Asian shares lose grip of winning streak on Fed meeting June 11, 2020 Asian shares failed to hold on to their 10-day winning streak today, swinging lower after a glum economic outlook from the US Federal Reserve fuelled fears that it would have to provide further support to an already record high level of stimulus. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 1.1 per cent, marking [...]
Mike Pompeo slams HSBC for ‘corporate kowtow’ to China June 10, 2020 US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has criticised HSBC for backing China’s moves to limit Hong Kong’s autonomy, accusing the British bank of a “corporate kowtow” to Beijing. Pompeo said the US stood ready to help Britain with alternatives after Beijing reportedly threatened to punish HSBC and break commitments to build nuclear power plants in [...]
French government presents €15bn aid package to save aviation sector June 9, 2020 The French government has this morning unveiled a €15bn (£13.3bn) plan to save its aerospace industry, saying that 100,000 jobs are at risk due to the coronavirus crisis. The rescue package, which includes pre-announced measures such as a €7bn loan to flag carrier Air France, comes amid the worst aviation downturn in history. New measures [...]
World shares rise as shock US jobs increase spurs recovery hopes June 8, 2020 World share prices edged higher on Monday after a surprise recovery in US employment provided optimism that economies could quickly recover after lockdown. Oil prices erased earlier gains to stand almost flat after OPEC and its allies, including Russia, agreed to extend record oil production cuts until the end of July. U.S. S&P 500 futures [...]
HSBC warns of reprisals in China if UK bans Huawei equipment June 7, 2020 HSBC has reportedly warned Downing Street against a ban on Huawei in 5G telecoms networks, in a further escalation of tensions between Britain and China. The bank’s chairman Mark Tucker made private representations to the Prime Minister’s advisers, according to the Sunday Telegraph. HSBC reportedly claimed it could face reprisals in China if Huawei was [...]
WTO deputy director says crisis could lead to greater trade liberalisation June 5, 2020 One of the heads of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has said the coronavirus crisis could lead to greater unilateral trade liberalisation. WTO deputy director general Alan Wolff said he was hopeful the crisis could spur countries on to drop trade tariffs as has happened after several economic crashes over the past century. The coronavirus [...]
Sizewell C: Nuclear plant under scrutiny over Chinese role June 3, 2020 A quiet corner of the Suffolk coastline is set to become a new frontier in the debate over the UK’s changing relationship with Chinese foreign direct investment. Last week EDF submitted a planning application for Sizewell C, a new 3.2 gigawatt nuclear plant which could provide enough power for 6m homes. The project has been [...]
FTSE 100: Travel stocks surge as Europe reopens borders June 3, 2020 The FTSE 100 jumped in morning trading with airlines surging as Europe reopened some of its borders after coronavirus lockdowns. London’s index of the 100 biggest UK companies rose 1.5 per cent to 6,310 points, putting it close to a three-month high. The rise was powered by countries across Europe reopening or planning to reopen [...]
US senator: China using Huawei to ‘drive wedge’ in UK-US relationship June 3, 2020 China is using telecoms giant Huawei to “drive a hi-tech wedge” into the special relationship between the UK and the US, a top US senator told MPs yesterday. Republican Tom Cotton is a vocal critic of Huawei and is part of a group of US senators who have urged Britain to reverse its decision to [...]
UK coronavirus death toll rises by 324 to 39,369 June 2, 2020 A further 324 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, bringing the death toll to 39,369, according to figures released today by the Department of Health. As of 9am this morning, 135,643 tests were carried out or dispatched with 1,613 positive results. However, the number of people tested was unavailable again, according to the [...]