Under the pump: the challenges facing BP’s new boss in the 2020s February 12, 2020 When Bob Dudley bowed out after a decade at the helm of BP last week, the praise was both effusive and universal. During his tenure, Dudley managed to plot a course between the Scylla and Charybdis of 2010’s Deepwater Horizon disaster and the mid-decade collapse of the oil market while maintaining BP’s position as the [...]
Energy emissions stall in 2019 despite economic growth February 11, 2020 Global emissions related to energy production stopped growing in 2019, raising hopes that a “definitive peak” in total greenhouse gas emissions may have been reached. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), emissions plateaued at 33 gigatonnes last year, having risen for the previous two years. The data is particularly striking as decline came even [...]
KKR denies approaching embattled NMC Health on possible offer February 11, 2020 KKR has ruled out a possible takeover of NMC Health, one day after the embattled FTSE 100 hospital operator said it had been approached by the US investment firm. NMC Health said yesterday that it had received approaches regarding potential takeover offers from KKR and GK Investment Holding, but KKR this morning denied making an [...]
FTSE 100 opens higher after US and Asian markets rise February 11, 2020 The FTSE 100 index has opened higher this morning, taking its cue from positive performances from US and Asian markets as investors shrug off coronavirus fears, despite the death toll from the outbreak passing 1,000. Britain’s blue-chip index climbed as much as 1.02 per cent after the open on Tuesday, following positive impetus from Monday’s [...]
Wind turbines: UK must double 2010s spend to hit energy target February 10, 2020 The UK government will need to spend £48bn on installing new wind turbines, double what it spend last decade, if it is to reach its target of 40 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030. According to renewable energy analysts Aurora, in order to fulfil the goal, 260 wind turbines will have to be installed [...]
FTSE 100 drops as coronavirus declared a ‘serious’ UK health threat February 10, 2020 The FTSE 100 edged down this morning as continued concern over the coronavirus outbreak knocked investor confidence around the world. London’s blue-chip index fell 0.2 per cent in early trading, landing at 7450p, as the UK declared the virus a serious and imminent threat to public health. The outbreak has now killed 908 people around [...]
London Metal Exchange under pressure to investigate nickel market February 9, 2020 The centre of metal trading in the City is under pressure to investigate the nickel market after it was hit by a supply shock late last year. Stockpiles of the commodity plunged late last year while prices hit a four-year high after Indonesia, the world’s largest nickel producer, brought forward a ban on exports. Organisations [...]
What’s happened to GBP/EUR this week? February 7, 2020 | City Talk Sterling was on the back foot at the beginning of this week, but that wasn’t the whole story… After a positive end to last week thanks to the Bank of England holding interest rates, sterling was on the back foot at the beginning of this week due to the Prime Minister’s comments about the Brexit [...]
Asian currencies hit by coronavirus outbreak February 7, 2020 | City Talk While concern over the economic impact of the coronavirus appears to be centred on China, Japan is not immune to the ramifications of the disease. SGD: Ahead of a statement from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Singapore dollar fell to a four-month low. This came after a period of strength when it has [...]
Global stocks fall as coronavirus fears grip investors February 7, 2020 Global stock markets have fallen as fears resurface about the impact of coronavirus on the global economy. China’s central bank warned last night that its economy will be hit by the outbreak, and Japan reported a jump in the number of cases on board a cruise liner off of Tokyo. US markets opened lower despite [...]