RBS feels the pain as British Airways’ parent IAG soars on a stolid day for the FTSE 100 February 24, 2017 The FTSE 100 ended the week with less bang, more whimper on Friday as it dipped by 0.38 per cent. London’s main index dipped below 7,200 points briefly before recovering to close at 7,243.70 points. The weaker pound, which fell to lows of $1.2483 US dollars in spot trading in the late afternoon, did little [...]
FTSE reshuffle: Dixons Carphone, Easyjet, Capita and Intu all face relegation February 24, 2017 It's FTSE 100 reshuffle time again next week – and research suggests Dixons Carphone, EasyJet, Capita and Intu Properties could all be in the relegation zone. The Share Centre said potential replacements include the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, whose focus on international investments means it is making the most of a stronger pound, and asset [...]
French elections promise a chaotic two months for investors as money tracks politics February 24, 2017 Fears of French electoral chaos have continued to drive sentiment in Europe in the past week, with volatile movements as investors follow the twists and turns of a tumultuous campaign. Redemptions from French equity funds reached their highest point since before Donald Trump was elected as US President in November during the week to 22 [...]
Gold prices have surged to the highest level since the US Presidential election in November February 24, 2017 Gold has surged today, surpassing $1,250 for the first time since the week of Donald Trump's US election win in November. Prices for the yellow metal jumped to $1,260.40 per ounce, up $9 or 0.72 per cent this morning, while spot gold prices increased to $1,260.19 in the afternoon. The safe haven asset is attracting investors amid fresh uncertainty [...]
Economists want an industrial strategy from the government – but will it solve the productivity puzzle? February 24, 2017 An updated industrial strategy for the UK is long overdue, a poll of prominent economists says, with the process of leaving the EU set to begin in earnest within a month. Two-thirds of the economists’ surveyed, including some of the leading academic economists in Britain, agree that the UK needs a new industrial strategy, according [...]
Star fund manager Neil Woodford: Bank shares are in recovery mode February 24, 2017 Shares in UK-listed banks are on their way to recovery, one of the UK's leading fund managers has said – although he also speculated over the role of regulators. The FT reported this morning that star fund manager Neil Woodford had said UK lenders are "more investable than they've been in a long time", adding [...]
German central bank chief renews efforts to woo British banks – and questions the “sanity” of Brexit negotiations February 24, 2017 “Sanity” will not be the main principle of negotiations over Brexit, according to an influential central banker, as he renewed efforts to woo British-based banks to move to Europe. Andreas Dombret, an executive board member at the German Bundesbank, said political considerations will override economic concerns in a speech delivered in London at the consultancy [...]
What are the biggest obstacles to global economic growth? February 24, 2017 | City Talk Global economic growth is lagging. The question is why. For insight into this, we asked readers of CFA Institute NewsBrief what they believe is the single biggest obstacle to global economic growth. I believe the biggest obstacle to global economic growth is . . . * Results do not add up to 100% due to [...]
Be under no illusions: The National Living Wage will cost jobs February 24, 2017 Imagine that you didn’t know how cold weather and turning on the heat affected the temperature of a room. You’d watch the boiler burn more or less gas, and you’d watch the weather get colder and hotter, but if the thermostat and central heating were working properly there’d be no change in the temperature of [...]
Europe must reinvent itself or markets will tear it apart February 24, 2017 As I sit on an over-crowded train at rush hour for the fourth time this week after a 12 hour shift (I hope my American co-anchor who doesn’t believe in European holidays is reading this), I look around and wonder how many people in the carriage still believe in Europe. On 23 June 2016, 59.9 [...]