European stock markets slip back into red after German economy shrinks August 14, 2019 European stock markets have fallen into the red this morning after Germany’s economy shrank in the second quarter. Read more: German economy shrinks in second-quarter as exports slump Equities were also levelling out after US President Donald Trump put a rocket under global markets yesterday by announcing his country would hold back on some planned [...]
Hong Kong’s airport reopens as Chinese officials describe protesters as ‘terrorists’ August 14, 2019 Hong Kong’s airport reopened today after two days of chaos which saw hundreds of flights cancelled. China’s Hong Kong liaison officer said today that the protesters were not different to “terrorists” raising fears of a violent crackdown as Chinese troops massed along the border. The Beijing-based Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office said extremely violent [...]
Chinese industrial output growth slows to 17-year low August 14, 2019 China’s industrial output growth slowed to a 17-year low in July as the signs mount that the trade war with the US is beginning to take a toll on the world’s second-largest economy. The 4.8 per cent year-on-year growth in factory output was the weakest since February 2002 and far below economists’ expectations of a [...]
US pulls back from applying fresh tariffs to Chinese tech goods August 13, 2019 The Trump administration has pulled back from slapping tariffs on certain products from China such as laptops and mobile phones, providing relief for jittery global investors. Read more: Tariffs hurting US manufacturers, says Trump’s ex-economic adviser At the start of the month the US announced it would apply 10 per cent tariffs to $300bn of [...]
Third of investors expecting recession as trade war fears loom August 13, 2019 More than one in three investors are forecasting a global recession in the next 12 months, marking an eight-year high as trade war worries linger over markets across the world. In the highest recession probability level since October 2011, 34 per cent of investors surveyed by Bank of America Merrill Lynch have said they think [...]
From subsidies to social unrest, China is keeping markets awake August 13, 2019 August has already been eventful for US-China relations. Last week, China suspended purchases of US farm products in response to an escalation in American tariffs, meaning that President Donald Trump won’t get the great agriculture orders that he tweeted about so enthusiastically in June. African Swine Fever means that there are fewer pigs in China [...]
Yen and bonds bullish as trade war fears weigh on global stocks August 12, 2019 Concerns that US-China trade tensions and a no-deal Brexit could spark a recession boosted the yen and bond markets today, while stock markets suffered once again. Early gains for European and Asian stocks soon faded and Wall Street futures were already in the red as traders geared up for another potentially volatile week. Read more: [...]
European stock markets bounce after rough week August 12, 2019 European stocks have opened higher as calm returned to the market following a sharp sell off on Friday driven by the US-China trade war. Read more: US stock markets fall with Donald Trump ‘not ready’ for deal with China The FTSE 100 was 0.6 per cent higher by 8.30am, Germany’s Dax had climbed 1.1 per [...]
Thomas Cook shares plunge on fresh funding talks as it nears Fosun tie-up August 12, 2019 Thomas Cook shares plummeted this morning as investors digested the news the tour operator is in advanced discussions with bond holders for a £150m cash injection, on top of the £750m rescue deal it is already working on with lead investor Fosun, which would nearly wipe out shareholders. The company’s market value dropped 17 per [...]
US stock markets fall with Donald Trump ‘not ready’ for deal with China August 9, 2019 US stock markets have fallen today after President Donald Trump said his administration was “not ready to make a deal” with China. Read more: Italian markets in turmoil as government edges closer to collapse The tech-heavy Nasdaq stock index had fallen 1.2 per cent, the S&P 500 had dropped one per cent, and the Dow [...]