Global business confidence slumps to a five-year low: Europe, Japan and key emerging markets November 23, 2014 Global business confidence has slumped to a five-year low due to slow growth in Europe, Japan, and key emerging markets. The Markit global business outlook survey results released today shows business optimism falling sharply in October. However, UK companies were the most upbeat about the year ahead. A sharp downturn in business optimism has been [...]
Emerging markets and cancer drugs help Pfizer top forecasts October 28, 2014 SALES in emerging markets and growing demand for its cancer drugs led US pharmaceutical titan Pfizer to report stronger-than-expected quarterly results yesterday. Earnings for its third quarter rose to $2.67bn (£1.65bn), up from $2.59bn a year earlier. The figure beat analyst expectations, but left shares trading fairly flat yesterday. Revenue fell two per cent to [...]
Diageo sales on the rocks amid weakness in emerging markets October 16, 2014 Diageo suffered a 1.7 per cent fall in first quarter sales, as the slowdown in China, currency weakness, and sanctions against Russia took its toll on the business. The drinks giant behind Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky said yesterday that sales were down 1.5 per cent on an organic basis in the three months [...]
£15 Microsoft phone targets emerging markets August 11, 2014 Microsoft yesterday launched a budget mobile phone that will set buyers back just £15. The Nokia 130 reaffirms the world’s largest software company’s commitment to low-cost products after recently revealing plans to put an end to the Nokia’s existing low-cost handset ranges. The Nokia 130 is supposed to appeal to lower wage workers primarily in [...]
Microsoft launches £15 Nokia 130 with an eye for emerging markets August 11, 2014 Microsoft is offering a new mobile phone that will set the buyer back just £15. The Nokia 130 reaffirms the world's largest software company's commitment to low-cost products after recently revealing plans to put an end to the Nokia X and Asha. The Nokia 130 is supposed to appeal to lower wage workers primarily in [...]
Unilever share price drops on weak emerging markets and food sales growth July 24, 2014 Challenging markets in the first half of the year have seen Unilever sales growth come in soft, despite launching a number of recent product launches. The addition of the Ben & Jerry's Core ice cream range, and innovations in compressed deoderants and oral hygiene ranges haven't been enough to generate the sales growth analysts were [...]
Terry Smith raises £193m for emerging markets trust fund June 24, 2014 CITY fund manager Terry Smith, the outspoken chief executive of Tullett Prebon, yesterday saw his new investment trust raise over £190m. Fundsmith Emerging Equities Trust, which will buy stock in companies based in emerging markets like China and Brazil, raised £192.9m in total. Shares start trading tomorrow. The launch builds on Smith’s other fund, the [...]
The emerging market comeback: Why investors are buying again June 24, 2014 Short-term volatility is likely, but the developing world offers some enticing valuations It’s been a difficult few years for emerging market equity investors. Even before the recent “taper tantrum”, which saw the “fragile five” economies of India, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil and Indonesia hit with enormous capital outflows as the Federal Reserve began to wind [...]
Emerging market slowdown to hit global economy’s prospects May 14, 2014 GROWTH is slowing down in Russia, Asia and South America, economists at the Ifo Institute warned yesterday. The economic climate index slowed from 103.2 in the first quarter to 102.3 in the second quarter, a firm slowdown which brings the outlook closer to its long-term average level of 95.5. Much of the developed world accelerated in [...]
Emerging markets now make up more than half the world economy (and no one noticed) May 8, 2014 Emerging markets now make up more than 50 per cent of the world’s GDP – a fact many missed this week, and Ashmore’s head of research Jan Dehn flags up today. A lot of people paid attention to the fact that China is about to surpass the US as the world’s biggest economy (by [...]