Standard Chartered, Barclays, Natwest kick off UK bank earnings this week with interest income back in focus April 24, 2023 Profit looks set to increase at the UK’s largest lenders as they line up to report first quarter earnings over the coming two weeks. The FTSE banking giants have seen relative stability over the last few weeks following the extreme volatility in March, but this stability means investors will refocus their attention on other major [...]
HSBC exaggerating costs of spinning off Asia unit, Ping An argues in rare rebuke April 18, 2023 Ping An, HSBC’s largest shareholder, has publicly criticised the bank ahead of its AGM as it confirmed it will back calls to restructure the lender. The Chinese insurer, which holds an eight per cent stake in the bank, has long argued in favour of spinning off HSBC’s Asian business, which generates the vast majority of [...]
Ping An to vote for HSBC break-up at upcoming AGM – reports April 17, 2023 Ping An has thrown its weight behind proposals from investor Ken Lui to break up HSBC ahead of the bank’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in early May, according to Reuters. The Chinese insurer will vote in favour of resolutions calling for the bank to lift its dividends and for it to provide regular updates on [...]
FTSE 100 close: THG skyrockets 40 per cent while miners edge London index higher April 17, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 kicked off a fresh week in muted fashion today, inched higher by investors snapping up shares in mining giants, while fashion firm THG skyrocketed more than 40 per cent on mounting takeover rumours. The capital’s premier index added 0.1 per cent to close at 7,879.52 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 [...]
Ashmore: AUM flatline as asset manager takes hit from ‘stresses in banking system’ April 17, 2023 Ashmore has said the assets under management were broadly stable in the most recent quarter despite high interest rates and ongoing market turbulence. The London-listed asset manager reported a total increase of funds under management of just one per cent for the quarter ending on March 31 on Monday, to a total of £46.4bn ($57.7bn.) [...]
A tale of two markets: ‘Muted’ UK recruitment offset by thriving Europe, says Robert Walters April 6, 2023 Robert Walters said its group profit remained flat in the first quarter of 2023 compared to last year, as a European recruitment drive offset falls elsewhere. Group profit was flat compared to last year on a constant currency basis, although it rose four per cent to £102.4m from £98.4m on a reported level. The recruiter [...]
Ai Weiwei: Making Sense at the Design Museum is a triumph April 6, 2023 There is a saying among locals in the Chinese city of Xi’an that the worst thing that could happen during a trip there would be to miss the world famous Terracotta Army. The second worst thing would be to see the Terracotta Army. You see, despite this lifesize army of clay soldiers being a genuine [...]
Gas prices: How long before they return to pre-energy crisis levels? April 5, 2023 Gas prices will not return to pre-crisis levels for another three years despite the recent drop-off, warns investment group Stifel.
HSBC versus Asian shareholders: Bank’s chiefs warn Hong Kong investors against ‘risky’ break-up April 3, 2023 HSBC’s top brass hit back at shareholder proposals to spin off the bank’s Asian business and pay fixed dividends, as it sought to quieten shareholders’ discontent about the bank’s business model. At a meeting of investors in Hong Kong, Reuters reported that HSBC chair Mark Tucker warned a restructuring or spin-off of HSBC’s Asia business [...]
The must-have accessory for global finance chief execs? A first class flight to Beijing April 3, 2023 A flurry of top financial executives have visited China for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic as global financial giants seek to cement their relations with Beijing at the start of President Xi Jinping’s new term. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, HSBC CEO Noel Quinn and Standard Chartered boss Bill Winters are among the [...]