‘Meet Wuxi in London: New Development, New Cooperation’ Investment Briefing and Exchange Conference Held August 11, 2023 The Wuxi (London) Investment Promotion Conference took place in London on the 9th, where representatives from various sectors in China and the UK gathered to discuss cooperative opportunities and witness the signing of multiple significant projects. Concurrently, the exhibition themed “Encounter Wuxi” was inaugurated in London, running for a duration of five days. In her [...]
Biden declares ‘national emergency’ as he bans US investment in Chinese tech August 10, 2023 President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that will prohibit some new U.S. investment in China in sensitive technologies like computer chips and require government notification in other tech sectors. The long-awaited order authorizes the U.S. Treasury secretary to prohibit or restrict U.S. investments in Chinese entities in three sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies [...]
China’s economy slips into deflation as recovery from pandemic continues to falter August 9, 2023 China’s already “tortuous” recovery from the Covid pandemic continued to stall today as fresh data indicated that domestic demand remained depressed. Figures out this morning showed that the world’s second largest economy slid into deflation in July for the first time since February 2021, with the consumer price index (CPI) falling 0.3 per cent year-on-year. [...]
FTSE 100 close: London markets rise despite Chinese deflation August 9, 2023 London’s markets closed higher on Wednesday as a toning down of Italy’s windfall tax on banks calmed investors despite more negative news from China. The FTSE 100 closed 0.80 per cent higher at 7,587.30 while the midcap FTSE 250, which is more aligned with the health of the domestic economy, ended 0.51 per cent higher [...]
Saudi Aramco profit plummets 38 per cent… to $30.1bn August 7, 2023 Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco reported a near 38% drop in second-quarter net profit on Monday amid weaker oil prices and thinner refining and chemicals margins, as it boosted its dividend with a new performance-linked payout. Aramco’s net profit fell to 112.81 billion riyals ($30.07 billion) for the quarter to June 30 from 181.64 [...]
Oil prices boosted by six weeks of gains as supplies tighten worldwide August 6, 2023 Oil markets will open trading on Monday having recorded six weeks of gains across both major benchmarks, as tightening supplies bolster prices.
What next for oil prices as US stockpiles slip and hope of China rebound rises August 2, 2023 Oil markets are benefitting from robust demand, with trading on both major benchmarks at a near four month-high.
AstraZeneca: Revenue boost despite welcome end of Covid-19 jab sales July 28, 2023 Britain’s biggest FTSE firm AstraZeneca reported an uptick in sales as oncology treatments helped pick up the slack from falling sales of Covid-19 medicines. The pharmaceutical company made over $22.2bn (£17.3bn) – a four per cent increase – during the first half of 2023, causing shares to spring over three per cent on market open [...]
Standard Chartered announces $1bn buyback scheme after profits soar on rising rates July 28, 2023 Standard Chartered announced a further $1bn (£780m) share buyback after recording better than expected results in the second quarter on the back of rising interest rates. Pretax profit at the bank climbed 18 per cent to $1.5bn, higher than the $1.4bn predicted by analysts. This came thanks to a 29 per cent increase in net [...]
Income falls for Total Energies as refining profits slump July 27, 2023 French oil company TotalEnergies posted a drop in second-quarter net income on Thursday, reflecting lower natural gas prices,