Mining strength offsets worries over Greek deal – London Report June 24, 2015 BRITAIN’S top share index turned lower after touching a three-week high yesterday although it still outperformed Eurozone shares with strength in the mining sector insulating the index from the Greek debt standoff. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index hit 6,873.43 in morning trade, its highest level since June 4. It turned lower to trade up just [...]
Crown Estate returns £285m to public purse after record year June 24, 2015 The Crown Estate today announced another year of record profits thanks to the regeneration of its vast estate at the heart of London’s shopping district plus its growing offshore wind business. The Crown Estate’s net profit, which goes into the Treasury’s coffers, rose to a record £285.1m in the year to 31 March – up [...]
US and Qatari team gears up for £5bn F1 deal June 23, 2015 FORMULA 1 could make its first breakthrough into the US market if a deal being put together by the owner of American football team the Miami Dolphins and Qatar Sports Investments is successful. RSE Ventures, founded by US real estate and sports tycoon Stephen Ross, is targeting a 35.5 per cent stake, currently owned by [...]
Twelve reasons why the campaign for Brexit is quickly gaining momentum June 23, 2015 It was not long after the Conservative general election victory that the campaign for the UK to stay in the European Union was launched – no matter how disappointing the results of David Cameron’s renegotiation might be. Even before the Referendum Bill was published and the wording of the question set, the creation of [...]
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 [...]