]
Alliance Trust, City of London and Bankers Investment Trust: Dividends at these 19 investors have been raised for 20 or more years in a row March 7, 2016 While high-profile banks such as Barclays and a number of companies have had to cut their dividends already this year, if you're an income seeking investor, don't be put off: the dividend heroes are here. A list of 19 investment companies with at least 20-year records of dividend rises, dubbed the "dividend heroes", has been [...]
BIS warns market volatility was just the beginning as global credit binge stalls and investors lose faith in central banks March 6, 2016 The volatile start to the year for financial markets may only mark the beginning of a realisation that the world economy has become more fragile, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) warned today. “The tension between the markets’ tranquillity and the underlying economic vulnerabilities had to be resolved at some point. In the recent quarter, we may have [...]
Battersea panic stations: Investors flee luxury scheme as up to £2m is knocked off some asking prices March 4, 2016 More than 50 luxury flats on sale at London’s iconic Battersea Power Station have had their prices slashed since January, with some seeing discounts as large as 38 per cent in a sign that wealthy foreign investors are scrambling to desert the scheme. The news adds to fears that demand for prime homes in the capital is [...]
New Barclays chief executive Jes Staley gets a frosty reception in the City as investors reject his case for slashing dividends, sending share price down more than 10 per cent March 2, 2016 New Barclays boss Jes Staley received a frosty reception in the City yesterday, as investors rejected his case for slashing dividends, sending the bank’s share price down by more than 10 per cent and wiping £2.3bn off its market value. Investors recoiled when Barclays said it planned on paying a dividend of 3p for this year [...]
Are fearful investors creating a crisis? Experts warn of “self-fulfilling prophecy” in markets as negativity towards global outlook deepens March 1, 2016 Despite hopes, the G20 grouping of world leaders failed to come up with a deal to boost flagging global growth at its latest meeting in Hangzhou, China. There had been calls for a joint effort to tackle the slowdown – and although a deal was unlikely, analysts had warned the market would respond badly to “policy [...]
House purchase approvals hit two-year high as buy to let investors rush to beat April’s stamp duty change February 29, 2016 Mortgage lending picked up in January as buy to let investors rush to buy properties before a hike in stamp duty in April. Net mortgage lending rose to £3.7bn in January from £3.2bn in December, according to figures published by the Bank of England this morning. There were 128,709 mortgages approved. Approvals for house purchase, as opposed to [...]