Investors should stick with China despite turbulence on the CSI300, Shenzhen composite index and Shanghai composite index January 4, 2016 Markets have started 2016 firmly in the red, suffering knock on effects of a seven per cent fall in the Chinese stock market. But this early capitulation has more to do with bans of share sales and short selling than the weaker manufacturing data. Perhaps the bigger question of late is "should investors avoid emerging [...]
Eurozone manufacturing grows at fastest pace for over a year January 4, 2016 Manufacturing in the Eurozone is growing at its fastest pace since April 2014, with Italy posting its highest growth rate in nearly five years. Markit's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) – compiled from a survey of businesses – rose to a score 53.2 in December from 52.8 in November. It also slightly above an earlier "flash" estimate of 53.1. Figures above [...]
Strong mortgage market takes total UK lending growth to seven-year high January 4, 2016 Mortgage lending is climbing at its fastest pace since 2009 with total UK lending now growing at its fastest rate for seven years. Total mortgage lending in the UK climbed by £3.9bn in November, up 2.5 per cent on November 2014, according to figures released by the Bank of England this morning. “Lenders’ appetite for new [...]
RSA Insurance Group share price drops as it completes on sale of Italy business January 4, 2016 RSA Insurance Group revealed today that it had completed the sale of its business in Italy. RSA sold its Italian business to ITAS Mutua, which is headquartered in Italy and provides 1.2m policies, after receiving regulatory approval. The firm's share price tumbled after the news was announced, dropping 3.4 per cent to 412p shortly after the [...]
UK manufacturing growth falls to three-month low January 4, 2016 The UK's manufacturing sector suffered a slow end to the year, according to business survey figures published this morning. Markit's purchasing managers' index dropped to a score of 51.9 in December from 52.5 the month before. Scores above 50 imply the sector grew over the month, with December's lower figure implying slower growth. It was also the [...]
UK house prices: There are now 10 buyers for each property on the market – with first-time buyers hit hardest January 4, 2016 Thinking of putting your house on the market this year? Now's the time to do it, after new figures suggested there are now 10 prospective buyers for each property on the market. The National Association of Estate Agents' (NAEA) November Housing Market Report showed the number of house-hunters grew 20 per cent in during the [...]
CSI300, Shenzhen composite index and Shanghai composite index: The full scale of China’s stock market carnage January 4, 2016 Chinese stocks kicked off the new year dispiritingly, after trading was suspended on its blue-chip CSI300, which suffered its worst day in nine years. The CSI300 crashed down seven per cent, and triggered the so-called "circuit breaker" suspension mechanism. The measure, which was introduced to curb volatility in the wake of Black Monday, was used for the first time today. [...]
How do you pick a career? Fear is a key motivator for a quarter of UK workers, but at least we’re tackling it face on January 4, 2016 It's not childhood dreams or passion for a particular subject that motivates many people to pick their career path. Research from jobs website CV-Library has found that just over a quarter (26 per cent) of UK workers choose their job because they were trying to avoid certain workplace fears. In the survey of more than [...]
UK Oil and Gas receives consent to flow test at a well in Horse Hill January 4, 2016 "Gatwick Gusher" UK Oil and Gas (Ukog) today announced that the UK's Oil and Gas Authority has granted consent for an extended flow test over three separate zones at a well in the Horse Hill site. The Horse Hill 1 discovery well, drilled at the end of last year, is located on the northern side of the Weald Basin [...]
Chinese trading suspended after benchmark CSI300 plummets January 4, 2016 Trading on China's stock market was suspended today, in the wake of a sell-off sparked by a survey showing Chinese manufacturing activity contracted for a 10th consecutive month in December. China's blue-chip CSI300 suffered its worst day in nine years, tumbling around seven per cent to just 3,469.07 points. Officials subsequently halted trading for the rest of the day [...]