How to win over companies and influence a better future August 9, 2021 | City Talk Companies’ annual general meetings (AGMs) could be testy affairs back in the 1980s and 1990s, the UK’s era of mass share ownership. One former CEO of that period recently confessed to me: “Our security would ask if the venues had a sloping stage that made it impossible to run up. They were intense meetings.” Such [...]
Gold prices slide to four-month lows on fears of rates hike August 9, 2021 Gold prices dropped to a four-month low this morning amid growing concerns that the Federal Reserve could hike interest rates sooner than expected. As of 8:30, the yellow metal was hovering at $1,747.93 an ounce, just below the crucial $1,750 level, having staged a slight rally today. At one point, it fell as low as [...]
Nasdaq companies to strengthen board diversity under fresh regime August 7, 2021 Companies listed on the tech-heavy Nasdaq stock exchange will have to comply with fresh gender and diversity rules implemented by the US’ financial markets watchdog. The Securities and Exchange Commission agreed on Friday to introduce new measures that will force Nasdaq businesses to have at least two diverse directors. Read more: C-suite diversity credentials to [...]
US stocks reach record highs as jobs market recovery gathers pace August 6, 2021 Wall Street opened higher on Friday to reach record highs after fresh data showed the US labour market is recovering from Covid at a faster pace than first thought. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones both hit record highs in morning trading on Friday. The former rose 0.08 per cent and the latter was up [...]
Oil prices on track to register worst week since March August 6, 2021 Oil prices are on track to register their worst week in five months despite clawing back losses on Friday. International benchmarks WTI and Brent Crude rose 1.1 per cent and 1.14 per cent to reach $69.87 and $72.13 respectively. Read more: Oil prices plummet after Opec+ end deadlock Traders have been spooked by the rapid [...]
Wall Street lifted by Covid-era low jobless claims August 5, 2021 US stocks opened up sharply on Thursday morning after investors were boosted by fresh data showing the American labour market recovery still has legs. The blue-chip S&P 500 gained 0.43 per cent to reach 4,421, while the Dow Jones shot up 0.6 per cent to 34,998. The tech-heavy Nasdaq notched the best performance out the [...]
China tech crackdown: From Jack Ma’s disappearance to online tutoring debacle August 5, 2021 Chinese technology giants once seemed untouchable, with billions of profits through aggressive expansion. But that status is now more uncertain after a year of Beijing’s sweeping regulatory crackdowns that have spread like wildfire across sectors. The saga started last October when Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, who founded e-commerce behemoth Alibaba, criticised China for lacking a [...]
Slowing US labour market recovery tempers Wall Street August 4, 2021 US shares dropped sharply on Wednesday morning after weaker than expected payrolls data tempered investor sentiment. The blue-chip S&P 500 dipped 0.42 per cent to 4,404, while the Dow Jones was clipped 0.78 per cent to 34,848. The tech-heavy Nasdaq edged down 0.06 per cent 14,752. Read more: Demand ‘peaks’ as US services recovery slows [...]
55 years of hurt: the connection between investing and football August 4, 2021 | City Talk In July, the England men’s football team reached their first major final since 1966. 30 years of hurt has become 55 years of hurt. Just one of many unwelcome statistics that have dogged the national team over the years, and which they hope to soon put an end to. The earlier England-Germany match provided a [...]
US stocks struggle for direction amid weakening economic outlook August 3, 2021 US stocks opened broadly flat on Tuesday morning as investors tempered trading activity amid a weakening economic outlook. While the Nasdaq dipped 0.34 per cent, the blue-chip S&P 500 edged 0.03 per cent higher and the Dow Jones added 0.18 per cent. The reinstating of Covid curbs in many states of America, including mandating mask [...]