Outlook 2022: UK equities December 16, 2021 | City Talk The UK holds many mispriced opportunities for stockpickers. Pick-up in M&A activity is striking. Stock market fit for the future. Sue Noffke, Head of UK Equities: UK shares remain cheap because of the perceived significant political and economic risks of Brexit, which continue to linger and depress the valuation of the UK stock market. We [...]
Could global cities be the cause of, and solution to, climate change? December 14, 2021 | City Talk Homer Simpson once famously said: “here’s to alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems”. To paraphrase Springfield’s most famous resident, we could say a similar thing about big cities and climate change. Big cities are often seen as part of the problem regarding climate change, responsible for high levels of greenhouse gas [...]
Gas prices rise amid escalating Russia tensions and Nord Stream 2 uncertainty December 13, 2021 Gas prices have surged amid growing tensions over Russian troops at the Ukrainian border and increased Nord Stream 2 pipeline uncertainty.
Boardroom bloody noses: Activist activity surges as FTSE firms feel the heat over pay and director votes December 13, 2021 There were plenty of bloody noses around FTSE boardrooms this year, with new data out today showing a surge in investor activism rattling remuneration committees over pay awards and spooking directors trying to get re-elected to their posts. Investors in FTSE 350 companies are increasingly more activist, with a 29 per cent surge in shareholder [...]
What is next for Hong Kong’s stock market? December 10, 2021 | City Talk The Hang Seng Index is down close to 12.8% year to date. What lies ahead, as fears about Omicron dog markets? Hang Seng Index – what is weighing on the index? Year to date (YTD), the Hang Seng Index remained in the red with -12.8% total return, largely trailing behind its global peers such as Nikkei’s 4.1% [...]
US inflation nears 40-year high, as Omicron fears set in December 10, 2021 US inflation is poised for a nearly 40-year high, with analysts forecasting a jump to 6.8 per cent compared with this time last year. Though investors still await more data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which will release its consumer price index later today. The fresh inflation heights could add more coal to [...]
Oil prices enjoy healthy gains amid easing concerns over Omicron variant December 10, 2021 Oil prices continue to recover from last month’s steep dive with markets increasingly less fearful of the emerging Omicron variant.
Omicron hit to economy: New Covid restrictions may cost businesses £4bn in December December 9, 2021 The UK economy should brace itself for a £4 bn a month hit and see taxpayers foot the bill for more emergency support as new Covid restrictions to clamp down on the spread of the Omicron variant come into force, a think tank has warned. The right-wing Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) said Plan B [...]
South Africa upbeat as battle of the Covid mutations rages: Omicron deaths still zero despite new coronavirus variant spreading twice as fast as deadly Delta December 8, 2021 Scientists and policy makers in South Africa and across the region are cautiously optimistic that the rapidly spreading Omicron variant is not going to cause a bloodbath as, so far, no deaths have been linked to the new Covid mutation. Despite a record number of new infections – more than 40,000 people tested positive in [...]
Outlook 2022: Global economy December 7, 2021 | City Talk 2022 is set to be another good year for growth, albeit the recovery is likely to remain unbalanced. Anticipated withdrawal of emergency levels of support will play important role in shaping outlook. Risks include higher-than-expected inflation and weaker growth. The emergence of the Omicron Covid variant has reminded us of the uncertainties which remain around [...]