How do retail investors feel about returns from sustainable investing? November 1, 2021 We have all heard the story: sustainable funds are in high demand. By the middle of 2021, their assets had reached an unprecedented $2.3 trillion, mainly driven by continued growth in the European fund market (Source: Reuters). Net sales in the first half of 2021 had already overtaken those in 2020, which in turn were more [...]
Which stock markets look cheap? November 1, 2021 The last time I wrote an update of stock market valuations was back in January. A great deal has happened in the world since then, but from a valuations standpoint, precious little has changed. Nothing is cheap. And the markets which were most expensive in January are still the most expensive. And those which were relatively [...]
COP26: Meaningful action or a load of hot air? November 1, 2021 City of London Corporation policy chair Catherine McGuinness urged on Friday that we must “ensure that COP26 is about action, not just ‘blah blah blah’,” if we are to finance the transition to net zero and meet the challenge Greta Thunberg has thrown down to us. Her call for meaningful action follows the UN’s weather [...]
How’s vaccine inequality driving up global inflation? October 27, 2021 As the more highly vaccinated countries roll out Covid booster shots, other parts of the world are still struggling to get their first jab. The vaccine divide is more apparent in the emerging markets (EM). World organisations have voiced their concerns over “vaccine nationalism” whereby vaccine-exporting countries prioritise supply first for their own populations before [...]
Bitcoin price holds over $60k as S&P 500 climbs October 25, 2021 Bitcoin continues to hover at just below its all-time high after last week’s brief foray into the uncharted territory of $67k.
The Week Ahead: Markets set for flurry of big bank earnings, ahead of the Budget October 25, 2021 It was contrasting week for US and European markets last week, with the Dow and S&P500 once again setting the pace with more record highs, while European stocks lagged behind, finishing the week lower, despite a valiant attempt to recoup their losses from an early week sell-off. The recovery in the latter part of the [...]
UK banks’ earnings season is tough one to call October 20, 2021 Wall Street’s biggest banks have reaped the rewards of a booming deal environment, the release of loan loss reserves and swelling deposits. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and JPMorgan all flexed their muscles as they kicked off US earnings season last week. Now, it is the turn of their British pretenders, starting tomorrow with the [...]
Ericsson to make further reductions in China after Q3 results October 20, 2021 The Swedish telecommunications company plans to reduce its operations in China after suffering a fall in sales post Huawei ban, as well as ongoing supply chain disruptions.
UK trade bodies rebel against ‘cartel-like’ shipping costs October 19, 2021 Make UK, the trade body representing UK manufacturers, has called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to open an investigation into the shipping sector’s “cartel-like practices” when it comes to the increase in prices. Writing a letter to the CMA alongside the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), Make UK has said that the “increase [...]
Weakening Chinese economy weighs on London markets October 18, 2021 A weakening Chinese economy weighed on London markets this morning as investor sentiment soured on concerns the global supply chain crisis will last longer than expected. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 edged down 0.12 per cent to 7,226.20 points during the opening session. China’s economy was dragged down by energy shortages, soaring commodity prices and [...]