War, what is it good for? Bull runs on stocks May 20, 2014 THE CHANCE of war this May is a signal to buy stocks, according to a note from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Stocks have historically declined in the run-up to conflicts, but then “rally hard once war commences”. Michael Hartnett, chief investment strategist at BAML, points to World War II stock movements to make his [...]
How the West’s utopians damned Ukraine to Russian dominance April 14, 2014 THERE is little doubt that Ukraine stands perilously on the edge of disaster, if not full invasion, as Russian troops assemble on its borders and pro-Russian activists violently demonstrate in key eastern cities. So why, in response, has the West floundered? There is a critical division between the major western foreign policy schools of thought [...]
Letters to the Editor – 04/03 – Ukraine crisis, Best of Twitter March 3, 2014 Ukraine crisis [Re: Russia’s Ukraine attack is end of Pax Americana, yesterday] A missile defence umbrella would represent a pointless and long-term burden, and is unlikely to restrain future Russian expansionism. The US and Europe are widely regarded as militarily incapable, and the expenditure of lives and money in Iraq and Afghanistan has proven a [...]
There’s a cost to doing nothing in Ukraine March 3, 2014 IN RESPONSE to Russian forces entering the Crimea, the interim Ukrainian government called for UK and US intervention, invoking the undertakings we (and the French, and latterly Nato) gave to protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Yesterday, William Hague went to Kiev to tell the Ukrainians to their faces that we’re not coming – “no military options [...]
Russians hit by US travel ban over Ukraine March 6, 2014 RUSSIAN officials accused of orchestrating the invasion of Ukraine face a US travel ban, are set to have their assets frozen and will be stopped from doing business with American firms, under an order signed by President Obama yesterday. The EU froze ousted President Viktor Yanukovych’s assets in Europe, as well as targeting 18 people [...]
Ukrainian minister accuses Russia of “armed invasion”. Here’s what you need to know February 28, 2014 Armed, unidentified men are blockading Sevastopol’s military airport in Crimea, with interior minister Arsen Avakov accusing Russian naval forces of occupying the Russian-majority region. Writing on Facebook, he called the situation an “invasion and occupation”, adding that no conflict has yet taken place. The Russian navy has denied involvement. Ukraine border guards have said more [...]
Russian firms count the cost of Crimea crisis March 24, 2014 RUSSIAN firms in London have seen their share prices tank and borrowing costs leap since the Ukraine crisis, with the businesses worried their reputations have taken a severe knock. Some Russian stocks trading in the UK have fallen by more than 30 per cent since the start of the year, as turmoil in emerging markets [...]
Market chaos as war fears mount March 3, 2014 World leaders compare Russia’s threat to Ukraine to Soviet era tactics WORLD leaders last night condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, demanding that troops pull out of the country and leave its politicians to organise new elections in peace. The crisis hit home in the City as investors fled shares of firms exposed to Russia and [...]
Referendum for Crimea spurned by G7 countries March 12, 2014 THE G7 nations will not accept the results of any referendum in Crimea, and has told the Russian government to halt its work on the vote, which is set to take place in three days. In a communique yesterday, the leaders from advanced economies said: “Any such referendum would have no legal effect. Given the [...]
This week’s 4 must-see charts March 7, 2014 The Fed’s use of the word “weather”, vulnerable high street profits, gold’s revival, and the economic effects of the Ukraine crisis. We bring you some of our favourite analysts’ picks of the most important graphs this week. David Lebovitz, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management: There has been a lot of discussion of [...]