Too big to list? Why the international scramble for the Aramco IPO might prove a wild goose chase January 4, 2018 | City Talk Last week, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced a delay to its proposed introduction of a new listing category for the London Stock Exchange. The proposal – which has already endured a six-month consultation – is widely seen as an attempt by the regulator to bend its own rules on stock market flotations… in ways [...]
Jeremy Grantham, who predicted the last two bubbles, warns the stock market is ready for a “melt-up” January 4, 2018 Jeremy Grantham, the founder of asset management firm GMO who is credited with predicting the housing bubble of 2007 and the dot-com bubble of 2000, has warned the stock market is likely heading for an imminent "melt-up". This sudden dramatic improvement in the performance of equities, driven by investors who don't want to miss out [...]
As the new year starts Britain needs some economic resolutions January 3, 2018 | City Talk It’s hard to like January as a month. The start of the New Year invariably brings with it resolutions to drink less – or even nothing – for a month, do more exercise and take more care over how we spend our money. In short, we make all sorts of promises to ourselves to live [...]
What’s next for oil and gold prices in 2018? Here’s what analysts said January 2, 2018 Crude oil and gold prices both started the year on a firm footing, but are prices going to keep going up in 2018? Here's what analysts said about the commodities. Oil prices expected to stay around $60, but could go as low as $30 Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices both opened above [...]
Ignore the forecasts. No-one really knows what 2018 holds for markets December 21, 2017 | City Talk How will markets and the global economy perform in 2018? If you’ve not yet been confronted with a barrage of forecasts or predictions, then you’re likely to be in the coming days. Trying to predict what will happen next year has become as much a part of the Christmas tradition as turkey, presents and overindulgence. [...]
Britain is in for a rough ride next year; the EU holds all the cards ahead of Brexit trade talks December 20, 2017 | City Talk At times Brexit can seem like one giant wheeze invented to sell more newspapers. But even by the standards of Fleet Street’s saturation Brexit coverage, this week the press has really gone to town on the latest twist in the saga. On Monday night many newspapers got very hot under the collar after Michel Barnier, [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown’s five stocks to watch in 2018: From life insurance to Irn Bru to that well-known heritage check December 19, 2017 Investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown has set out its stocks to watch in 2018. And where its eyes are straying, others' are likely to follow. While some asset managers are predicting the return of volatility in what has been a relatively uneventful year for the UK stock market, Hargreaves Lansdown's equity analysts spread their bets across [...]
With or without a Santa Rally, the FTSE 100 looks a sick man compared to its peers December 18, 2017 | City Talk Over the past 25 years global markets have become accustomed to what is affectionately known as the Santa Rally in the final weeks before Christmas. This year, however, the FTSE 100 appears unlikely to have its spirits lifted by Christmas joy. In 18 of the past 25 years, the FTSE 100 index has rallied by [...]
Whether it has peaked or not, we’re playing a waiting game with inflation December 14, 2017 | City Talk On Tuesday, official data showed Consumer Price Inflation crept up slightly to 3.1 per cent in November. It was enough to oblige the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney to write a letter to the Chancellor, an event not unlike a naughty schoolboy writing a letter of apology to the headmaster. Mr Carney wrote to Philip [...]
Beware Bitcoin’s bite – why crypto-currency futures might make a risky investment deadly December 13, 2017 | City Talk Deutsche Bank has raised serious concerns about the risk posed to the global financial system by Bitcoin. It’s not the first to red flag the crypto-currency and warn investors that it is a potentially dangerous financial instrument to get involved with. Others have warned about the dangers of a Bitcoin bubble. European Central bankers have [...]