Focus On Pimlico: Twenty per cent cheaper than its neighbours and still central, house prices are increasing in SW1P November 23, 2017 Pimlico must be pretty quiet at the weekends. It’s been London’s pied a terre hotspot since the mid-Noughties, meaning many of its inhabitants escape the area for their country retreats every Friday night. “A third of homes sold in SW1V so far this year have been bought by a second home owner, more than anywhere [...]
Oil and commodities prices: Mining firms drag the FTSE down as commodity prices drop November 15, 2017 Commodity prices tumbled this morning, dragging miners and oil firms down and causing Britain’s blue-chip index to dip. Metals including copper, nickel, zinc and aluminium came under pressure as concerns mounted over weaker economic data in China. Chinese industrial production fell to 6.2 per cent in October, missing estimates of 6.3 per cent growth and [...]
The Long Weekend: There’s more to Geneva than conference centres, including the La Réserve November 13, 2017 Geneva may be a business capital from Monday to Friday, but there's something for the weekend here too. The weekend: Witness the scrum for hand-luggage space on Friday night flights from Geneva to London City Airport and you’d be forgiven for thinking the city simply kicked its residents out when the international organisations and private [...]
Alibaba: Sales during online retail bonanza Singles’ Day hit new record as they smash $25bn mark November 11, 2017 Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has said its Singles’ Day sales hit $25.4bn (£19.2bn), smashing its own record from last year. The shopping bonanza’s sales surged past last year’s total just after midday local time, hitting a record $18bn (£13.6bn). Singles’ Day, held every year on 11 November, is the world’s biggest online shopping event that [...]
Gold demand in third quarter weakest for eight years November 9, 2017 Gold demand dropped to an eight-year low in the third quarter as flows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) weakened and jewellery demand in India dragged. Demand for the yellow metal fell by nine per cent year-on-year to 915 tonnes, according to data published today by the World Gold Council (WGC). ETFs inflows added 144 tonnes of [...]
Brexit and the City: Unpicking 10 myths that refuse to die as the City grapples with the vote to leave November 6, 2017 More than a year after the vote to leave the European Union, the debate is still raging over the potential impact of Brexit on the City of London – although it is often dominated more by heat than light. This is a short attempt to put some of the zombie myths from both sides of [...]
President Xi’s economic aim and the China Dream October 27, 2017 Following the opening of the 19th National People's Congress in Beijing, our chief economic strategist Gerard Lyons gave his personal view on President Xi's main speech. Our investment committee keeps fully abreast of global affairs, both in terms of the opportunities they offer and the wider implications. The Chinese NPC is a political gathering and [...]
Chinese owner of Edinburgh-based Skyscanner plans to open a call centre in the city creating up to 200 jobs October 23, 2017 The Chinese owner of Edinburgh-based travel search site Skyscanner plans to open a call centre in the city, creating up to 200 jobs over the next few years. Ctrip is the second largest online travel agent in the world and the largest in China. Founded in 1999 by James Liang, Neil Shen, Min Fan and [...]
China’s paradoxical growth plan is still attractive for global funds: Why President Xi’s pursuit of unity as well as expansion is working for now October 23, 2017 When President Xi first gained the position of President of China five years ago there was considerable western enthusiasm. He came across as a keen reformer willing to push on with China’s enterprise revolution. He wanted to open China’s markets more to the west, to liberalise foreign exchange, privatise more industry and even introduce more [...]
Bitcoin surge continues as $6,100 mark left behind for new record high October 21, 2017 The US dollar value of bitcoin flew past $6,100 (£4,600) today to hit a new record high as the astonishing acceleration of the cryptocurrency continued. Bitcoin only broke through the $6,000 mark for the first time on Friday afternoon, but a surge of buying quickly pushed its value almost as high as $6,200. One bitcoin [...]