Alarm bells sound for global growth: What does it mean for investors? November 19, 2015 The state of the world economy is spooking analysts. In October, the IMF downgraded its global growth forecast for 2015 to 3.1 per cent, from the 3.3 per cent it predicted in July. Last week, the OECD added to the gloom, trimming its 2015 forecast for world output growth to 2.9 per cent on the [...]
Rich getting poorer? Private jet industry forecast to slide in 2016 November 17, 2015 Sales of private business jets are anticipated to slow down next year as weakening economies and political conflicts have reduced demand, according to an industry forecast. Honeywell International have found that slow economic growth has taken hold across many global markets, and the "business aviation industry is not immune to its impact". Read more: Airbus [...]
Investors starting to warm to emerging markets again November 16, 2015 Attitudes towards investing in emerging markets have improved markedly over the last month, according to survey figures published today by one of the UK’s biggest lenders. Lloyds Bank’s investor sentiment index for emerging market shares climbed 8.47 points to a score of 5.32. The score was derived from a survey of 4,500 people. However, sentiment [...]
Don’t let runaway FX moves damage your firm – Investec Comment November 15, 2015 It’s been a volatile year for currency markets, with plenty of surprises. In January, the Swiss National Bank abandoned the Swiss franc’s peg with the euro, introduced in September 2011. Within minutes, the franc soared by around 30 per cent against the euro, hitting the country’s stock market as the effect of a much stronger [...]
Syngenta share price soars on rumours of takeover offer from China National Chemical Corporation November 13, 2015 Shares in Swiss agrichemicals company Syngenta received a big boost this morning, after rumours circulated that it is in takeover talks with China National Chemical Corporation. According to a Bloomberg report, the Chinese state-owned company approached the European firm with an offer of $42bn (£28bn). Although this was rejected because of potential regulatory issues, the companies [...]
Over £1bn of masala bonds to be issued in London, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces November 12, 2015 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has marked the beginning of his trip to the UK by announcing today that the country’s railway network will issue so-called masala bonds in London to raise cash for its expansion. Masala bonds are rupee-denominated bonds issued outside of India. Over £1bn masala bonds will be issued including the first private [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 slides as Rolls-Royce plummets November 12, 2015 The FTSE 100 index fell in Thursday's trading after Rolls-Royce shares tanked and miners continued to slide. The UK's top blue-chip index fell 1.88 per cent to 6,178 points. Rolls-Royce was the biggest casualty of the day, tumbling 19.57 per cent to 536.5p after warning profits will be at the lower end of expectations due [...]
Glencore, Anglo American, BHP Billiton share price: FTSE miners tumble as commodities rout deepens November 12, 2015 The FTSE 350 mining index fell 4.61 per cent to 8,234.14 points this afternoon as copper prices tumbled. Glencore shares shed 9.52 per cent to 94.77p per share, Anglo American fell 8.55 per cent to 450.60p per share and BHP Billiton was 4.27 per cent lower at 884.50p per share. Earlier, copper prices slid to a two-and-a-half month low after the dollar [...]
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the UK – it’s time to bring his students here, too November 12, 2015 To London’s crown as a global leader in finance and innovation, it appears we can add a further jewel. As anybody meandering around central London today can attest, we leave the rest of the world standing when it comes to welcoming foreign dignitaries. Other countries may have rolled out the red carpet for the visit [...]
Burberry beats expectations with flat profits and revenue November 12, 2015 Burberry has beaten expectations, staving off a challenging environment to post a marginal rise in profits and revenue. The figures The luxury brand nudged sales up from £1.1bn to £1.104bn for the six months to 30 September, while adjusted pre-tax profits rose from £152.2m to £152.9. UBS had estimated that profits would drop seven per cent [...]