FTSE 100 climb cools as WHO declares Europe new centre of coronavirus pandemic March 13, 2020 The FTSE 100 made a slight recovery following its worst day of trading since 1987 despite the World Health Organisation declaring the Europe as the new centre of the coronavirus pandemic. London’s blue-chip index rose by 2.46 per cent, or 128.63 points, despite having been up almost six per cent in early trading, to finish [...]
This week: GBP / EUR Update March 13, 2020 | City Talk Brexit concerns faded into the background this week as the market focused on the coronavirus pandemic. At the beginning of the week, UK equities opened around 9% below Friday’s closing levels, putting pressure on sterling. The emergency rate cut from the Bank of England midweek had an immediate effect, pushing the pound lower before it [...]
US stocks rebound after Trump travel ban caused worst crash in 33 years March 13, 2020 US stocks rebounded this afternoon after sinking almost 10 per cent yesterday in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s decision to ban European travel to America. The S&P 500, which triggered an automatic 15-minute pause in trading when it sank seven per cent minutes into yesterday’s open, rose 2.96 per cent today. And the Dow Jones [...]
FTSE miners lead recovery as China’s infection rate slows March 13, 2020 FTSE miners led London’s blue-chip index higher today as traders welcomed a lower rate of new coronavirus infections in China. Evraz, BHP, Anglo American, Glencore and Petra Diamonds all posted double-digit gains as the FTSE 100 surged over eight per cent higher following yesterday’s record sell-off. Online trader IG analyst Joshua Mahony linked the jump [...]
Keith Wade: Is the world now heading for recession? March 13, 2020 | City Talk As I returned to the UK last weekend, my taxi driver talked of panic-buying and impending food shortages. Having wondered if I had stepped off at the wrong airport, it subsequently became clear that his thinking was very close to that of the markets. On Monday (9 March), equities sold off and credit spreads widened [...]
Premier Oil defends state of finances amid low oil prices March 13, 2020 Premier Oil has insisted its finances are strong after a major creditor called for it to cancel expensive North Sea oil projects with oil prices perilously low. Premier Oil told investors today it has hedged 30 per cent of its full year gas and oil entitlement production at $60 a barrel. This includes 40 per [...]
Bank of Japan strengthens stimulus as coronavirus threatens to cause recession March 13, 2020 The Bank of Japan has said today it would buy 200bn yen (£1.49bn) of Japanese government bonds with five to ten years maturity. It is an unscheduled move that has come about after the local debt market capitulated as investors rushed for liquidity. Japan’s central bank also said it would inject an extra 1.5 trillion [...]
Italy and Spain ban short selling after record stock sell-off March 13, 2020 Italian and Spanish securities regulators have today implemented a ban on the short selling of more than 100 stocks following record losses yesterday. As a result, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has had to temporarily place a ban on short selling of those stocks on the FTSE. In Spain, the ban affects 69 stocks, including [...]
Coronavirus: Asian stocks volatile as outbreak fears spread March 13, 2020 Asian stocks plunged overnight following the biggest US and London stock market drops in decades as global panic over the spread of coronavirus increased. Japan’s Nikkei is down 6.08 per cent this morning, after dropping as much as 10 per cent overnight. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is down 2.82 per cent, after earlier suffering its [...]
Spending like a drunken sailor does not create a thriving entrepreneurial economy March 13, 2020 “If I announced that Budget, the Tories would be jumping up and down,” shadow chancellor John McDonnell said with a smirk yesterday morning. Indeed, Wednesday’s Budget is the biggest giveaway of taxpayer money since 1992. Borrowing will increase by £125bn. Debt will reach a record high at £2 trillion. There was some good news for [...]