Bond yields fall as Trump calls for cut and ECB hints at stimulus August 20, 2019 Yields on global bonds have fallen following a renewed call for interest rate cuts from US President Donald Trump and dovish words from European Central Bank (ECB) board member Olli Rehn. Read more: Eurozone inflation falls to well below ECB target in July Trump yesterday evening called for a 100 basis point (one percentage point) [...]
BHP owners pocket record dividend August 20, 2019 BHP shareholders will pocket a record payout, the company announced this morning, bringing the total dividend to $6.7bn (£5.5bn). The miner announced this morning that it would give shareholders an ordinary dividend of $1.33 per share. However, the payout comes on top of a special dividend earlier this year, of $1.02 per share as the [...]
Italy’s return to political chaos leaves investors in wait-and-see mode August 20, 2019 A furious global hunt for yield has helped to spark a significant repricing of fixed-income markets. The consequences of last week’s major market moves were by turns high-profile and obscure. One oxymoron-inclined senior White House adviser to President Donald Trump insisted that the inverted curve that appeared briefly in US Treasury yields was in fact [...]
Analysts and investors hopeful for record BHP dividend August 19, 2019 Investors will flock straight to the dividend page tomorrow after miner BHP releases its annual results overnight, expected to reveal the highest annual dividend in the company’s history. Analysts had expected the dividend to reach around $2.36 for the full year 2019, up from $1.18 the year before, according to a consensus compiled by Vuma. [...]
Finance bodies start talks to cut stock market trading hours August 19, 2019 Banking and investment groups are working on proposals that could see stock market trading hours shortened across Europe. The Investment Association (IA), which represents the UK’s asset management industry, and the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), a banking lobby group, are planning to consult their members on plans to cut European trading hours, [...]
Nigeria could appeal $9bn handed to gas company by British court August 19, 2019 Nigeria has grounds to appeal a decision to grant an Irish natural gas firm $9bn (£7.4bn) in damages after a deal with the government fell through, the head of the country’s central bank has said. Godwin Emefiele said Nigeria would be able to appeal the decision handed down by the British Commercial Court on Friday. [...]
What do “lower for longer” interest rates mean for value investors? August 19, 2019 | City Talk “Lower for longer” has been one of the rallying cries of this bull market cycle. Indeed, interest rates are not simply staying low; they have recently been cut again by the US Federal Reserve. Why do low rates matter? If interest rates remain low, economic growth is stimulated, defaults are scarce, financing is easy and [...]
Malaysia offers UK post-Brexit trade deal on palm oil ‘rethink’ August 19, 2019 Malaysia’s government has offered the UK a post-Brexit trade deal, with improved terms – but only if the country rethinks “the European Union’s misguided policy on palm oil”. Writing in Bloomberg, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad claimed the EU’s 2017 decision to phase out and ultimately ban biofuels made from palm oil was not based [...]
Waiting game: British tanker will not be released until court go-ahead, says Iran August 19, 2019 Iran has said it is waiting for a court order before it can release a British oil tanker seized by its Revolutionary Guard. The Stena Impero was impounded by Iranan authorities a month ago today for alleged marine violations. Read more: Britain will join US to protect ships from Iranian attack It followed the seizure [...]
US and European stocks buoyed by ECB rate cut expectations August 17, 2019 US and European stocks soared on Friday as expectations the European Central Bank will cut interest rates rose, helping the dollar to hit a two-week high against the euro. The dollar was also aided by promising data that showed a jump in US homebuilding permits to a seven-month high. Read more: US stock markets jump [...]