The UK’s fate: Neither boom nor bust September 1, 2010 A PAINFUL, extended soft patch, not a disastrous hard landing: that was the message from yesterday’s batch of global economic indicators. The US manufacturing survey improved in August, spectacularly refuting widespread expectations of a collapse and fuelling a market rally; the UK’s factory sector is still growing, albeit at a slower rate. Hard-core bulls and [...]
China is set to probe BHP’s bid for Potash Corp September 1, 2010 CHINA plans to launch an antimonopoly probe into BHP Billiton’s $39bn (£25.2bn) bid for Canada’s Potash Corp. The probe is another indicator that China, as the world’s biggest importer of fertiliser, is wary of further concentration in the market, following BHP Billiton’s launch of a hostile bid for Potash Corp last month. But it was [...]
China considers probe into BHP Billiton’s bid for Potash Corp September 1, 2010 China may launch an antimonopoly probe into BHP Billiton’s $39bn (£25bn) bid for Canada’s Potash Corp, the China Business News has claimed. China will also review the merger of two Russian potash firms – Uralkali and Silvinit – given the major impact the two deals would have on China, the paper cited the unnamed source [...]
Indian elephant offers the investor steady success August 31, 2010 ANALYSTS comparing the prospects for the world’s two most populous countries often evoke an Asian version of Aesop’s famous fable of the tortoise and the hare – the elephant and the tiger. The elephant makes slow and steady progress to reach its goal while the tiger bounds forward more quickly and more powerfully, but risks [...]
Vodafone plans retreat from great call of China August 30, 2010 VODAFONE is on the brink of a £4bn sale of its Chinese assets. It will sound out strategic partners before deciding whether to place its stake in China Mobile on the open market in Hong Kong. A lock-up period preventing Vodafone from selling its stake recently ended and the value of the holding has more [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING August 26, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES BANKS BACK SWITCH TO RENMINBI FOR TRADE A number of the world’s biggest banks have launched international roadshows promoting the use of the renminbi to corporate customers instead of the dollar for trade deals with China. HSBC and Standard Chartered are offering discounted transaction fees and other financial incentives to companies that choose [...]
Banks and miners suffer after MPC’s Weale warns of fresh dip August 24, 2010 BRITAIN’S top share index closed lower yesterday after weak US existing home sales data cast further doubt on the economic recovery story, with UK banks, miners and energy stocks bearing the brunt of the sell-off. The FTSE 100 ended down 78.89 points, or 1.5 per cent, at 5,155.95, its lowest close since 20 July, having [...]
POTASH IN TALKS TO BLOCK BHP BID August 23, 2010 CANADIAN fertiliser producer PotashCorp is courting a range of potential “white knight” partners in a determined attempt to see off a $40bn (£25.5bn) hostile bid from mining giant BHP Billiton, the company confirmed yesterday. The world’s largest potash producer said it had been approached by and had initiated contact with a number of third parties, [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING August 23, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES COMPANIES NOW TURN TO PRIVATE PLACEMENTS FOR FUNDING Private placement deals – whereby companies tap investors directly for loans – are on track for one of their strongest years, highlighting the extent to which companies are seeking to diversify their funding sources away from banks. Companies tapped the market for $27.4bn in the [...]
PotashCorp hunts for a white knight August 23, 2010 THIS is shaping up to be a classic takeover wrangle. First came the unsolicited bid – at $39.6bn (£25.5bn), BHP Billiton’s offer is a 20 per cent premium to PotashCorp’s undisturbed share price – which was immediately knocked back. Then came the anguished rhetoric from PotashCorp about the “grossly inadequate” level of BHP’s approach. The [...]