China’s slowdown intensifies with weak summer spending August 12, 2016 China's economic rebalancing hit another speed bump this morning as fresh data came in below expectations. Growth in both the mighty industrial sector and consumer industries slipped back in July, highlighting the extent of China's struggle to maintain its breakneck expansion while also implementing structural reforms. This morning the National Bureau of Statistics said investment in fixed [...]
Coca-Cola HBC AG’s share price fizzes on popping profits August 11, 2016 A leading Coca-Cola bottler has jumped to the top of the blue chips today as its share price fizzed seven per cent on better-than-expected results. The figures Cost efficiencies and better pricing in established markets drove Coca-Cola HBC AG's operating profit up 10.8 per cent to €220.6m (£188.8m) in the six months to 1 July, from €199.1m in the same period [...]
Alibaba’s shares are on a tear after a huge revenue jump August 11, 2016 Alibaba certainly isn't feeling the effects of the Chinese slowdown just yet. Shares in Alibaba – the world's largest retailer – have climbed by almost six per cent in the US pre-market after it posted revenue far ahead of expectations. Alibaba's shares were already up around seven per cent so far this year. A rise in revenue was bolstered [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open August 11, 2016 Oil is falling and Australia's government is taking steps to stop Chinese firms from taking a controlling stake in its largest energy network: here's what you need to know before the market open at 2:30pm. US futures are pointing to a strong open. The S&P is up by 0.21 per cent, the Nasdaq is 0.24 per [...]
City Hall has opened talks with Parisian officials as it seeks a series of bilateral business deals August 10, 2016 City Hall has entered talks with French authorities as it seeks to secure collaborative deals with London's peers to boost business. Sadiq Khan's office has been keen to promote London's openness to trade since June's Brexit vote, and now the Mayor's teams are seeking to strike a series of city-to-city deals. Speaking to City A.M., [...]
As the Chinese ambassador questions the delay, would cancelling Hinkley severely damage UK-China economic ties? August 9, 2016 Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, says Yes. The UK-China relationship will be hurt by the decision to delay and potentially halt Hinkley Point. The “Golden Era” of bilateral relations will suffer a setback, as China will perceive this decision as a loss of face. But while our short-term economic relationship will take [...]
Marriott-Starwood merger delayed by up to 60 days by Chinese competition authority August 9, 2016 China's ministry of commerce has extended its antitrust review of Marriott International's takeover of hotel giant Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide by up to 60 days. The competition authority requested an additional review period, known as phase three, to investigate the merger, the companies said in a joint statement. If the tie-up of the two [...]
FTSE 100 charges towards 14-month high as miners gains August 8, 2016 The FTSE 100 charged higher this morning, as miners clambered towards the top of the index. It was 0.46 per cent higher to 6,822.53 points this morning, after hitting a one-year high on Friday. It had been buoyed by a BoE interest rate cut, £70bn of additional quantitative easing and a new round of cheap loans which could pump £100bn of [...]
Insurance giant Anbang denies eyeing up £7bn takeover of InterContinental Hotels Group August 7, 2016 Chinese insurance giant Anbang has denied it is eyeing up the FTSE 100-listed hotels chain InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in a £7bn deal. Anbang Insurance Group had held talks with City bankers about launching a takeover bid for IHG, which owns the Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Candlewood Suites brands, the Sunday Times reported. However, a spokesman for [...]
Why UK M&A activity is on the rise despite Brexit vote fears August 5, 2016 Figures recently released by Thomson Reuters have shown that widespread concern about M&A activity slowing down as a result of Brexit has very much been unfounded. In the first half of 2016, as the Brexit vote loomed, M&A activity was tailing off due to uncertainty in the corporate world, and experts were warning that the [...]