Intu shares plunge after it cans £1bn emergency cash call March 4, 2020 Shopping centre-owner Intu has cancelled an emergency fundraising after it was unable to persuade enough shareholders to put money into its business. Its shares crashed 38 per cent this morning to 6p following the announcement, before recovering to 9p – down 15 per cent on last night’s close. The company last month said it was [...]
Wizz Air cancels Italian flights as airline warns demand could drop 10 per cent on coronavirus fears March 4, 2020 Budget airline Wizz Air has warned that it could cut capacity by as much as 10 per cent from next month as fears over the coronavirus impact hit passenger demand. The Hungarian carrier said that due to the impact on European air travel, it had adjusted its flight schedule to Italian destinations between 11 March [...]
Sirius stock surges after Anglo American takeover approved March 4, 2020 Shares in embattled Sirius Minerals surged as markets opened after shareholders approved a controversial £405m takeover by mining giant Anglo American. Within minutes of the FTSE opening, Sirius’ stock had risen over 17 per cent as investors rushed to buy stock in the firm, which was rescued from potentially having to close its potash mine [...]
No longer Biden his time: Joe Biden delivers Super Tuesday sweep March 4, 2020 Joe Biden emerged from the shadows to win the votes of nine states in the race to become the Democrats’ US presidential candidate on Super Tuesday. The former vice-president’s campaign was in the doldrums just last week, but he posted victories in Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, Arkansas and Oklahoma last night. Wins in [...]
Legal & General boosts operating profit to £2.1bn March 4, 2020 Insurance giant Legal & General (L&G) today said it had increased operating profit 12 per cent to £2.1bn, up from £1.9bn the previous year. The company said operating profit from continuing divisions in 2019 was up 17 percent to £3.5bn, compared to £2.1bn the previous year. Earnings per share increased 16 per cent to 28.6, [...]
Asian stocks mixed after Fed rate cut fails to lift Wall Street March 4, 2020 Asian stocks posted a mixed day of trading overnight after Wall Street dropped in dramatic fashion despite an interest rate cut intended to give the economy a break from the coronavirus fallout. Japan’s Nikkei eked out a 0.08 per cent rise today but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 0.12 per cent over the course [...]
How to select a quality investment manager – or at least a decent one March 4, 2020 Humans are bad investors. Unfortunately, they think they are great at it. So how can you protect yourself from yourself? Here are your need-to-knows in finding an investment manager who might help. You are a bad investor If you have money, you were probably successful. Congratulations. That does not make you a good investor. Research [...]
Budget 2020: What is on the pensions industry’s wish list? March 4, 2020 As Rishi Sunak, the new chancellor, prepares for his first Budget next week, the pensions industry will be watching what happens with eagle eyes. Reports have circulated that the government, emboldened by its landslide General Election win last year, could bring in sweeping changes to how some people save for retirement. Some predict that Sunak [...]
The world’s biggest economy is scared March 4, 2020 The final weeks of 2019 saw the traditional flurry of analysts and market commentators raising the prospect of so-called black swan events in 2020. Looking back through these notes today, one is confronted with a range of nightmare scenarios ranging from military conflict in the South China Sea to the collapse of a major investment bank [...]
From Yes We Can to Feel The Bern — American politics is a masterclass in messaging March 4, 2020 US politics is a fascinating watch, especially if you’re interested in branding, communications, and the successes and failures of connecting with audiences. And for those that follow it through this lens, right now is prime-time viewing. As Democrats vote on their candidate to take on Donald Trump in November, the political battlegrounds in the US [...]
