Oil prices soar as Donald Trump reveals Saudi-Russia deal April 2, 2020 Oil prices soared this afternoon as US president Donald Trump said that Saudi Arabia and Russia had agreed a deal to end their price war and curb production. Brent Crude shot up nearly 22 per cent within half an hour of the president’s revelation, which was made over Twitter. The benchmark is now trading at [...]
British Gas owner Centrica kills dividend and delays Spirit Energy sale April 2, 2020 British Gas owner Centrica has abandoned 2020 guidance as it cancelled its 2019 dividend today and warned it would take at least a £100m hit from coronavirus. Centrica’s shares dived 7.3 per cent to a record low in early trading as it warned the fallout of an oil price war and the coronavirus lockdown would [...]
Oil prices jump as Donald Trump hints at imminent Russia-Saudi Arabia deal April 2, 2020 Global oil prices climbed off the floor of 18-year lows this morning after US president Donald Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to reach an agreement soon to put an end to their price war. The combination of a production war and a slump in global demand due to widespread lockdowns caused by [...]
FTSE 100 tumbles after coronavirus forces banks to cut dividends April 1, 2020 The FTSE 100 closed down 3.4 per cent at 5,478 points today after the UK’s major banks were punished by investors after scrapping dividends last night. The fall came after the index finished its worst quarter since 1987 yesterday. Shedding more than 24 per cent of its value, the FTSE 100 was pummelled over fears [...]
US stocks tumble as coronavirus fears intensify April 1, 2020 US stocks have fallen after US President Donald Trump’s advisers warned hundreds of thousands of Americans could die from coronavirus and gloominess about the economy spread among investors. The Dow Jones industrial average slid 2.6 per cent in early trading, the S&P 500 dropped 2.8 per cent and the Nasdaq fell 2.1 per cent. The [...]
Watchdog eases cash call cap to help firms raise cash amid coronavirus outbreak April 1, 2020 The Pre-Emption Group (PEG) has said existing investors in UK-listed companies should be allowed to buy a bigger share of rights issues, in a move that could make it easier for firms to raise cash amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said the Pre-Emption Group (PEG) of listed companies, investors and intermediaries [...]
BP to take a $1bn writedown due to oil price collapse April 1, 2020 BP expects to take a write down of up to $1bn for the first quarter of 2020 as the oil giant feels the strain of the recent oil price collapse. Across the whole year, the firm will reduce spending by 20 per cent and also halve investment in its shale oil business. In a statement, [...]
Oil prices slump again as US ramps up production April 1, 2020 Oil prices fell again this morning, just days after they touched an 18-year low amid a massive slump in demand and oversupply concerns. Brent crude sank 3.6 per cent today to hit $25.40. And West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 1.3 per cent to teeter on the edge of the $20 mark, at $20.21. Two days [...]
Asian stocks fall as coronavirus fears return April 1, 2020 Asia’s biggest stock markets fell overnight as fears rose about the death toll from coronavirus in the US, Japan entered a new fiscal year on an unsteady footing, and banks axed dividends. Following the worst quarter for global equities since 2008, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index tumbled 5.1 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped [...]
Coronavirus: Regulators urge savers to avoid rash decisions on pensions April 1, 2020 Regulators today urged savers to not make any rash decisions in relation to their pensions during the coronavirus epidemic. The Pensions Regulator (TPR), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), said fears over the impact of the pandemic on markets and personal finances may make savers more vulnerable to scams [...]