Markets live: FTSE 100 and US stocks slip on rising Hong Kong tensions May 22, 2020 The FTSE 100 closed in the red and US stocks fell as investors weighed up rising US-China tensions in the wake of Beijing’s move to assert its authority in Hong Kong. The UK’s blue-chip index fell around two per cent this morning but pared some of its losses throughout the day. It finished 0.3 per [...]
Alibaba profit tumbles despite Covid-19 lockdown sales boost May 22, 2020 Alibaba today reported a plunge in profit during the fourth quarter as investment losses offset a surge in ecommerce sales during the coronavirus lockdown. The Chinese tech behemoth reported an 88 per cent decline in net income to 3.2bn yuan (£368m) in the three months to the end of March. The group said the decrease [...]
What are negative interest rates and will the UK turn to them? May 22, 2020 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey this week said he has changed his mind on negative interest rates, saying the BoE is keeping them under “active review”. President Donald Trump has repeatedly made clear that he is a fan of negative rates, and wants the US to have them as it deals with the coronavirus [...]
BP slashes management team in half amid green energy push May 22, 2020 BP is cutting the size of its top management team by more than half as part of new boss Bernard Looney’s plan to make the oil giant a net zero emissions company. The FTSE 100 giant will cut its leadership positions to roughly 120 from 250 with many veteran executives set to leave in the [...]
Facebook shops for customers as e-commerce explodes May 22, 2020 Do you remember when you needed a new item of clothing and headed to the high-street to browse the shops? Perhaps a few try-ons in different places before making your selection? Coronavirus means that’s obviously not possible at the moment, meaning a choice of either waiting until lockdown passes or going online. More and more [...]
Covid-19: the inescapable truths faced by investors May 22, 2020 Investors will need to be more agile than ever as Covid-19 reinforces many of the trends driving the world economy prior to the outbreak. “At the beginning of the plague, when there was now no more hope but that the whole city would be visited; when all that had friends or estates in the country [...]
Why’s everyone talking about Italy (again)? May 22, 2020 Italy went into this crisis in a more precarious situation than most. Here Senior European Economist and Strategist Azad Zangana explains why. This is going to be the deepest recession for the eurozone economy in modern times. Just as Italy has been one of the hardest hit nations in the Covid-19 crisis, there are fears [...]
Downing Street says China must respect Hong Kong’s autonomy May 22, 2020 Britain expects China to respect the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong and is committed to ensuring its autonomy, Downing Street has said Beijing has proposed new national security laws which critics argue will erode freedoms and tighten China’s grip over the financial hub. “We are monitoring the situation closely and expect China to respect [...]
Marston’s and Carlsberg to unite brewing operations in £780m joint venture May 22, 2020 UK pub chain Marston’s share price skyrocketed today as it announced a plan to merge its brewing business with Carlsberg’s UK division in a £780m deal. The joint venture will value Marton’s Brewing Business at up to £580m and Carlsberg’s at £200m. But despite Marston’s superior valuation, the pub chain will only own 40 per [...]
UK coronavirus death toll rises by 351 May 22, 2020 A further 351 people have died from coronavirus in the UK, taking the total to 36,393. As of 9am today, more than 2.1m people have been tested, of whom 254,195 tested positive, according to the latest official figures. The number is slightly higher than yesterday, when 338 new deaths were recorded. However, it continues the [...]
