Eurozone PMI reaches four-month high in June but coronavirus still weighs on activity July 3, 2020 The eurozone economic downturn has slowed for the second successive month, but the pandemic continues to weigh on wider economic activity. IHS Markit’s Eurozone purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 48.5, up nearly 17 points from May’s 31.9. It is the index’s best level in fourth months and is higher than the earlier flash reading [...]
Chinese services sector grew at fastest pace in a decade in June July 3, 2020 China’s services sector expanded at the fastest pace in over a decade in June as the easing of lockdown measures revived consumer demand, although companies continued to cut jobs. The Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 58.4 — the highest reading since April 2010 and up from May’s 55. Any figure over 50 [...]
CMC Markets forecasts strong 2021 earnings on robust trading July 3, 2020 Online trading platform CMC Markets has predicted 2021 earnings to exceed the upper end of market consensus, as client trading remains strong through the pandemic. CMC has had a strong year so far as the coronavirus selloff in March helped bolster its income by 93 per cent to £252m in the first quarter. “In first [...]
Asian stocks climb to four-month high on US jobs data July 3, 2020 Asian stocks rallied to a four-month high today on robust US payrolls data and a brisk pickup in Chinese service sector activity but a surge in coronavirus cases in the US kept a lid on further risk-taking. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.5%, reaching their highest level since late February, [...]
Young people face economic ‘scarring’ from Covid, says top think tank July 3, 2020 The coronavirus recession has dealt a double blow to young people in the UK, who are more likely to have lost their jobs amid the lockdown and now face bleak career prospects, a leading think tank has warned. New research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) today said the carnage in the hospitality and [...]
FTSE bosses: Businesses ready to kickstart UK recovery July 3, 2020 This weekend the UK economy takes a few more important steps towards reopening and rebuilding. And in spite of the human toll the coronavirus has had, so far the public are strikingly optimistic about the future. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, two-thirds of people believe the pandemic will result in improvements in how we [...]
Covid Recovery Commission: FTSE 100 bosses unite to set UK economy back on track July 3, 2020 Some of the biggest names in UK business have teamed up to create a pressure group to ensure the economy emerges from coronavirus “stronger and fairer”, its members announced today. The group will be called the Covid Recovery Commission, and will involve the chairs of FTSE 100 powerhouses Tesco and Shell and the chief executives [...]
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds to renew calls for July budget July 2, 2020 Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds will renew calls tomorrow for a July “back to work budget” in her first major set piece speech since being appointed to the role. She will urge chancellor Rishi Sunak to “recognise the scale of the challenge we face” and pledge a summer budget that focuses on “jobs, jobs, jobs”. Dodds, [...]
Nasdaq hits all-time high after data shows record jobs growth in US July 2, 2020 Wall Street surged on Thursday, with the Nasdaq hitting an all-time high as strong US jobs data and renewed hopes of a coronavirus vaccine buoyed equities. The FTSE 100 also rose on optimism over a possible vaccine, ending the session 1.34 per cent up. The midcap FTSE 250 added 1.04 per cent. Read more: Primark [...]
Singapore watchdog raises concerns over LSE’s $27bn Refinitiv deal July 2, 2020 Singapore’s competition authority has raised concerns about the London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) proposed $27bn (£21.6bn) acquisition of financial data provider Refinitiv. In an initial review, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) cited concerns about the provision of foreign exchange benchmarks by the merged entity, saying it would need to conduct a second phase [...]