Gold rush: Central banks turn to precious metal at fastest rate in 50 years to avoid global volatility January 31, 2019 The world’s central banks bought more gold last year than at any point in nearly half a century as emerging countries looked for somewhere to shelter against international tension. Buying rose 74 per cent, making 2018 the second highest year on record just below 1971 when the US abandoned the gold standard. Read more: Gold rises [...]
Italy slips into recession as Eurozone growth disappoints January 31, 2019 Italy slipped into a recession at the end of last year after its economy contracted for a second consecutive quarter. The Italian economy shrank 0.2 per cent in the final three months of 2018, the country’s statistical office Istat said today, following a 0.1 per cent drop the previous quarter. Read more: Eurozone at risk of [...]
Is Tesla still a growth company? January 31, 2019 | City Talk An OK quarter from Tesla, certainly some of the worst immediate fears have not materialised, but the outlook is a little dubious. Back to back quarterly profits – the first time ever and only the fourth positive quarter since listing in 2010 – will get headlines but one must fear that CEO Elon Musk is [...]
Law firm DWF announces intention to float in UK’s largest legal listing January 31, 2019 Law firm DWF yesterday announced its intention to float on the main market of the London Stock Exchange in what would make it by far the largest law firm to go public worldwide. The firm would become just the sixth publicly traded UK law firm, the first to list on the main market and the [...]
Britain has never understood the fervour for the EU project January 31, 2019 What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? It would appear that we are about to find out in the latest instalment of the Brexit soap opera that has been running since we announced our intention to leave in 2016. For no sooner had MPs voted on Tuesday night to back Sir Graham [...]
The UK is trying to leave the European club – in Italy, the club is on fire January 31, 2019 After Tuesday’s parliamentary showdown, all eyes are on Westminster. Don’t be misled, though – the real existential threat to the EU lies in Rome. In the UK, we are debating how to leave the golf club. In Italy, the golf club is likely to be swamped by an approaching tsunami. There may not be a [...]
Shell posts highest earnings in four years as cost cutting pays off January 31, 2019 Shell restated its commitment to the North Sea as it showed its highest profits in four years this morning, boosted by higher oil prices as cost cutting at the British-Dutch oil major bore fruit. “We are quite happy with our position in the UK's North Sea,” chief executive Chief executive Ben van Beurden told reporters in London. [...]
Let it be: London councils should allow offices and shops to be converted into homes January 31, 2019 Amid all the Brexit brouhaha in Westminster it is important that parliamentarians do not forget the many other issues that affect people's day-to-day lives. Bravo, therefore, to MP Chris Philp for reminding Theresa May during yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions that the dream of homeownership remains all too elusive for many young adults – particularly in [...]
German inflation holds steady amid gloomy outlook for 2019 growth January 30, 2019 Inflation in Germany remained flat in January as the eurozone’s largest economy issued a gloomy forecast for 2019 growth. Consumer prices in Germany rose 1.7 per cent year-on-year, holding steady from the rate in December and in line with estimates from economists polled by Reuters. The figures came shortly after the German government cut its [...]
London listings in slowest start since 2010 as Brexit worries dampen market January 30, 2019 London’s IPO market has got off to its slowest start since the financial crisis this year as the looming Brexit date dents investor confidence. London Stock Exchange (LSE) data, shows that in the year to 29 January just £680,000 has been raised in London initial public offerings (IPOs). By 29 January 2018 £40m had been [...]