Are markets too sanguine about the risks that the impending General Election poses? April 12, 2015 Nick Peters, co-portfolio manager of Fidelity Multi Asset Income fund, says Yes. Over the last six months, the FTSE 100 has risen just over 10 per cent, lagging behind US and European markets. But this hasn’t been a result of markets worrying about May’s election: it’s driven more by the heavy bias of the FTSE [...]
Bordeaux: Why the 2014 vintage is the best since 2010 and which wines you should invest in now April 10, 2015 Bordeaux 2014 We consider the 2014 vintage to be the best vintage since 2010; quality ranges from good to truly exceptional. The Left Bank overshadowed the Right Bank, with wines from St. Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe particularly superb and Margaux variable. The Right Bank was more uneven in quality, except amongst the leading estates. [...]
Is China planning to build a railway under Mount Everest? April 9, 2015 Its summit is the highest place on earth at 8,848m above sea level and scaling its peak is deadly: Mount Everest claims the lives of just over two per cent of those attempting to scale it. Now the Chinese government is considering building a railway underneath the giant peak, linking China with Nepal, a country [...]
Apple Watch beware: Switzerland is unleashing a wave of smart tech at the high end April 8, 2015 “An expensive watch is a piece of art, part of eternity,” professed LVMH’s bumptious watch chief and erstwhile industry spokesman Jean-Claude Biver on CNN in February. “Because,” he explained, “a watch that is made by hand can be repaired in a thousand years. A technological watch will be obsolete in probably five.” That may be, [...]
The World Bank just backed the China-led development bank April 7, 2015 The World Bank has become the latest global figure to throw its weight behind the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) despite the fact its ascendance has ruffled a few feathers over in the United States. The official line for its objection is the bank's projects won't necessarily safeguard people and the environment. But beneath this there's [...]
Global social media advertising spend surpasses £10bn in 2014 April 2, 2015 Global spend on social media advertising rose by 41 per cent in 2014 reaching a record $15.3bn (£10.3bn). A new report from technology advisors Strategy Analytics found that as global social network users surpassed 2bn users for the first time, 11 per cent of global digital ad spend went to social networks. Facebook was the [...]
Toyota sales in China are hit by rivals’ discounts April 1, 2015 DISCOUNTING by competitors has hit Toyota’s first-quarter sales in China, the world’s largest car maker announced yesterday. Sales of Toyota cars and its two Chinese joint ventures – China FAW Group and Guangzhou Automobile – fell 20.9 per cent in March, while those for the first three months of the year slipped 0.1 per cent. [...]
Steel group to buy back $375m worth of shares April 1, 2015 STEEL manufacturer Evraz announced a share buy back worth up to $375m (£253m) yesterday, after revealing a loss of $1.28bn for 2014. The Russian firm, whose biggest shareholder is Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, blamed currency issues in part for the hit on profits, which was more than double than the $551m loss posted in [...]
Thomas Cook gets north European boost but hit by currency volatility March 31, 2015 THOMAS Cook yesterday reported trading in line with expectations, with the summer of 2015 more than 50 per cent sold. The travel firm continues to build on last year with Thomas Cook’s Concept Hotels growing 20 per cent from the previous year. Bookings at thomascook.com have climbed 10 per cent. However, the company took a [...]
Thomas Cook gets north European boost but takes a knock from currency woes March 31, 2015 The numbers Thomas Cook has reported trading in line with expectations, with the summer of 2015 more than 50 per cent sold. The UK business continues to build on last year with Thomas Cook's Concept Hotels growing 20 per cent from the previous year. Bookings at thomascook.com have climbed 10 per cent. However, the company took [...]