China’s growth boom could be threatened by debt levels says Fitch Ratings January 23, 2017 China’s massive levels of debt will cause an economic slowdown over the next two years, according to an influential ratings agency. The pursuit of “policy settings that prioritise short-term growth targets” could leave the world’s second-largest economy vulnerable to a slowdown next year, according to Fitch. The agency predicts growth will slow to 6.4 per cent [...]
European consumers keep on ignoring politics as confidence improves for fifth month in a row January 23, 2017 Consumers in the Eurozone continue to ignore the looming political risks in the bloc, with confidence improving for the fifth month in a row. The European Commission’s measure of consumer confidence rose to a negative score of 4.9. The broader EU measure was slightly higher, at minus 4.3 points. While the confidence measure is negative, [...]
Here’s what UK tech thinks of Theresa May’s modern industrial strategy January 23, 2017 The UK's tech industry has tentatively welcomed promises by Theresa May to put the sector at the heart of Britain's modern industrial strategy, with funding promised for top artificial intelligence, robotics, 5G and smart energy technologies. “In today’s economy, the tech sector is driving innovation and boosting productivity across all industries. In tomorrow’s economy, every sector [...]
Gold hits a two-month high following Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday January 23, 2017 Gold rallied to hit a two-month high this morning as the dollar faltered following US President Donald Trump's inauguration Friday evening. Gold, which is seen as a safe haven asset, reached as high as $1,218 as uncertainty surrounding Trump's economic policies continued. However, the yellow metal has fallen short of breaking $1,220 for the second time in a week now, [...]
Startup taking the hassle out of mortgages, Habito, has landed millions in new funding January 23, 2017 A property technology startup which helps find homebuyers the best deal on their mortgage online via a chatbot has raised a new multi-million pound round of funding to support its growth, City A.M can exclusively reveal. Habito, already backed by seed capital from the entrepreneurs behind Transferwise and Funding Circle, has landed a further £5.5m of cash led by [...]
Tullett Prebon and Singapore Exchange team up to launch LNG spot index for Dubai, Kuwait and India January 23, 2017 Interdealer broker Tullett Prebon has teamed up with Singapore Exchange (SGX) to develop a spot pricing index for the Middle East and Indian liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets. Due to be launched in the second quarter of this year, the new index is expected to provide a reference price for LNG delivery to key ports in Dubai, Kuwait and India [...]
Brace for “hard rebalancing” of UK economy in 2017 January 23, 2017 The fall in the pound will result in a “significant readjustment” of the UK economy away from consumer spending and towards exports, regardless of the results of the Brexit negotiations. Economists at Ernest & Young says UK exports will increase by as much as 3.3 per cent this year, and 5.2 per cent in 2018, [...]
The clock is ticking on Spotify’s IPO January 22, 2017 The clock is ticking for Europe's most highly anticipated IPO as it creeps towards a crucial date in the financial calendar of the company. Spotify, the region's most highly funded tech startup, is approaching the deadline of a $1bn debt financing deal inked last year that will see the costs increase and a share of the compnay given [...]
ECB president Mario Draghi is under investigation over allegations he played a part in an elite group of global bankers January 20, 2017 European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi is set to come under investigation by an EU body after a complaint over his membership of an elite group of bankers from around the world, including JP Morgan, UBS and Credit Suisse. The European Ombudsman, which follows up complaints by EU citizens over maladministration, will investigate whether [...]
US dollar edges up as commenter in chief Donald Trump prepares for office January 20, 2017 The US dollar has rallied ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump, contributing to weakness in sterling and the euro. Bond yields on US Treasuries also rose. The dollar index against a basket of other currencies rose as much as 0.6 per cent from its low point at the start of European trading. The pound [...]