Heineken cheers strong 2018 as profits fizz February 13, 2019 Dutch brewing giant Heineken has said this morning that it sees no sign of a slowdown in the year ahead, as it forecasted higher profits in the wake of increased demand for more expensive drinks and rising beer prices. The world’s second-largest beer manufacturer's organic operating profit hit €3.8bn (£3.4bn) in 2018, rising 6.4 per [...]
New Lloyd’s boss John Neal apologises for ‘unacceptable’ results as he sets out his vision for the future January 29, 2019 The new chief executive of Lloyd’s of London apologised for the insurance markets’ “unacceptable” performance and unveiled a plan to get it back on track in his first public speech today. John Neal, who joined Lloyd’s four months ago from insurer QBE, took the job against a backdrop of poor results at Lloyd’s which suffered [...]
Diageo looks to key American market as it hopes price hikes will raise spirits January 27, 2019 Drinks giant Diageo will be hoping for a strong performance in the US when it reveals its results later this week, with price hikes expected to boost margins. The British brewer, whose brands include Guinness, Smirnoff and Johnnie Walker, will be eyeing a boost in sales of vodka and whiskey in the crucial North American [...]
Shares in asset manager Ashmore fall amid ‘challenging’ emerging markets January 15, 2019 Assets under management at Ashmore Group edged upwards in the three months to 31 December against “challenging markets”, the asset manager said in a trading update today. The emerging markets specialist saw the value of its funds rise $300m (£235.2m) to an estimated $76.7bn. Read more: Top adviser joins firm aiming to ‘open up’ emerging markets The [...]
Will this be a year for investors to fear? January 9, 2019 A new year always offers the chance of a reset, of evolved thoughts, ideas and insights. Even though many will be pleased to see the back of 2018, numerous investors are beginning this year with new concerns: an oncoming recession. This fear seems suddenly rampant among many of my colleagues in the industry. But these fears [...]
Apple profits warning a red flag on China, but company also to blame January 7, 2019 | City Talk For a while now there’s been an adage in the markets that as long as Apple was doing fine, everyone else would be OK. Therefore, Apple’s rare profits warning is a red flag for market watchers. The question is to what extent this is more Apple-specific, or more macro? Certainly, the shock letter to investors [...]
Apple’s sales warning hits European stocks as it places the blame on China January 3, 2019 Apple sent shockwaves through global markets last night after it issued a second consecutive warning against its sales performance, causing suppliers' stocks, European markets and emerging currencies to spiral. Chief executive Tim Cook cut Apple's quarterly sales target late last night, blaming weak iPhone sales in China and fewer customers upgrading their iPhones in an open [...]
FTSE 100: These are the biggest winners and losers of 2018 January 2, 2019 THE UK market felt the impact of Brexit last year as politicians scrambled to reach a deal on Britain’s fast approaching departure from the European Union. With a vote on Theresa May’s heavily criticised deal not expected until mid-January, and as the government pumps billions into planning for a no-deal Brexit scenario, it seems unlikely [...]
From tech to Trump – here’s what prompted the big market moves of 2018 December 18, 2018 From Brexit to trade wars, nothing has been plain-sailing about 2018. It’s been a year of peaks and troughs across all major markets, so let’s have a look at the big moves of the past 12 months. Tech in turmoil This was the year when the tech giants raced to become the first ever $1 [...]
What might happen in 2019? A second referendum, an economic recession, and the political parties will fall apart December 18, 2018 Anyone posing as Mystic Meg in the current environment of political turmoil would either be very brave or a charlatan. In four months’ time, the UK could still be a member of the EU, or will leave in either a chaotic or an orderly manner; with a radically different or the same government; or still [...]