Twelve reasons Britain is better off remaining a member of the EU June 10, 2016 I studied the process of European integration in some detail at the College of Europe in Bruges where I also became a teaching assistant for a year. I then had the pleasure of doing my PhD thesis at the European University Institute in Florence. So it is probably no surprise that I have a bias on the [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 9, 2016 South Korea has unexpectedly cut its interest rates, while New Zealand's central bank remains on hold. In China consumer prices rose less than expected, muting economist hopes that the economy is stabilising earlier in the week. Here's what you need to know before the US markets open at 2:30pm London time. US futures are pointing downwards. The S&P is [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 makes it four positive days on the bounce as commodity prices climb June 8, 2016 A rebound in commodity prices gave a boost to the resources and energy heavy FTSE 100 today, moving it ahead of European markets. The index rose by 16.99 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 6,285.21 points, making today its fourth positive session on the bounce. Oil prices continued their recent rally, climbing to their highest price in around eight months. [...]
Oil just gained market share for the first time since 1999 – here’s why June 8, 2016 Oil remained the world’s leading fuel in 2015, accounting for 32.9 per cent of global energy consumption, BP said in its benchmark industry report today. The report found that prices for all fossil fuels fell in 2015. This led to adjustments in the energy markets including boosting demand for oil which gained market share for the first [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 8, 2016 Mixed data out of China is giving economists and experts hope the country is headed for a soft landing, while Hillary Clinton has given her first speech as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Here's what you need to know before the US open at 14:30 London time. US stock futures are looking up ahead of the open. The [...]
China has promised to curb steel capacity and “zombie enterprises”, US Treasury secretary Jack Lew says June 7, 2016 China has promised to curb its steel capacity and wind down "zombie enterprises", according to the US treasury secretary Jack Lew. China has come under fire for flooding foreign markets with steel exports, resulting in what many see as an escalating trade war between in and the US. The US has slapped tax hikes of [...]
Verizon planning second round bid for Yahoo’s internet business, sending the share price lower as figures fall short of expectations June 7, 2016 US telecoms giant Verizon is reportedly readying a second-round bid for Yahoo's core internet business. The bid is expected to come in ahead of the Monday deadline and will value the business at around $3bn (£2bn), some $2bn under expectations. The lower-than-expected bid sent Yahoo's share price down by around 0.5 per cent in New York. Previously bids [...]
Fed’s Yellen concerned by recent shock jobs report but remains “cautiously optimistic” June 6, 2016 The recent jobs report that showed a slow down in the number of jobs the US economy is adding has been called "concerning" by the Fed chair Janet Yellen. Her remarks will reinforce market expectations that the US interest rate will be held steady. Bloomberg average estimates of an interest rate hike in June fell to two [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 2, 2016 The European Central Bank (ECB) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) are both in Vienna today to decide on their respective policies and could add an extra kick of volatility to global markets. Here's what you need to know before the market open at 14:30 London time. US futures are struggling ahead of the opening bell. [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open June 1, 2016 The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned that Brexit would play havoc with the global economy and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the country will get fresh new stimulus in the Autumn. Here's what you need to know before the market open at 14:30 London time. US indices are pointing the wrong way in the pre-market. [...]