Pound slides as investors fret over Brexit talks December 7, 2020 The pound fell sharply as investors began to question whether a Brexit deal would be reached, with traders unwinding bets made last week amid fresh uncertainty over negotiations. Sterling tumbled 1.3 per cent against the dollar to $1.326, having hit a two year high of $1.354 on Friday. The pound also slid against the euro, [...]
Eurozone investor sentiment soars amid vaccine optimism December 7, 2020 Positive vaccine news has made Eurozone investors vastly more cheery, with a closely watched sentiment index hitting its highest level since February. The Sentix Eurozone investor sentiment index jumped to minus 2.7 in December from minus 10 in November, the data company said today. Driving the surge was a sharp recovery in investors’ views of [...]
FTSE Russell drops eight Chinese companies after Trump order December 5, 2020 Index provider FTSE Russell has said it will remove eight Chinese companies from some of its indices after President Trump banned US investors from holding stakes in the businesses. FTSE Russell said the companies, which include China Railway Construction and video security firm Hikvision, would be removed from its FTSE global equity indices and the [...]
FTSE 100 opens higher despite deadlock in Brexit talks December 4, 2020 The FTSE 100 opened higher this morning outperforming its European peers as Brexit remains in focus. London’s blue chip index climbed 0.7 per cent on the open to 6,535 poins, while the FTSE 250 of midcap companies rose 0.17 per cent. Brexit talks have stalled somewhat despite promising signs at the start of the week. [...]
Sterling hits highest level in a year as dollar selloff continues December 3, 2020 Sterling climbed to a one-year high this afternoon, nearing $1.35, as the dollar selloff continued and Brexit talks dragged. The pound advanced beyond $1.3490, its best in a year after the “Boris bounce” which saw Conservatives won an 80-seat majority. Sterling rose 0.4 per cent against the euro to 90.22 pence. “The moves are probably [...]
FTSE 100 falls back as Brexit negotiations drag on December 3, 2020 The FTSE 100 fell back this morning after the French government threatened to veto a Brexit trade deal if EU negotiators gave further concessions to the UK. London’s premier index dropped 0.4 per cent start as trading opened, while the FTSE 250 of midcap companies picked up 0.1 per cent. Brexit talks are ongoing between [...]
French regulator calls on EU to fix derivatives rules to lessen Brexit hit December 3, 2020 French securities regulator the AMF has told the EU that it should fix its derivatives trading rules to avoid damage to its own financial sector once the UK finally leaves the bloc on 1 January. Robert Ophele, the AMF’s chair, said that if rules were not amended it would penalise European banks trading in London. [...]
FTSE inches higher after Pfizer vaccine approval but Wall Street slips December 2, 2020 The FTSE 100 inched higher today as the UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/Biontech coronavirus vaccine for use. Having opened in the red, London’s premier index was up 0.5 per cent in the early afternoon, with the FTSE 250 of mid-cap firms down 0.3 per cent. Analysts said that [...]
FTSE 100 and Wall Street chase record highs as vaccine hopes boost markets December 1, 2020 The FTSE 100 logged its best session in three weeks today while Wall Street hit record highs as markets continue to ride a wave of vaccine optimism. The blue-chip bourse closed up 1.9 per cent, while the FTSE 250 midcap index rose by 2.6 per cent. It comes after the FTSE recording its biggest gain [...]
S&P Global agrees $44bn mega-deal for IHS Markit November 30, 2020 S&P Global has agreed a $44bn (£33bn) deal to buy data firm IHS Markit in a move that will create a new financial services giant.