Coronavirus: FTSE 100 loses £144bn after worst day since 2008 March 9, 2020 The FTSE 100 has had £144bn wiped off its value today as it closed below 6,000 points and suffered its biggest intraday fall since 2008. The coronavirus outbreak and plunging oil prices dragged the index down as much as 8.7 per cent to just 5,899 points as it opened following a weekend of coronavirus turmoil. [...]
Coronavirus: FTSE 100 falls lower amid investor concerns about global growth March 5, 2020 The FTSE 100 tumbled after the open as investor sentiment was dampened by concerns over global economic growth being hampered by the coronavirus epidemic. Britain’s blue-chip index opened slightly up, but soon reversed gains and fell as much as 1.31 per cent in morning trading. The FTSE 250 slipped as much as 1.10 per cent. [...]
FTSE 100 rises as investors weigh coronavirus stimulus measures March 4, 2020 The FTSE 100 rose for a third consecutive day this morning, as traders in London weighed up the economic impact of coronavirus and digested news of yesterday’s emergency rate cut by the US Federal Reserve. The blue-chip index got off to a jittery start, opening slightly higher before dropping into the red, but then recovered [...]
Higher iron ore prices boost BHP, but profit still misses expectations February 18, 2020 BHP has reported stronger half-year profit on the back of robust iron ore prices but warned of the threat of the coronavirus outbreak for 2020. The mining giant’s underlying profit jumped 39 per cent to $5.2bn (£3.9bn) for the six months to the end of December, its best profit figure in five years. However, profit [...]
Global dividend payouts hit $1.43 trillion last year February 17, 2020 Global dividends rose to a record $1.43 trillion (£1.1 trillion) in 2019, research published today showed. Dividends rose 3.5 per cent on a headline basis, according to asset manager Janus Henderson’s global dividend index. Underlying growth, adjusting for the strong US dollar and unusually high special dividends, was 5.4 per cent, driven by North America, [...]
Prudential appoints former government minister Baroness Vadera as new chair January 30, 2020 Insurer Prudential said today it had appointed former banker and government minister baroness Shriti Vadera to chair its business. Vadera will join from Santander UK where she is chair. She is also senior independent director of mining giant BHP Group. Vadera was a UK government minister between 2007 and 2009, working on issues such as [...]
FTSE 100 slumps on increased coronavirus fears January 23, 2020 The FTSE 100 fell after the open this morning, taking its cue from its Asian peers, which slumped amid growing concerns over the spread of the new flu-like coronavirus from China. Britain’s blue chip index opened down, and was trading 0.49 per cent down by 8.30am, with miners and oil majors weighing on the index. [...]
Anglo American boosts production despite copper slump January 23, 2020 Mining giant Anglo American shook at water shortages at its copper mine in Chile to post a four per cent increase in production in the fourth quarter. Output from the Los Bronces mine slumped 28 per cent, which pulled the group’s overall coper production down around 13 per cent. However, strong performance of 6.2m tonnes [...]
BHP’s coal production slips due to Australian bushfires but guidance remains unchanged January 21, 2020 The ongoing bushfires in Australia knocked BHP’s production of thermal coal, the world’s largest miner announced today, but its 2020 guidance remains in line with forecasts. Mike Henry described his first set of results since taking over as chief executive from Andrew Mackenzie as “solid”, despite concerns about the situation in the company’s home country, [...]
Why more and more fund managers are turning to shareholder activism January 6, 2020 According to Greta Thunberg, “the danger is when politicians and CEOs are making it look like real action is happening, when in fact almost nothing is being done.” She may find some unlikely bedfellows in the Square Mile. Active fund managers have endured a torrid time of late. The Woodford saga and M&G’s decision to [...]