FTSE rises after a rally in metals boosts miners – London Report June 18, 2015 BRITAIN’S top share index ended higher yesterday after slipping to a five-month low earlier in the session, with a strong bounce in miners and a rally in US equities helping the broader market. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index finished 0.4 per cent higher at 6,707.88 points. It earlier fell to 6,625.16, its lowest since late [...]
China’s equity markets have rocketed: Bubble waiting to burst or the market unleashing its true potential? June 18, 2015 China's equity markets have rocketed – is this a bubble waiting to burst or the market unleashing its true potential? China is a world of contradiction for investors. With its billion-strong population and the second-largest economy in the world, it should have been a marvellous place for investment. Not so. The giant economy [...]
Ladies who don’t lunch: Pretty Sagoo talks science, stress and Solvency II June 18, 2015 The whole pension thing was completely by accident,” says Pretty Sagoo, explaining how she ended up in banking, working with insurance and pension fund clients. In the language of the industry, her career has revolved around structuring and pricing deals, de-risking, swaps, hedges and the like. But Pretty doesn’t do jargon. “It just winds [...]
As the crunch point nears, could Greek default prove to be a geopolitical disaster for Europe? June 16, 2015 Famke Krumbmüller, a Europe analyst at Eurasia Group, says Yes If a default prompted Greece’s withdrawal from the euro, and the new arrangement were managed badly, it could have harmful consequences for the rest of Europe. Most importantly, it would send negative signals about the future of Eurozone integration – the monetary union was never [...]
China’s crunch point is approaching fast – CNBC Comment June 15, 2015 China will grow this year at a rate that will put the developed world to shame. It will probably grow next year and the year after that too. But the country’s 7 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is not what the market cares about. It cares about momentum and performance relative to [...]
Thomas Cook targets China with Fosun joint venture June 15, 2015 Thomas Cook, one of the UK's largest holiday companies, today announced plans to take on the Chinese travel market with Fosun International, the Chinese group which took a five per cent stake in Thomas Cook in March. The pair said the venture, which will be launched under the Thomas Cook brand, will be 51 per [...]
Alibaba wants to create China’s HBO and Netflix equivalent June 14, 2015 Alibaba is releasing a Netflix-style streaming service in two months, the firm's head of digital entertainment revealed today. The service will be called Tmall Box Office – "TBO" for short – and will feature Alibaba-produced content as well as programming acquired from China and other territories. Read more: Alibaba Pictures share price tumbles following $1.6bn placement [...]
It’s a great time to be a landlord in Milan as tourists flock to Expo 2015 June 11, 2015 This summer, Italy’s making a comeback. After years struggling under a prolonged economic crisis of its own, it finally seems as though its on the path to recovery. And there’s no greater proof of this than its most fashionable city, Milan, hosting Expo 2015. The world trade fair is underway, uniting innovators from the tech, [...]
Selfie fever hits London hotel June 10, 2015 Kim Kardashian, P Diddy, Barack Obama and Kelly Brook. What do they all have in common? They love a good selfie. And from today, Swish St James’ hotel Conrad is offering selfie sticks to all their guests as part of a new marketing campaign. These can either be ordered from the minibar at £12 each, [...]
As Jack Ma goes on a US charm offensive, does Alibaba pose a real threat to Amazon and Ebay? June 10, 2015 Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, says Yes In terms of sheer size, accounting for 80 per cent of all Chinese online shopping, with volume growth easily outstripping rival internet retailers thanks to 1bn items on offer to 350m buyers, and with 30m shipments made per day, fast-growing behemoth Alibaba represents a [...]