Whatever happens with Brexit, the battle for Britain’s future requires some ideological firepower March 10, 2019 Margaret Thatcher, together with her great intellectual ally, Keith Joseph, founded the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) in 1974 to promote the principles of a free society and free-market economics. The rather dry and unassuming name of the organisation is at odds with the enduring influence it has had – and continues to have – [...]
US recession risk spikes amid trade war and consumer spending slowdown March 10, 2019 The risk of a recession in the US has shot up thanks in large part to weak consumer demand, a report has warned. The likelihood of a fall in GDP in two successive quarters spiked to 73 per cent from just 24 per cent in December, according to a report from economists at Swiss bank UBS. A [...]
Oil prices drop on the back of slow US job growth March 9, 2019 Oil prices fell by around 1 per cent on Friday on the back of news that US job growth was a lot slower than expected, reigniting concerns that the economy was slowing and that there was a lack of demand for oil. An increase in US oil supply also unsettled the market as Brent crude [...]
US jobs growth flattens, but is the headline the whole story? March 8, 2019 | City Talk US hiring stalled in February, according to the latest non-farm payrolls report. The economy added just 20,000 jobs last month, down from a stellar 311,000 in January, and well below market expectations of 180,000. The market reaction has been swift; the Dow tumbled over 200 points, a 0.9 per cent loss, immediately after the release to [...]
FTSE 100 risers and fallers: Index dips amid fears over global growth March 8, 2019 The FTSE 100 index slipped 0.7 per cent today driven by a plunge in gambling company GVC's shares and poor Chinese export data that has sparked fears over global growth. GVC led the day’s fallers with its share price 13.82 per cent down after dropping as low as 18 per cent earlier in the day after its chief [...]
Norwegian $1 trillion wealth fund to drop oil and gas investments March 8, 2019 Norway’s sovereign wealth fund will drop oil and gas exploration companies from its benchmark index, the country’s finance minister announced today. The move aims to reduce risk to the $1 trillion fund, which is the largest in the world, from a “permanent oil price decline”. Read more: Norwegian wealth fund buys up old Amazon HQ [...]
FOMO Driving Lyft Valuation March 8, 2019 | City Talk Fear of missing out – FOMO – in financial markets is a powerful emotion. It can propel a bull market to record highs as investors watch stocks rise and want a piece of the action. It’s panic buying to a degree. And it’s just such a phenomenon that is behind investor appetite for stocks like [...]
What’s Mike Ashley’s game with Debenhams? March 8, 2019 | City Talk Mike Ashley is consistent in the way he always manages to surprise us. On Thursday night in a post-market RNS the Sports Direct boss announced he was planning a boardroom cull at Debenhams, installing himself as chief executive officer. Only the recently appointed Rachel Osborne would survive the cull. On Tuesday, after Debs warned on [...]
How climate change claimed its first corporate casualty and the lesson for income investors March 8, 2019 | City Talk The last few decades have seen the perception gain ground in markets that a combination of cash generation and state backing makes utility companies pretty much shockproof as income-yielding investments. The fate of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which last week filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, should serve as a stark reminder no [...]
The Democrats have embraced the Trump trend of childish insults and illiterate ideas March 8, 2019 My worse fear has been realised: the 2020 presidential race is upon us. Like many readers, I’m not ready to re-board the political and emotional rollercoaster of 2016. But I cannot deny reality anymore: 2020 is in full-swing. Donald Trump has altered the tone and standards of debate in US politics. Many of his supporters [...]