Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open May 18, 2016 Japan avoids a recession and the oil price could be about to climb over $50 per barrel for the first time this year. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. Markets look flat before the open. S&P futures are dead-centre, not even a point off. The Nasdaq is down by 0.01 [...]
Antofagasta warns copper prices will remain low for at least two years May 18, 2016 Chilean copper miner Antofagasta has said it expects copper prices to remain low for the next two to three years. Speaking at Antofagasta's annual general meeting today, chairman Jean-Paul Luksic said: "As we look forward we are not counting on an improved macroeconomic environment although we have recently seen some positive signals to this effect. We are expecting another [...]
The Bank of England’s agents’ summary on Brexit, housing and the living wage May 18, 2016 The economic slowdown is set to continue right up until the EU referendum, the Bank of England's latest agents' summary has revealed. The Bank's sprawling network of so-called agents are Threadneedle's streets eyes and ears on the ground of the real economy. They monitor local conditions, talk to businesses, and assess the general state of the nation, [...]
Pound soars against the dollar as Remain takes 18-point lead in new opinion poll May 18, 2016 The pound has shot up against the dollar after a new opinion poll showed the Remain side could be soaring ahead as the EU referendum campaign enters its final five weeks. In a new Ipsos Mori poll for the Evening Standard, released this afternoon, 55 per cent of voters said they were in favour of staying in [...]
Oil prices ease off 2016 highs May 18, 2016 Oil prices eased off 2016 highs, as rising supplies softened concerns about production disruptions in Nigeria and Canada. Brent crude, the global benchmark, slumped 0.1 per cent to $49.2 per barrel today. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude, the US benchmark, was flat at $48.3. Read more: Shell latest oil major to be embroiled in row over exec pay [...]
Now Markit’s household finance index comes in at a two-year low as families batten down the hatches May 18, 2016 Families are feeling a pinch in their pockets as the latest crucial indicator of consumer confidence falls to a two-year low. The Markit household finances index, which tracks disposable incomes and optimism among UK households crashed to 42.3 – on an index where scores below 50 indicate pessimism – from a score of 45.1 last month. "The reading pointed to a substantial deterioration in [...]
Shell latest oil major to be embroiled in row over exec pay May 18, 2016 Royal Dutch Shell became the latest oil major to become embroiled in a row over executive pay, after BP shareholders rejected chief executive Bob Dudley's pay deal. Two investor advisory firms have recommended Shell shareholders oppose chief executive Ben van Beurden's 2015 remuneration. While his pay is due to fall eight per cent to €5.1bn (£4m) compared to a year [...]
Employment reached a new record high, but economists still aren’t happy May 18, 2016 Employment jumped to a new record high in the first quarter of the year as wage growth held steady, though economists warned that Britain's jobs recovery is still losing steam. The total number of people with a job jumped to 31.6m – an employment rate of 74.2 per cent – in figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) [...]
Goldman Sachs upgrades commodities to neutral as it cuts outlook for equities May 18, 2016 Uber bear Goldman Sachs is feeling slightly better about commodities, but the brighter outlook didn't extend to equities. The investment bank upgraded commodities to neutral on a three-month basis, saying supply disruptions should support oil prices. At the same time, growth and valuation concerns led it to downgrade equities to neutral over a 12-month horizon. Read more: Commodity [...]
Former EU adviser says refugee crisis could boost growth and wages in ailing European economies May 18, 2016 The refugee crisis has sparked widespread political strife throughout Europe, with governments struggling to agree on how to manage the influx. But now a former economic adviser to Jose Manuel Barroso says that the wave of migration could provide a €127bn (£99bn) shot in the arm to the continent’s economy. With 1.3m refugees expected to arrive [...]