After the Nvidelity comes the Huangover. Jensen Huang joins long list who confused boardroom and bedroom
Japan’s economy shrinks at fastest rate in five years February 17, 2020 Japan and Singapore teetered on the brink of recession today after a poor end to 2019 was compounded by the coronavirus threat to the countries’ tourism industries and supply chains. Japan’s economy shrank at its fastest rate in five years at the end of 2019, it was revealed today. GDP fell 6.3 per cent in [...]
DEBATE: Does it make sense to run the Treasury out of Number 10? February 17, 2020 Does it make sense to run the Treasury out of Number 10? Will Tanner, director of Onward, says YES. Boris Johnson is not the first resident of Number 10 to want a closer hold on Number 11. Pitt the Younger, Peel, Disraeli, Gladstone and Baldwin all served as chancellor and Prime Minister concurrently. The two [...]
Consumer credit forecast to grow at lowest rate for six years in 2020 February 17, 2020 Consumer credit is forecast to grow at its lowest rate in six years in 2020, despite a post-election pick-up in consumer confidence. The EY Item Club predicted consumer credit growth of 3.2 per cent this year. Although lending rose slightly at the end of 2019, signalling a post-election increase in demand, the annual forecast remains [...]
Global dividend payouts hit $1.43 trillion last year February 17, 2020 Global dividends rose to a record $1.43 trillion (£1.1 trillion) in 2019, research published today showed. Dividends rose 3.5 per cent on a headline basis, according to asset manager Janus Henderson’s global dividend index. Underlying growth, adjusting for the strong US dollar and unusually high special dividends, was 5.4 per cent, driven by North America, [...]
US private equity snaps up UK companies on the cheap February 17, 2020 The total value of acquisitions of UK companies by US private equity funds jumped 53 per cent last year to £19.9bn. According to a report by law firm Mayer Brown, the depressed valuations of UK companies versus their European peers has made them look to be good value for funds. The period of Brexit uncertainty, [...]
Anglo takeover becomes Sirius’ last hope as alternative falls through February 14, 2020 Embattled UK miner Sirius Minerals said today that it had dropped an alternative funding scheme to its takeover by Anglo American as it was unviable. Last week the firm, which is seeking funds to develop the North Yorkshire polyphalite project, the UK’s largest mine in a generation, said it was exploring potential financing of €680m [...]
GBP/EUR Update – Cabinet Reshuffle February 14, 2020 | City Talk Reports over the weekend of tensions rising between the UK and the EU over trade negotiations meant that the pound got off to a shaky start this week. Despite this, sterling did make some gains later in the day, reflecting investors’ optimism that a suitable deal will be reached, despite reports that the EU may [...]
Now Mark Carney sees a silver lining to Brexit February 14, 2020 Mark Carney has said there may be a silver lining to Brexit for the UK economy. Speaking to Reuters, the outgoing Bank of England governor said there are some potential upsides for the economy from Brexit, in marked contrast to some of his previous comments on the decision to leave the EU. “In an environment [...]
Water industry hits back at Ofwat over price determinations February 14, 2020 Two more water companies have referred Ofwat to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today over its five-year financial plan for the sector, after Yorkshire Water did so on Monday. Both Anglian and Northumbrian Water have referred the regulator’s price determinations, with the latter claiming that the plan runs “contrary to the long term best [...]
EDF smashes expectations as renewables arm goes from strength to strength February 14, 2020 EDF Energy smashed analyst expectations today as the French utilities giant enjoyed a strong performance from its renewable energy business. The figures The firm’s profit for 2019 was €5.2bn (£4.3bn), almost five times larger than the €1.1bn it posted in 2018. Analysts had predicted a profit of €3bn. Revenue rose four per cent to €71.3bn, [...]