G20 statement swerves call to end US-China trade war June 9, 2019 G20 finance ministers have warned “trade and geopolitical tensions” pose a risk to international growth in an official statement, without directly addressing the US-China trade dispute. Read more: IMF head: US-China trade war biggest threat to global growth After much debate over the wording of a “communique” from their meeting in Japan, ministers today said [...]
IMF head: US-China trade war biggest threat to global growth June 9, 2019 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has labelled the US-China trade war the principal threat to the global economy. Read more: IMF chief says majority of countries to see slow growth in 2019 Christine Lagarde said US-China tariffs could reduce the level of global GDP by 0.5 per cent or around $455bn (£357bn) [...]
Ban on Chinese telecoms vendors would add $62bn to Europe’s 5G bill June 7, 2019 A ban on buying telecoms equipment from Chinese vendors would add $62bn (£48bn) to the cost of 5G networks in Europe, according to an industry analysis. The Trump administration blacklisted purchases Huawei in May as part of a long-running dispute with the company. The United States alleges that Huawei is too close to the Chinese [...]
Facebook rips apps off new Huawei smartphones June 7, 2019 Facebook has suspended pre-installation of its apps on new Huawei phones, dealing the latest blow against the beleaguered Chinese telecoms giant. The apps affected by the suspension will include Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp. Customers who already have Huawei phones will still be able to access and update their apps. But the company’s new phones will [...]
Samsung cuts output at its last Chinese smartphone factory June 5, 2019 Samsung will cut production at its last remaining smartphone factory in China, as its loses ground on domestic rivals. Read more: Trump: US and UK will reach an agreement on Huawei The reduction comes just six months after the South Korean firm announced the closure of its factory in Tianjin. Another factory in Shenzhen closed [...]
Biffa profit almost halves on onerous contracts and debt payments June 5, 2019 Waste management firm Biffa’s profit almost halved in its latest financial year, as the company absorbed expensive one-off charges. Read more: Biffa shares jump as it remains on track for full-year growth The UK firm’s results for thr 12 months to the end of March, released today, put the fall down to onerous contracts, debt [...]
Trump meets FTSE business leaders over breakfast June 4, 2019 Business leaders will sit down for breakfast with US President Donald Trump this morning as part of a bid to strengthen transatlantic relations, as fears over an impending global trade war continue to mount. Representatives from 10 leading companies – five from the UK and five from the US – will break bread at St [...]
US manufacturing sector grows at slowest rate in 10 years in May June 3, 2019 The US manufacturing sector grew at its slowest rate since 2009 in May, according to survey data released today, in a sign that the world’s biggest economy is losing momentum. Read more: European stock markets bleed red as Trump takes trade war to Mexico Tariffs were widely blamed for dampening demand and increasing costs, helping [...]
European stocks stabilise following US-China trade war escalation June 3, 2019 European stocks stabilised following a slump this morning sparked by the escalation of the trade war between the US and China, the world’s two largest economies. The FTSE 100 was trading 0.16 per cent up this afternoon after falling 1.09 per cent to 7,084.5p in the morning. Dax, which tracks 30 major German companies, was up 0.3 [...]
German chipmaker Infineon buys rival Cypress for €9bn June 3, 2019 German chipmaker Infineon has signed a deal to snap up US rival Cypress Semiconductor for €9bn (£8bn) as it looks to fight back against a slowdown in the chip industry. Infineon said it will pay $23.85 per share for the company, marking a 46 per cent premium on Cypress’s 30-day average share price. Read more: [...]