China tries to curb food prices after consumer inflation hits two-year high November 22, 2010 CHINA said yesterday it would step up efforts to keep commodity prices stable, in its latest attempt to keep fast-rising inflation rates in check. China’s central cabinet has asked local governments to increase agricultural production and keep a constant coal, oil and gas supply in a seven-page circular. The government has urged local groups to [...]
How to defuse a time bomb: China worries about liquidity November 21, 2010 IF ANYONE had needed more proof of the extent of global economic imbalance, then last week’s inflation figures ought to have been enough. Despite unprecedented monetary ease, America’s inflation rate is running at 0.6 per cent, the lowest level in 53 years. In China, however, money is abundant and inflation is running at 4.4 per [...]
Private equity battle looms for Danish ISS November 18, 2010 A BLACKSTONE-led quartet and two rival teams are readying bids for ISS, the $7bn (£4.4bn) Danish cleaning giant as Europe’s biggest post-crisis buyout heats up. The owners of ISS – Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Sweden’s EQT – are exploring an initial public offering (IPO) of the company or a sale of it. Blackstone Group, [...]
China secures 100-aircraft order for its first commercial jetliner November 16, 2010 China yesterday announced a 100-plane order for its first commercial jetliner, a first step in its ambitions to challenge Airbus and Boeing for a slice of a global market worth $1.7 trillion. State-owned COMAC, or Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, unveiled the orders at the country’s largest air show yesterday, ending a dearth of orders [...]
FAITH IN QE2 LIMITS FALLS IN EQUITIES November 15, 2010 CFD MARKET STRATEGIST, GFT RECENTLY, investors have got used to their expectations being met. Republican victories in the mid-terms led investors to expect a more business-friendly environment. The Fed’s latest QE announcement was in line with estimates, while a thumping gain in non-farm payrolls has raised hopes that unemployment may have turned a corner. With [...]
BHP moves on from Potash takeover bid November 15, 2010 MINING giant BHP Billiton’s shares rose yesterday following its decision to abandon its hostile takeover of Potash Corp and begin a $4.2bn (£2.6bn) share buyback, as analysts pored over the world’s largest mining group’s next move. BHP’s London-listed shares closed 1.8 per cent up at £24.06, outperforming a 0.4 per cent gain in the FTSE [...]
Storm clouds gather as G20 leaders meet November 11, 2010 Group of Twenty in Seoul clash on growth, currencies and trade Ireland moves ever closer to the brink as bailout fears mount Oil price hits a fresh 25-month high of $88 a barrel on China demand IRISH ten-year bond yields shot to their highest level since the founding of the euro yesterday, closing at 8.6 [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS November 11, 2010 HILL & SMITH Altium Securities rates the highway infrastructure group a “hold” with a target price of 275p. The broker says it is disappointed by the firm’s recent interim management statement, which reduced the company’s operating profit forecast by £7.5m for the year. Altium has cut its estimates for 2010 pre-tax profit to £41m following [...]
ICBC to launch £4bn rights issue November 11, 2010 Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) plans to raise 45bn yuan (£4.2bn) through a rights share offering this month, capping an $80bn fundraising boom by Chinese lenders to replenish capital depleted by last year’s lending spree. ICBC, which first unveiled its rights issue plan in July, will now be selling fewer rights shares in [...]
Why protesters need a reality check November 10, 2010 IT is a tragic day when the headquarters of a political party in a democracy are stormed by a lawless mob. That is what happened yesterday to the Tory HQ in Millbank; it almost happened at the Liberal Democratic base in Cowley Street. A minority of thugs in the crowd – possibly professional agitators of [...]