Premier Oil shares rise as the weaker pound helps it swing to profit August 18, 2016 Shares in Premier Oil rose as much 3.59 per cent to 79.25p in opening trading after the independent oil and gas producer returned to profit in the first half of the year. The figures Premier Oil reported pre-tax profit of $110m (£83.57m) in the six months to June, up from a loss of $214.6m in the same period [...]
Global oil nudges “magic number” $50 per barrel August 17, 2016 Oil headed toward the "magic" $50 mark this afternoon, after a larger-than-expected drop in US oil stocks buoyed investor confidence. Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped 0.91 per cent to $49.68 per barrel on London's ICE Futures Exchange this afternoon. Its US counterpart, West Texas Intermediate crude, rose 0.26 per cent to $46.70 on the New York [...]
Competition watchdog threatens Intercontinental Exchange’s Trayport takeover August 16, 2016 The Competition watchdog has thrown into doubt Intercontinental Exchange's takeover of commodities trading software company Trayport. The Competition and Markets Authority said today that the $650m deal could result in less competition for wholesale European utilities trades. It issued a list of possible remedies, which includes a forced sale. The CMA is worried about higher fees for [...]
Oil somersaults after disappointing US inflation data August 16, 2016 Crude turned negative before recovering slightly this afternoon, after disappointing US inflation data shattered the brighter sentiment which had helped it to a five-week high earlier in the day. Brent crude, the global benchmark, slipped 0.40 per cent to $48.16 (£37.11) per barrel on London's ICE Futures Exchange, before paring losses to trade at about $48.52. West Texas Intermediate crude on [...]
China gives green light to latest stock market tie-up August 16, 2016 Investors will soon be able to tap in to China's fledgling tech sector with the latest flagship international stock-market tie up set to be launched later this year. The Chinese premier signalled today the long-awaited Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect had been given the green light by the country's state council, meaning international investors will be able [...]
Four of the best: Investment opportunities from around the globe August 16, 2016 Markets have been turbulent this year and much talk has focused on potential risks. A smattering of uncertainties to consider include the ramifications of the Brexit vote and whether the UK will enter recession. Nor does anyone know how extraordinary monetary policy in Europe will pan out, or the ultimate impact there’ll be from the trillions [...]
Moody’s takes Noble’s rating two notches deeper into junk territory August 15, 2016 Moody’s took commodities trader Noble two notches deeper into junk territory with a negative outlook amid concerns over its liquidity yesterday. It comes after the firm swung to a loss in its second quarter results released last week. Noble has been hit by tumbling commodity prices over the last two years, questions over its accounting [...]
Oil prices hit one-month high as Opec flirts with freeze August 15, 2016 Crude hit a one-month high today, on rising hopes that some of the world's biggest oil producers will help markets which have been drowning in oversupply for the last two years. Brent crude, the global benchmark, swelled 1.66 per cent to $47.75 per barrel on London's ICE Futures Exchange this afternoon, having hit 47.87 earlier in the day. Its US [...]
JP Morgan thinks the Brexit bounce is here to stay August 15, 2016 A leading investment bank expects UK shares to outperform over the rest of the year, as it sees no reason to fear the Brexit bounce is coming to an end. In a particularly bullish note, JP Morgan said today the FTSE 100 is one of the best buys around for investors as the UK is still "cheap" [...]
Sorry, holidaymakers: Sterling hits three-year low against euro August 15, 2016 Sterling has plummeted to a three-year low against the euro today ahead of a big week of post-referendum data. The pound slipped a further 0.5 per cent in the first hours of the week, standing at €1.1517 at lunchtime – its lowest level since August 2013. The €1.15 mark is thought to be a crucial psychological barrier [...]