Researchers have found a way to predict future oil prices February 29, 2016 From its sensitivity to shocks in global supply and demand, to outside factors such as the weather, oil prices are notoriously difficult to predict. After all, hardly anyone foresaw the current rout which has wiped around 70 per cent off the value of crude since the middle of 2014. But companies around the world have been forced to [...]
Pound could fall to parity with the euro if Brexit vote gets through, warns UBS, as Deutsche Bank says Brexit would be a “journey down the rabbit hole” for UK economy February 29, 2016 Economic wonks at UBS have calculated the British pound could fall to equal value to the euro, if the UK does decide to quit the European Union in the vote set for 23 June. UBS reckons the chance that the UK will leave the EU stands at around 40 per cent. The latest warning follows [...]
Smaller UK banks and investment firms will not have to abide by EU bonus cap rules – FCA and PRA February 29, 2016 The UK's financial regulators have told their European counterparts they will not be applying the bonus cap to smaller banks and investment companies. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England's prudential regulation authority (PRA) have told the European Banking Authority (EBA) they will not apply the bonus cap to all firms recommended by the [...]
Budget hotelier Travelodge puts £1bn sale plans on hold after record year February 29, 2016 Travelodge has confirmed it has shelved plans for a £1bn sale of the business after hailing record earnings of £100m last year. The budget hotelier has been at the centre of heated bid speculation after its co-owners Goldman Sachs, GoldenTree Asset Management and Avenue Capital, brought in bankers from Deutsche Bank to advise them on [...]
Consumer borrowing growth hits decade-high February 29, 2016 Borrowing on credit cards and through overdrafts is growing at its fastest rate since January 2006, data published today by the Bank of England reveals. The stock of consumer credit reached £179.5bn in January, up 9.1 per cent on the same month last year. Total credit growth in the UK is now at its highest [...]
African gold miner Amara Mining share price jumps on takeover bid from Perseus Mining February 29, 2016 Shares in Aim-listed Amara Mining jumped today, after the African gold miner received a $85m takeover bid from Perseus Mining. There's long been speculation about consolidation in the African gold space as smaller, cash-strapped firms look to benefit from their bigger competitors' stronger balance sheets. The miner's shares jumped as much as 26.8 per cent to 13p per share this [...]
Bunzl reports growth in profit and revenue as it brings business acquisitions total to 22 February 29, 2016 Outsourcer and distribution group Bunzl today reported profit and revenue growth as its acquisition spree spread further. In 2015, the company’s adjusted operating profit was £366.5m, up from £341.8m in 2014. Its total revenue was £6.5bn, up from £6.2bn. The London-based group also revealed it has spent £327m acquiring 22 businesses, including the today's takeover of [...]
HSBC: Gulf Cooperation Council states face $94bn looming debt crunch February 29, 2016 One of the world's biggest banks has warned a $94bn debt crunch is looming over Arab countries. HSBC said that sovereign, financial and corporate borrowers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region must repay or refinance $94bn of bonds and loans in 2016 and 2017, Arabian Business reported. The GCC is an economic and political alliance comprising Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab [...]
Eurozone inflation plummets back below zero after renewed fall in energy prices February 29, 2016 The Eurozone is back in deflation after only four months of positive price growth. Annual inflation in the currency-bloc fell to 0.2 per cent in February, according to an early flash estimate from Eurostat released this morning. It marks a sharp drop from January's 0.3 per cent. Core inflation, which strips out energy, food, alcohol and [...]
London house prices: Demand for luxury new-build apartments will drop this year – and prices won’t recover until 2018 February 29, 2016 Demand for London's luxury new-build apartments has fallen, one of the world's largest property services companies has admitted – and prices won't begin to recover until 2018. JLL said it was cutting its growth forecast for the capital's high-end properties, after economic uncertainty and the chancellor's three per cent stamp duty hike for second home buyers [...]