Stamp of approval: Has the Chinese economic slowdown licked the value of philatelic investments? February 18, 2016 When share prices are volatile, fine wine, art and other tangible assets offer the bittersweet assurance that your investment will only turn to dust if exposed to excessive sunlight or extremes in temperature. Interest in philatelic investment, or stamp collecting, peaked after the financial crisis as investors turned to alternative asset classes to diversify their [...]
Federal Reserve policy makers highlight increased uncertainty and growing risks in January meeting February 17, 2016 Interest rate setters at the US Federal Reserve said it was premature to alter their economic outlook given strong financial market turbulence this year. However, they had become more cautious, emphasising that risks had increased. "Domestic financial conditions tightened over the inter-meeting period, as turmoil in Chinese financial markets and lower oil prices contributed to [...]
Mobile World Congress 2016: What to expect – biometrics, virtual and augmented reality and Chinese smartphone brands February 16, 2016 Mobile World Congress 2016 always brings with it a flurry of new mobile gadget announcements – here are some of the trends to expect. The smartphone is quickly becoming an integral part of a bigger continuum of devices and smart objects as users increasingly live their lives in a "device mesh." This is an environment, [...]
EDF says “definitive construction” of Hinkley Point C to start in 2019 February 16, 2016 EDF has said it intends to "proceed rapidly" with the final investment decision for the £18bn construction of Hinkley Point C, paving the way for the "definitive construction" of the nuclear power plant to start in 2019. The French energy giant's chief executive, Jean-Bernard Levy, told reporters while it's yet to complete talks with its Chinese partners before the [...]
US growth and the risk of recession has replaced the China slowdown as biggest investor fear February 16, 2016 Fear over the US economy and risk of a recession has topped the deceleration of China’s economy as the biggest risk for investors, according to the latest Bank of America Merrill Lynch Fund Manager Survey. Global fund managers’ growth and profit expectations are both negative for the first time since July 2012. The survey also [...]
FTSE 100 index opens higher as oil price rebounds on production freeze as Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Glencore share prices jump February 16, 2016 The FTSE 100 index opened higher this morning after markets were encouraged by quantitative easing hints from European Central Bank president Mario Draghi yesterday, as well as the rebounding price of oil. The UK's blue chip index rose 0.93 per cent to 5,878 points, led higher by Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Glencore. "European markets picked up where [...]
FTSE 100 index rallies after Asian markets as the share prices of Reckitt Benckiser and IAG rise February 15, 2016 The FTSE 100 index shot higher today after a rally on most Asian stock markets, despite poor trade data coming out of China. The UK's blue-chip index rose 2.26 per cent to 5,836 points in early afternoon trading, led higher by Reckitt Benckiser and British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG). "No severe sell-off in Chinese markets after a [...]
Thousands of steelworkers to protest in Brussels for EU action against Chinese dumping February 15, 2016 More than 5,000 European steel workers are expected to gather together to protest in Brussels today, to coincide with a conference on the future of EU steel. The industry is urging EU leaders to stop Chinese 'dumping' of cheap steel, which it argues is giving the Asian superpower an unfair advantage and is putting thousands [...]
Gold price dips as European and Asian equities recover February 15, 2016 Don't buy gold. The price of the precious metal fell this morning, as investors flocked back to equities following a rally in Asia. Gold futures fell 2.4 per cent to $1,209 this morning. Last week it peaked at $1,255, – having risen above $1,200 for the first time since June 2015 as global equities plummeted. Meanwhile, this morning FTSE 100-listed [...]
Chinese markets including Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Composite trade slightly lower after New Year break as Japan’s Nikkei jumps over seven per cent and ASX 200, Hang Seng and Kospi rise February 15, 2016 There were no post-New Year fireworks from China as its markets opened for the first time since the break with the disappointment of poor trade data. Trading for the first time since 5 February, the Shanghai Composite traded 0.63 per cent lower at 2,746 points, while the Shenzhen Composite traded 0.05 per cent lower at 9,668 points. [...]