Brexit fears see job creation fall to 29-month low January 4, 2019 Brexit uncertainty weighed on the UK’s services sector at the end of 2018 as it marked the close of the year with some of its weakest growth in recent times, while job creation fell to a 29-month low. The services sector posted a 51.2 score for December in the closely-followed IHS Markit/CIPS services purchasing managers’ [...]
Do not succumb to the ‘Fat Cat Friday’ outrage January 3, 2019 As if Greggs’ vegan sausage rolls hadn’t prompted enough misplaced shock and outrage for the start of a new year, you can expect more of the same this morning when campaigners declare it to be “Fat Cat Friday”. The High Pay Centre, which opposes current levels of executive remuneration, calculates that by this afternoon a [...]
US stocks tumble as Apple slump and trade war fears trigger market rout January 3, 2019 A fresh wave of paranoia has spread across Wall Street triggered by Apple’s slump and mounting fears of an global economic slowdown. Sentiment worsened as US manufacturing activity slowed to a two-year low after a sharp drop in new orders in December, helping knock more than 550 points off the Dow Jones during an unforgiving [...]
Oil price volatility driven by supply curbs and worries about economic contraction January 3, 2019 Oil prices were changeable today as evidence that production had dropped was counterbalanced by fears of an econonomic contraction that could hit demand. A survey from Reuters showed oil supply had its largest month-on-month drop since January 2017 in December. The 15 countries that make up the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) pumped [...]
Wall Street shares plummet after Apple warning over China slowdown January 3, 2019 Wall Street shares have plummeted in response to Apple’s warning over a slowdown in China. All three major US indices tumbled on opening as Apple’s nine per cent fall caused another painful day for investors. The tech giant said lower demand for its products in China and the country’s economic deceleration were to blame for [...]
Luxury retailers hit by Apple warning over Chinese slowdown January 3, 2019 Shares in luxury retailers have plunged after Apple blamed a Chinese economic slowdown for its worse than expected sales performance. The tech giant said lower demand for its products in China and the country’s economic deceleration were to blame for its second revenue warning last night. Luxury retailers have subsequently suffered as analysts said investors [...]
Eurozone bank lending rate quickens despite growth concerns January 3, 2019 Bank lending to eurozone households and companies accelerated in November despite signs the bloc’s economy is slowing, the European Central Bank said. Corporate loans grew four per cent year-on-year in November, compared with 3.9 per cent the previous month and loans to households grew to 3.3 per cent from 3.2 per cent in October – [...]
UK construction sector slows to three-month low January 3, 2019 Growth in the UK construction sector eased to its slowest rate in three months in December but business optimism has sharply risen. Construction firms noted a disappointing end to 2018 with business activity growth slowing down, according to the closely-followed IHS Markit/ CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) figures. PMI fell to 52.8, down from 53.4 [...]
DNO extends Faroe hostile takeover offer amid valuation spat January 3, 2019 Norwegian oil firm DNO has extended its cash offer for Faroe Petroleum amid a bitter dispute over the company’s valuation. DNO will extend its offer of 152p per share after Faroe yesterday resisted the hostile bid, which it said “substantially undervalues” the business. The company today increased its holding in Faroe to 30 per cent, [...]
From Brexit to tariffs, brace yourself for an uncertain 2019 January 3, 2019 Get ready for a 2019 full of uncertainty. On the political scene, headline events range from Brexit to the US-China trade tensions to EU reforms – all coming at a vulnerable stage in the business cycle, with half of US chief financial officers expecting a recession in 2019, and over 80 per cent by 2020. [...]